Fisher & Paykel smartdrive 051 won’t spin

[admin]

Hi there,
this is a great forum, and I’ve been through it trying to find my problem but i don’t think i have.
The machine gets through the wash cycle ok, although it is making a horrible noise each time it rotates, a grinding noise. But it is still working. But when it comes to the spin cycle it either stops and beeps repeatitively with one light on, or it just goes into and completes its spin cycle without actually spinning. Instead it just rotates back and forth like it does in a wash cycle, still making the horrible grinding noise.
Unfortunatley I don’t have a multi meter. Is there any way you can help me diagnose or fix this issue, or is it time to get a new machine?

[KiwiwantsworkinCanada]

Re: Fisher & Paykel smartdrive 051 won’t spin

If it sounds like a jet taking off when it spins, the main seal has perished, and you may as well buy a new washing machine due to the age and cost of repairs. It could be a loose rotor, turn off power at wall, tilt back, remove the base panel ( if it is still there ), if there are rusty streaks on the rotor, this is the main seal problem. If the nut on the bottom is loose and there are no rust marks, tighten the nut and retry. Good Luck! 🙂

[admin]

Re: Fisher & Paykel smartdrive 051 won’t spin

Thanks for your reply kiwi. Sorry, I’ve been away from the pc over the weekend.
I have looked under the machine, and there is no trace of water damage or rust. However, I must admit I’m not sure which part you mean by ‘rotor’, there is no obvious rotor. There was the small cooling fan and the large circular plastic covered part. I removed the plastic cover and found the circular thing was a wheel, with many copper wire covered columns around its edge. This is clinically clean, no sign of water damage at all.
I greatly appreciate your help kiwi! What do I do next??

[craignz]

Re: Fisher & Paykel smartdrive 051 won’t spin

that last post was from me… i’ve just registered!!

[Penguin45]

Re: Fisher & Paykel smartdrive 051 won’t spin

Ok Craig, the big copper job is the rotor of the drive motor, as mentioned by Kiwi. If it’s all clean and not covered in white streaks (soapy water leaking down) or brown streaks (grease from the bearings leaking down), you are in with a decent chance of salvaging the machine.

If you turn this manually, do still get the noise? Adjacent to the motor is a rotor position sensor, this could break away and drag against the rotor (unlikely), similarly the Balance Switch arm could be dragging against the drum at the top, which would definitely stop the machine spinning.

The last one I saw in the UK had a split drum, which made the most godawful row dragging against the outer tank, but would still go into the spin sequence.

Hope that’s some help, power off when you go inside.

Regards,
Penguin45.

[craignz]

Re: Fisher & Paykel smartdrive 051 won’t spin

penguin, thank you for your help!!
There are certainly no streaks of any nature. Turning it manually is easy spinning and silent. There is nothing dragging against the rotor either.
As for a balance switch arm, I am unsure. There are four arms, one on each corner of the metal case, and all seem intact. Where do I find this balancing arm, what does it look like?
Your help is so appreciated, I can’t believe a forum like this exists, it’s unusual!!

[Penguin45]

Re: Fisher & Paykel smartdrive 051 won’t spin

Balance sensor is under the top cover around the drum and has an arm hanging down – this may be dragging if displaced from mounting. Can’t suggest much more – have very limited experience with these machines in UK.

With a little bit of luck Alexa or Kiwi will be back on line tomorrow, so they should be able to help.

Regards,
Penguin45.

[craignz]

Re: Fisher & Paykel smartdrive 051 won’t spin

Thanks Penguin for your help, I appreciate that this machine isn’t common up there in the UK!
You said balance sensor is under the top cover, around the drum. Just to clarify, what is the top cover? I have removed the control board cover, and am then faced with another similar looking board. However, this one is connected to the water valve area, and seems reluctant to come off! Am I on the right track?
I’m yet to find the balance sensor, but judging from this and other threads, it may be where the problem is. How do I find it?

my email, in case it helps….
c.borley@woosh.co.nz

[Penguin45]

Re: Fisher & Paykel smartdrive 051 won’t spin

How to explain this…. Top deck, big hole in the middle to get at the drum – it’s under there. 🙂

HTH,
Penguin45.

[KiwiwantsworkinCanada]

Re: Fisher & Paykel smartdrive 051 won’t spin

When you checked the outer plastic thing(rotor) that covered the copper wound thing(stator), was there evidence of scraping/ damage to the magnets on the inside?
If not, it sounds like it could be somthing caught in or around the bowl, or the spline/clutch is worn. Taking out the bowl is the easiest way to check both.
Undo the 2 screws at the front of the top( under the little covers) tilt the top back being careful with the inlet hoses, having previously removed the agitator. Then unclip the plastic ring around the top and hang it to the side or disconnect spring( remember to refit spring ) from suspension. Then in one swift upward movement (not too swift) remove the inner bowl, have a look around the exterior of the bowl and feel around in the bottom of the outer for anything. Remove the screws (3) holding the creme cover on the inside base of the inner bowl and check the spline. There is a stainless ring on the underside of this, make sure it doesnt look worn.

Read instructions backwards to refit Hope this helps.
😆

[craignz]

Re: Fisher & Paykel smartdrive 051 won’t spin

Wow kiwi, thanks for that!!

It sounds like a major, but I’ll give it a go.
Ive just tried another wash, and of course it stopped at spin.
When it does this, all the lights go off except the third from the left in the wash cycle row of lights. And it beeps continuously. Does this one light being on indicate anything in a diagnostic sense to you?

[KiwiwantsworkinCanada]

Re: Fisher & Paykel smartdrive 051 won’t spin

🙂 Turn machine OFF on the front panel. Hold down the Water Temp Down button and press the POWER button. Release buttons. You are in Diagnostic mode. Press the spin speed up button until the hold and slow are lit. Write down the LEDS which are lit across the top row of progress LEDS. and post back.

[craignz]

Re: Fisher & Paykel smartdrive 051 won’t spin

From the left, the third and fifth led.

But I had to push ‘advance’ button after entering diagnostic mode for the spin speed button to have any effect. Before that it was simply beeping four times quickly when I pressed it.

[KiwiwantsworkinCanada]

Re: Fisher & Paykel smartdrive 051 won’t spin

This is a bowl dis- engage fault. It mean the bowl is not releasing from the clutch. Remove the bowl as previously explained and check 🙂
This should fix the problem.

[craignz]

Re: Fisher & Paykel smartdrive 051 won’t spin

thanks for all the help kiwi.

I removed the bowl today and had a look. What is it I should be checking? The clutch looked a little worn, but only a little. How do I stop this fault from occurring?

[Author]

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