FP SmartDrive Bearing Replacement > Difficulty Rating?

[pattom62]

My Fisher Paykel Smart Drive 708 washing machine seems very noisy on the spin cycle, my guess is the bearings and seals need replacing.

With 4 kids, this machine has done a lot of work, and I can’t afford to have it out of commission very long.

Can you give me any indication on how difficult it is to replace the bearings?

Is it straight-forward? Are special tools required? Need 3 hands etc?

I understand this request is along the lines of “how long is a piece of string..?” but I am a competent mechanic, with a wide range of tools at my disposal, but would like some suggestion as to the difficulty rating.

The stepper-motor construction of the motor was the greatest appeal when purchasing the machine as it is a quite simple concept compared to some of the gear-box drive units I have repaired in the past.

I wonder if removing it is just as simple?!?

😆

[pattom62]

Re: FP SmartDrive Bearing Replacement > Difficulty Rating

OK, no replies – so I’ll tell you how I did it.

I must say I am very impressed with the construction of the Fisher Paykel. You can see how it is made to snap together in the factory easily – and this generally relates to the machine mechanic as well.

I took the control panel and top section / deck off – this seemed to be logical as the base is connected on a one-way clip arrangement.

When the deck is removed, you can unclip the cover that locks together the inner and outer drums. Remove the center drum by unscrewing the three screws at the bottom of the drum.

Then was a relatively simple matter of removing the suspension assemblies from each corner and removing the center barrel, complete with motor and pump.

There is a plastic nut on the bottom of the motor which, as you undo it will remove the rotor section of the motor. Be careful with this as you don’t want to crack the magnets inside.

Note the positions of the three colored wires connecting the stator and the remove the multi-pin connector. Remove the four screws retaining the stator and place it safely!

You can then access the locking nut, grip the shaft without damagin gthe spline and remove the retaining nut. Knock the shaft out, forward. Remove the bearings.

The bearings are 6005 2RS C3 (25mm ID x 47mm OD x 12mm Wide), (2x) and the special shaft seal. I got a kit at the local repair shop, (2x) bearings, shaft seal and spacer for $A40. Reckon thats a good deal!

The hardest part of the job was actually fitting the bearing to the outer barrel – the top one. It was difficult to get the bearing into the housing squarely – I was lucky to have a piece of pipe that matched the OD of the bearing – and using some threaded rod, drew it into place.

I WOULD TELL ANYONE CONTEMPLATING DOING THIS – MAKE SURE YOU CAN FIT THE 47mm OD BEARING WITH A SOCKET/ PIPE ETC. It is quite difficult to get it square in the plastic bore – plus the difficulty of working inside the drum.

The shaft was scored from the seal, and I was contemplating getting a “speedi-sleeve” made by Chicago Rawhide to go over the worn areas. Since the bearings and seals were cheap enough – I’ll give it a go and see how long it lasts.

All in all, it is a good job, thanks in part to the design. Assembly was more difficult than dissassembly – so have something to drive the bearings in.

Lubricated the suspension rod seat with graphite as they were showing signs of wear.

So far so good hope this info may be handy to someone out there

Pattom!

[versatech7]

Re: FP SmartDrive Bearing Replacement > Difficulty Rating

Hi Pattom,

I have exactly the same problem with my 708 so your post was excellent to see. I’ll be doing this job as well and am in the same boat as you, ie family of 6 and need to have unit up and running. Will follow your instructions I guess although from some of the other posts I’ve seen, you may be able to do this from underneath the machine? (lay machine down on front face)

Haven’t looked yet, maybe they only work on the electrics that way?

Did your repair last or did you end up sleeving it.

Thanks also for posting the bearing sizes. The seal was a “special” unit?

Regards,

Simmo

[pattom62]

Re: FP SmartDrive Bearing Replacement > Difficulty Rating

Hi Simmo,

It’s been a while since I did this job – so I’m digging into the memory bank a little.

It’s really easy to get the lid off the machine – so you can do most things from the top as I recall. Like I said, I was impressed how FP made the thing to snap together.

The seal was a special unit – i got it from a Washing Machine spare parts place and it was inexpensive. The repair did last and the machine in is still in use today.

But I must warn you – getting the bearing in was difficult to drive in squarely etc. I was lucky to have some pipe that was the right size.

Good luck with the job, I remember it was easy enough, just getting the bearing back in was the riskiest part. If your having problems, possibly know when to stop so you don’t damage anything. An engineering shop or washing repair place will have the proper tools.

Glad to have helped someone – this website is really wonderful, and WOW – doesn’t washing pile up quick!

[versatech7]

Re: FP SmartDrive Bearing Replacement > Difficulty Rating

Hi Mate,

Well the problem actually turned out to be the stator breaking up. (plastic hub has many radial cracks and tabs broken off etc, allowing stator to move away from being concentric) Luckily I was able to canabalise one from an old machine I had here. It was physically identical but a different serial/part number.

BUT, it’s in and working thank goodness!

My dad’s a fitter and turner so I’m used to doing all sorts of complex bits and pieces…..

Thanks for your reply, hopefully we’ll get a few more years from the machine, they are well designed aren’t they.

Sincierely,

Simmo

[pattom62]

Re: FP SmartDrive Bearing Replacement > Difficulty Rating

Simmo,

Glad it has all came up good, they are impressively made.

You gotta love those ‘Fitters and Turners’
No one knows what they do, but they come in pretty handy!

(I am one too, that’s why I had the part to fit the bearing!)

Thanks for the reply – glad life in the laundry is back to normal!

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