Hotpoint Aquarius WMA32

[gooch]

My WMA32 is now 4 years old. No problems during the first couple of years (apart from the bearings going) but since then I have had problems with the lifters (the plastic things which fit into the stainless steel drum). They are constantly breaking and coming off and therefore I am having to buy new ones. I hae found a local suplier where I can buy them for £8 each but it is now getting beyond a joke as this has happend 6 times in the last 6 months. I do not overload the machine nor wash my trainers in it!

Anybody got any advice or would I be better off just buying a new machine? 🙁

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius WMA32

When you fit the new lifter, do you ‘raise’ the metal locking tab on the drum. This is towards the front of the drum and clips up under the lifter. You should get a positive ‘click’ when you push the new lifter back in place. Also make sure that all the locating lugs on the side are fitting into their slots correctly.

Just a thought, you are fitting the correct part, there are 3 different lifters. The early type needs a special tool, a drill and small plastic rivet ( and they still come adrift).
If you are fitting the early type in place of the MK2 lifter they will come out very quickly.

What is the serial number of your machine ( usually on the door near the hinge)
If your serial number begins with 86 you need a 1603824 lifter, if it is 85 or less you need a 1603296 lifter ( this one needs the rivet)
I had a customer last week that was sent the wrong lifters by Hotpoint, even though the had all her appliance details on file. 😥

EDIT: If you had the drum changed by Hotpoint to cure the bearing fault it will have the Mk2 lifters.

[admin]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius WMA32

The main cause off lifters coming off is caused by coins etc rattling about in the machine breaking the retaining lugs, i have not known them to come off for no good reason had one to-day took about £7.00 out off machine funny how it is always i always check the pockets!!!!!!!

[Martin]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius WMA32

Anonymous wrote:had one to-day took about £7.00 out off machine

That must have reduced the ‘call-out fee’ somewhat for the customer then 😀

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius WMA32

Anonymous wrote:The main cause off lifters coming off is caused by coins etc rattling about in the machine breaking the retaining lugs, i have not known them to come off for no good reason had one to-day took about £7.00 out off machine funny how it is always i always check the pockets!!!!!!!

I got fed up of changing them on my own machine, no coins or anything in the drum. I eventually changed the drum. There was one lifter that for some unexplained reason would not stay in.

NB. I have worked on hotpoint machines for over 37 years. 😉

[gooch]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius WMA32

I have checked my machine – the serial number is 87165772 and the lifter is version 2 – 1603824 so that seems correct. As to the coins there may have been an odd one but this is very rare. The lifter that has just come out had 4 of the lugs broken. I only had to replace 1 this time but last time two broke.

Is it worth relacing the drum – approximately how much would it cost?

Thanks everybody for your help. ➡

[Phidom]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius WMA32

The machine I am using at the moment is a WMA32 that I was given for spares. When I got it the lifters were held on with cable ties but I would not recommend this idea as the ends of the ties might pull threads out of garments.

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius WMA32

gooch wrote:

Is it worth relacing the drum – approximately how much would it cost?

Thanks everybody for your help. ➡

£90 from Hotpoint if machine is under 5 years old, ( very unlikely that they would do this for a lifter fault ) approx £150 to £175 if over 5 years. I am in the trade so was able to offset the cost on my own machine.
Re my first post, do you make sure that the metal retaining tab on the drum is lifted before fitting?
I do occasionally get machines like my own , no matter how careful you are with coins/loading etc, and the refitting of the new part, the lifters still come adrift. It can be very frustrating.

[admin]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius WMA32

The machine was under g/tee did free of charge and i also gave her the contents off the sump, if the drum is damaged around the locating holes and the lifters wont take a new drum is the only way to cure incidently you should fit the 3 lifters as the other 2 will prob’ly be damaged also.

[gooch]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius WMA32

I can’t seem to find the metal clip on the drum – does my model have one? I don’t really want to have to go on buying new lifters – it’s goin gto work out cheaper to buy a new washer eventually. If I replaced the other three – at another £24 – would that solve the problem. I can’t understand how most of the lugs have snapped off – could something be catching on them on the other side of the drum?

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius WMA32

If you look on the underside of the lifter you will see that the moulding at the front end looks like a letter K, This is what the drum tab locks behind. If you look inside the drum at the position this will align with, you will see the tab that needs raising, it is part of the drum itself. Lift it up about 25° to 30°.

Shine a torch into the bottom of the drum before you refit the new lifters to check for any foreign bodies.

[gooch]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius WMA32

Thanks everyone for your help – I have finally found the tabs – now I will play the waiting game and see how long the lifters last. 😆

[Author]

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