Hotpoint VTD20G dryer – scraping noise

[Callieskye]

Hi! I’ve got a Hotpoint VTD20G (31328) that is driving me crazy. About a month after the extended warranty ran out, a very loud scraping noise started occurring intermittedly. Now it’s almost constant. Since it’s out of warranty I decided to pop it open and see if it was anything obvious. All I found was a LOT of lint all over the machine. I’ve removed that, it didn’t help, so I’m not really sure what to try now. Seems like maybe the drum is riding low or loose and scraping against something?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

~Becky

[Davo40]

Re: Hotpoint VTD20G dryer – scraping noise

Hi,im a ex hotpoint engineer,when that model came out i was going to maybe 3 or 4 calls for the same fault every week.Its caused by the drum hitting the rear panel,hotpoint brought about 4 different mods to cure the problem,sometimes worked sometimes not,they eventually made a new drum to fit that has a different rear profile,this is the only thing that will cure it!!!

[helo_75]

yup…. the drums the only real cure for that im afraid… asnd they aint the easiest thing to fit to be honest

welcome davo….. hope you’ve joined the trade section

pm me if u wanna chat about comet

[petalpop]

Re: Hotpoint VTD20G dryer – scraping noise

as the machine is a few years old could it just be the rear bearing
easy to change and only cheap £5 to £10

[helo_75]

nope.. itll need a drum for sure

only way youll stop it……..

[Callieskye]

Re: Hotpoint VTD20G dryer – scraping noise

Thanks for all the info guys. We took it apart anyway. LOL Curiosity killed the cat and all that. Just like you said. I couldn’t fix a single thing. 😳

I can definitely see what you’re talking about, the drum is definitely scraping the back wall… problem is the fan is directly behind the scraping place. So if you dent the wall out so the drum doesn’t scrape, then suddenly the fan on the other side scrapes. *sigh* You’d think they’d have thought about this BEFORE they manufactured it. :rolls:

I’m curious though, how come it didn’t make the scraping noise for the first 2 years? It does look like the drum is setting a bit further back than it should. If you push it together the felt lining disappears, but as soon as you let up on the pressure it becomes visible again. I’m thinking this is what’s causing the massive lint build up inside the walls instead of in the lint trap where it should be.

So really… two more general questions I guess 🙂

1. How much does a drum normally run?
2. Petalpop – rear bearing? What’s the rear bearing? (I did have the whole thing apart in pieces so if you can describe it I’m pretty sure I’ll recognize it)

[Martin]

Re: Hotpoint VTD20G dryer – scraping noise

Callieskye wrote:rear bearing? What’s the rear bearing? (I did have the whole thing apart in pieces so if you can describe it I’m pretty sure I’ll recognize it)

The rear central pivot/drum shaft sits on the rear bearing. And it is to be found behind the small metal box (or in later versions) a plastic cover just above the heater unit. 🙂

[petalpop]

Re: Hotpoint VTD20G dryer – scraping noise

the shaft at the back of the drum goes through it and if it has worn the drum will lean back and scrape the back panel

[Callieskye]

Re: Hotpoint VTD20G dryer – scraping noise

Okay guys, I offically hate my dryer. With a passion. The noises are louder and the drum seems to be slipping backwards, at one point it stopped rotating altogether until I yanked it forwards. sheesh!

I’ve investigated the rear bearing (I know it’s likely the drum – but better to check the easily replaced stuff rather than jump straight into an expensive call out charge right?)

Rear Bearing. Okaaaaaayyyy… Found it easy enough, looked a few up online, but I have no idea how to remove it. Doesn’t look like any earth fastenings that I’m familiar with, let alone decide whether it’s worn down and needs replacing or not. (Here’s a picture of it, Rear bearing, Bearing again maybe someone can enlighten me! :))

I know that if I pull the drum forward from the inside the bearing moves, like a screw that isn’t screwed in tight enough, but that brings us back to the alien-type fastening… how DO you make it tighter?

[helo_75]

there is the kit that might help. which changes the front supports, the felt at the back, and a washer is placed between the back of the drum and the rear panel. its designed tio try and push the drum forward!

well, the 2yr question? noone knows, not even hotpoint, although it is possible, as petalpop says, that the shaft is worn or even the bearing.. all the bits are included in the kit.. part number 1703080

you could try it, some work, some need a drum, its certainly the cheaper option

parts available, as always, from the helpful guys at ukwhitegoods

hope this helps.. hang in there – the newer generation have other, different problems!

[Callieskye]

Re: Hotpoint VTD20G dryer – scraping noise

So.. it hasn’t beat me yet! *laughs* every day I learn a little bit more about this dryer o’mine.

Decided to take it ALL apart today. No more messing around with this half hearted stuff. It seems to make sense now. I’ve got the drum back into the little white supports and the felt is all snug where it should be… alas.. I’ve also located the inside of the rear bearing. It waggles all over the place! No matter how tight it gets screwed in this is definitely where the drum tilting is coming from. So I guess this means I need a new bearing.

I just wanted to check before I got anything. Everything else seems okay so I don’t think I need the whole kit… probably just the rear bearing pieces. (Of course… even if when I get the new bearing, I don’t know how to detach the the current one. Is there some special tool that I obviously don’t have or just something obvious that I’m not understanding.

So.. if I’m on the right track here, where exactly do I go to order the new bearing piece?

Thanks for all your help guys!

[petalpop]

Re: Hotpoint VTD20G dryer – scraping noise

click the bottom of your last post and you will be able to order one
to replace you just straighten one end of the wire (makes an s shape when looking at the photo you posted) then pull it out
the part will then prise off
PLUG OUT

[Callieskye]

Re: Hotpoint VTD20G dryer – scraping noise

Thanks Petal!! I actually managed to figure that one out a little bit before you posted! I was definitely excited. Heh

Btw, the dryer has drawn first blood! *grins* I’ll keep you updated on the war!

😀

[Callieskye]

Re: Hotpoint VTD20G dryer – scraping noise

Remember those wonderful times (like 30 minutes ago) when I’d convinced myself it was merely the bearing and not the drum?

Well after removing the bearing I was rewarded with this horrible view: Gash. That is an actual slice that’s been worn through the metal by the drum. ARGH!

So here we go again… 🙁 how expensive is this going to get? am I better off scraping the machine and getting a new one?

[Penguin45]

Re: Hotpoint VTD20G dryer – scraping noise

You can quite safely ignore the gash………

Penguin45.

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