Hotpoint WF320P – Drum bearings – be aware…

[twicknix]

I attended to Hotpoint WF320P washer with failed drum bearings. Finding the fault is not the problem, the problem lies with the parts.

Little did I know that this particular machine or possibly any machines across the range was fitted with different size bearings. This particular machine was fitted with 20mm bearings, on Connect parts list they appears to have 25mm bearings kit. That’s is not the problem but I would require a new spider to make it fit thus increasing the cost of replacing the bearings.

I worked it out that it would be more cost effective long term to replace the whole drum assembly. I made some calls to double check that the drum assembly kit would fit the machine and was told it would be a straightforward swap job. Good I thought so I ordered the parts. When I collected the part – mind you it was huge and it was a struggle to fit it in the back of the car!

When I came to replace the drum assembly, I discovered that it is not a straight swap because of the sump hose and the heater. The new drum in question was for WMA range but was told it would fit WF range. Sadly it is not true unless hotpoint provides conversion kit.

I am beginning to wonder if it is worth replacing the drum at all with any hotpoint machines cos to different drum bearings sizes and its drum assembly replacement. Not worth the time and hassle to be honest.

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint WF320P – Drum bearings – be aware…

I think you may have your sizes mixed up.

The Hotpoint machines have had both 30mm & 35mm bearings for years now.

It is well known about and has been well documented for many years here.

The 30mm shaft was only available as a spare for a very short period and then discontinued.

Your option is to fit the 30mm bearings if the drum shaft is OK or the 35mm shaft & rear half with 35mm bearings if it is not.

You may have ordered a sealed drum which will not replace a screwed one, what is the part number of the drum you ordered?

I did a similar job on a 30mm machine yesterday and changed the drum rear half 1603409 and the drum support 1604290, both 35mm.

You have to make sure the original is a 6kg drum to use the 1603409. There is a different drum rear half for the 7kg machines.

Got two more drum rear halves to do today and on Friday. 8)

Jim.

[odom]

Re: Hotpoint WF320P – Drum bearings – be aware…

If it helps, the way I always tell is: –

Rough top counterweight and metal pulley = 35mm
Smooth top counterweight and plastic pulley = 30mm

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint WF320P – Drum bearings – be aware…

Thats almost always the case but it is not 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} accurate, some 30 mm machines have rough weights and some plastic pulleys have 35mm bearings. 😉

The actual size of the weights is a better clue, thicker weight is nearly always 30mm bearings, unless of course someone like me hasn’t already upgraded it to 35mm ones. 😆

[snig]

Re: Hotpoint WF320P – Drum bearings – be aware…

Also note the 30mm back halve will have 30mm stamped/embossed on it just behind the pulley, however this is difficult to see whist the tub is in situ.

[twicknix]

Re: Hotpoint WF320P – Drum bearings – be aware…

I have been caught out again with the sizes of the bearings today on a different machine WF000P!

Again the supplier is having me on, I followed the advice to change the bearings from 30mm to 35mm along with changing the spider. The original spider and bearings were shot so that leaves with the rear half tub in a usable state providing it is fitted with new bearings or so I thought.

I do not know if I am being naive, that I assumed the 35mm bearing kits will fit easily onto the rear half tub with the old 30mm taken out. Oddly enough the new bearings does not fit as it is too big! Connect website implies that it would fit. Masterpart website seems to offer the two sizes types but they appear to be out of stock and when they get some more is anyone guess.

What really annoys me that the machine was only 2 years old and the likely solution is to replace the entire rear half tub and spider or condemn the £300 machine.

I did my research, explored the options and double check that I was doing it correctly but clearly I was wrong for the second time!

Any advice or suggestion that I may have overlooked?

[allan73]

Re: Hotpoint WF320P – Drum bearings – be aware…

You cannot put 35mm bearings into a 30mm rear half, you must change the complete rear half.

Allan

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint WF320P – Drum bearings – be aware…

twicknix wrote:

Any advice or suggestion that I may have overlooked?

Several of my posts and many from others which all clearly state that you have to change the rear half complete with 35mm bearings to fit the 35mm shaft.

Jim.

[twicknix]

Re: Hotpoint WF320P – Drum bearings – be aware…

Points taken.

Thank you for the advice. Now I will have to try put things right and hope not to make the same mistake again.

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint WF320P – Drum bearings – be aware…

Its always a good idea to use the SEARCH facility.

If you had entered ‘Hotpoint AND Bearings’ in the search box for this forum alone it would have given you 147 threads, many of them relating to the various bearing sizes etc. 😉

Jim.

[Author]

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