Hotpoint WM62 Drum Suspension failure/deterioration

[Simon12345]

Hello,

I have a Hotpoint WM62. Apparently it was manufactured in 1997/8 (according to what looks lika a manufacturing date stamped on one of the drum suspension units).

The problem is that the drum assembly is rocking excessively, causing noise and too much vibration on spin, so the machine creeps around the kitchen floor. I would tolerate this, but the rocking drum also appears to be causing the door seal to distort and ruck up into tight folds where it has started to wear through. I replaced the door seal only a year ago so I do need to cure the vibration.

I almost gave up and scrapped the machine due to the high quotes I was given for new parts, but then I stumbled on your site, and your very reasonable prices have given me incentive to fix it.

My question is: apart from deterioration of the two shock absorbers under the drum, do you know of anything else that could be causing the drum to rock excessively? I don’t overload it. The drum bearings appear fine with no discernable play or noise. The two springs that hold the drum front to back at the top appear to be good. All the machine internals appear to be tight and correctly positioned. The engineer at my local whitegoods shop said it was likely to be the suspension units and that the one under the soap box tends to go first.

Firstly, I think I need two of these: [I tried to put in a link to your spares site here, but it mucked up the format of the post]
(your part number 1601958). Am I right? Apart from the top springs and these two shocks, I can’t see any other parts that support the drum. Is that URL above for a whole suspension unit, or do I need to buy other parts to make up the whole unit? Do you recommend I replace the top springs too?

I will also replace the door seal and hot water inlet valve (to cure a long-term slow leak). It appears that you supply a bearing and seal kit for this model for around £10. I’ll have a look at the bearings and replace the seal. If bearings are clean and smooth, I’ll add a bit mre grease and leave them, if they show any signs of damage or wear I’ll replace them.

Please advise about the drum supports. Do I need to order anything else to overhaul the drum suspension? Having completely dismantled the machine, would you advise replacing the drum bearings even if the originals appear good?

Many thanks for your help!

Simon, Southampton.

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint WM62 Drum Suspension failure/deterioration

This repair kit would be a better option. Suspension kit

It comes with new rubbers and nylon cups which will also be worn on your machine.

If the bearings are nice and quite then you should leave well alone, do not even attempt to remove the inner drum and put more grease into them under any circumstances.

PS, you do not have to remove the drum at any stage to change the bearings in the future.

[Simon12345]

Re: Hotpoint WM62 Drum Suspension failure/deterioration

Thanks for your reply, Iadom.

I have ordered the suspension kit as you suggested and I’ll leave the bearings alone. I have taken the old suspension units off and I noticed there was a lot of grease in them, so I assume the new parts will have to be thoroughly greased too. However, the steel rod seems to slide in a plastic sleeve. Should I use a special plastics grease or would a standard automotive grease be OK? At the moment, I have a tin of Duckhams LB10, ‘an all purpose lithium grease for every chassis greasing purpose’. I also have a universal marine grease, ‘a multi-purpose lithium based grease with a zinc oxide [anti-corrosion] additive’.

I have taken pictures of the wear on the drum seal:

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz22/bikehunter10/WM62doorsealwear2.jpg

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz22/bikehunter10/WM62doorsealwear1.jpg

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz22/bikehunter10/WM62doorsealwear3.jpg

The wear seems to be happening where the seal rubs against itself in the folds. I think with the new suspension and the machine correctly levelled, wear will be greatly reduced. But is there any lubricant I can apply to the outer surface of the seal, so it can slide against itself in future, rather than rubbing and wearing through? Vaseline perhaps?

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint WM62 Drum Suspension failure/deterioration

No lubricant needed on the new suspension units. your door seal shows the classic signs of a weak and possibly twisted suspension system.

The kit will include all you need and more to fix this, no need to rub anything on it.

[Author]

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