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We have a Hotpoint WMF740 washing machnine and have had it a number of years. About a year ago I replaced the motor brushes, but otherwise it has been reliable. Recently it has been making a very loud clattering noise on high speed spin. It will run quite normally during the wash cycle and on a low spin, but started getting noisy as the speed cranks up towards the end of the wash cycle. I checked it a while back and could find nothing obvious. There seemed to be no play in the bearing and nothing else looked out of place in the back so we continued to use it.
Yesterday it was so noisy that I decided it needed another look. I kept well clear and let the spin cycle complete and today decided to have another look. Again, I can see nothing obvious. One of the plastic suspension spring mounts is a little loose, but not cracked or broken. There still seems to be no play on the drom and bearing and the flywheel and belt look fine as well. I am wondering, given the age of the machine, whether the shock absorbers may be weakening? Could this cause the machine to get noisy on vigorous action such as a fast spin? They do feel a little sloppy when I push the drum around but I can’t tell whether the slight play is in the absorber or its mount.
I hadn’t, but just did. There is just one large piece of concrete on the top of the drum and it is firmly attached, so the noise is not being caused by a loose concrete. Was a good point though.
Drum spider has cracked in English that means the drum 3 legged aluminium support and shaft (that goes through the bearings) has cracked – common. OR front concrete weight has cracked also common. Sure to be one or t`other or even both!!
TailSpin wrote:I hadn’t, but just did. There is just one large piece of concrete on the top of the drum and it is firmly attached, so the noise is not being caused by a loose concrete. Was a good point though.
there is another big concrete weight at the front under the door rubber
Dave
Ok, Dave, will take the back off and check that one as well.
Wouldn’t a cracked spider leg result in some play in the drum?
I ask because I don’t really feel any, but only one way to tell for sure…cracked spider leg leads to drum run out. when you spin by hand the drum is out of true. during spins with a load in the other spider arms flex and it starts hitting both the door rubber and possibly the outer tub. it can continue until the tub rubs through and it floods
Dave
Dave, there is indeed a concrete weight at the front bottom. There doesn’t appear to be any give, but I would have to tip the washer over and have a look through the bottom to be sure. Unfortunately I am not in enough of a fit state to be able to do that at the moment. I am still recovering from sciatica and even pulling the thing out to access the back and top was something of a effort and a bit of a risk.
I also tried to check the drum to see whether it is out of true and it looks like it might be slightly. I observe that the bottom seems to move in and out a little (perhaps 2-3mm) when comparing to the position of the rubber skirt. I can see how vigorous rubbing and shaking might eventually rip the rubber.
The bad news is that I have so far been unable to find a spider arm part for this model. Will have another look tomorrow though and maybe contact Hotpoint via chat.
if you are saying the inner drum moves 2 or 3 mm inside the outer drum then thats too much
on spin you have a heavy load of washing trying to push the drum in all directions. if there is any play in the inner drum it will bang about inside the outer one
a small amount of play front to back is ok but up and down is a no no
DaveDave, I don’t feel any slack but having had another look this morning there does appear to be both back-front and up-down movement of about 3mm. I see the steel rim of the inner drum rising a little above the edge of the rubber and then dipping level and perhaps slightly below with it, as well as moving away and then towards it. That tends to suggest that the inner drum is slightly off-centre.
Hmm, bad news is that the spider arm is not available separately and I have to buy a complete drum assembly, which costs 203GBP + VAT. That’s at least half the cost of a new machine…
TailSpin wrote:Hmm, bad news is that the spider arm is not available separately and I have to buy a complete drum assembly, which costs 203GBP + VAT. That’s at least half the cost of a new machine…
welcome to modern manufacturing methods
sealed drums means scrapping machines that would be reconditioned 20 years ago
Dave
Yup, sounds about right. I am not looking for a new one. Initially looked at Miele, but they are just too expensive and cost of repairs is prohibitive. It seems their modern versions don’t quite have the same legendary robustness that their older machines are known for. AEG seem to be a good quality alternative brand, a bit more expensive, but apparently better quality than your average Hotpoint, Hoover, Whirlpool etc. Any other brand recommendations?
UPDATE: Have now ordered an AEG model L7FEC946U. They will take away the old one when they deliver it so I guess the matter can now be considered closed.
“Hmm, bad news is that the spider arm is not available separately and I have to buy a complete drum assembly, which costs 203GBP + VAT. That’s at least half the cost of a new machine..” You meant the complete tank/drum assembly. And yes, at 203 quid plus VAT it is pathetic, typical of the domestic appliance trade, it is ridiculously priced.
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