Indesit W161 drum bearing

[cookm]

Hi,

Has anyone else had a drum bearing go on their W161 washer?

Mine is just over a year old (typical, just outside warranty!), bought in March ’03 at Comet, and when spinning it now sounds like concorde taking off! I reckon the W161 was an experiment by Merloni which went wrong (1600rpm is probably too fast a speed for the bearing!).

I’ve looked around and for this model two possible bearings are identified:- 6205-2Z or 6206-2Z

Can anyone help me to find which one is correct?

Many thanks,

Martin

[Dave_Conway]

Re: Indesit W161 drum bearing

It will have both of those bearings, 6205 and 6206 as well as the shaft seal which will aslo need replacing.

I can sort the lot out for about £20 inc post etc.

If you want these ordered and sent to you, drop me an email.

Regards

Dave.

[cookm]

Re: Indesit W161 drum bearing

Cheers, Dave. I’ve e-mailed you…

Is this a common fault with this washer do you know? And if so is it because the bearing is not designed to take the high spin speed?

Thanks,

Martin

[Dave_Conway]

Re: Indesit W161 drum bearing

Yeah I got the email, which I’ll reply to directly, for others’s benefit with similar problems…………..

The bearing on this particular machine is no different than many others, several factors effect premature bearing failure:

1/ The bearing seal – stops water entering the bearing housing, the most common cause of bearing failure. Can be effected by, poor quality material used for the seals and drum support shafts, badly designed sealing arrangements.

2/ Poor quality bearings used in production (cost saving measures to keep appliance prices low).

3/ High spin speeds used constantly – 1600rpm is too high, you will see little difference if you reduced the speed to 1000rpm for most fabrics. High spin speed is a selling tool for retailers and manufacturers but is something us repairers will advise against in the main.

4/ Constant overloading, this coupled with all or some of the above will signifantly reduce the time it takes before bearing failure.

So, as a guide, buy a good quality appliance with a reasonable spin speed (1200rpm maximum), do your homework by asking an engineer and/or other people with machines that have lasted a reasonable timescale without too many major repairs, and the biggest one of all, don’t be pulled in by the “low price” nonsense, all applinaces are not the same as is generally thought sometimes, you get what you pay for as they say 😉

Dave.

[admin]

Re: Indesit W161 drum bearing

Another failed bearing…………..How awkward is the repair job?

[Dave_Conway]

Re: Indesit W161 drum bearing

Longmeadow wrote:Another failed bearing…………..How awkward is the repair job?

Fairly straightforward if you have general idea of how to go about drum bearing replacement.

Check around the public areas, there’s lots of references to it.

Dave.

[admin]

Re: Indesit W161 drum bearing

I read with great interest your problem. I bought an Indesit W161 washing machine from comet on 10th July 2003 so again just out of guarantee. My machine has also just died having become increasingly louder and chewed several items of laundry. I have contacted Indesit and was told I should have had extended guarantee.I have spoken to a local reputable repair company who have recommended getting rid of it and buying a decent machine. I will never buy indesit again. I have just bought a zanussi so hope it will be better.

[admin]

Re: Indesit W161 drum bearing

just read your details on the w161 i have the same problem but now the clothes are getting covered in grease, i have written to indesit 2 weeks ago as mine is 17 months old still no reply customer sevice dont want to know, dont answer the phone we are now going to take the advice of one of your previous e-mails and throw it in the skip and go and buy another one one thats not an indesit

[eastlmark]

Re: Indesit W161 drum bearing

avoid Hotpoint, Creda and Ariston too as they are all the same company now.

[admin]

Re: Indesit W161 drum bearing

Hi all,just out of warrenty as usual machine kept filling with water and skipping cycles,( Indesit answer “oh that will be the Control Circuit board £78.00 delivered then pay someone to fit it,turned out to be a £1.00 piece of pipe from the pressure switch which had a slit in it where it had rubbed on the drum, this happened to be fixed by a very nice bloke who came to fix the fire, he used to fix washing machines, thanks mate

[tallapaula]

Re: Indesit W161 drum bearing

Hi folks,

Its been a few years since I looked in on this fab forum and since id forgotten my old username I had to create a new account.

Not sure if I should resurrect this thread or not but anyways…

I also have an indesit w161. Had been quite happy with it for 5 or 6 years up to now but a few months ago notices spins were noisier and when I turned the drum by hand it seemed slightly rough.

Anyways I went to it today and lo and behold the drum is stuck fast and the clothes inside were still fairly wet.

So I took the back off and found the belt lying on the floor inside.

I guess its a no brainer that the bearings have gone and it has siezed but would appreciate any advice to the contrary if im wrong 🙂

My main question is this…

I have seen reference on this thread to getting instructions on replacing the bearings in a “public area” Just really wanted to put the question out there as to which type of bearing Id need to buy to get the replacement done.

Thanks in advance 🙂

Paula

[Penguin45]

Re: Indesit W161 drum bearing

HERE.

Penguin45.

[tallapaula]

Re: Indesit W161 drum bearing

Thanks penguin.

Do you know where I might find instructions somewhere on how to replace the bearings for this model?
I see from reading around that its quite an advanced job but what the heck. Im never going to learn if I dont try eh?

thanks again,

Paula

[Penguin45]

Re: Indesit W161 drum bearing

The quick “pot boiler” answer is:

1/ Remove the rear cover and lid of the machine.
2/ Remove the belt and drum pulley (Bolt is really tight).
3/ Remove crosspiece on the back of the drum – this contains the bearings and water seals. You will need a large hammer.
4/ Use a drift and hammer to drive out the bearings and seals.
5/ Clean everything, especially the shaft and the brass collar where the new seal will run.
6/ If the shaft is damaged in anyway, the machine is scrap as the cost of a new outer and inner drum assembly is prohibitive.

Stay safe, plug out, use safety glasses and gloves.

Good lick,
Penguin45.

[tallapaula]

Re: Indesit W161 drum bearing

Thats excellent thanks for the advice.

Do you think I should order up a new front door seal as well while Im at this?

thanks,

Paula

[Author]

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