Indesit WIL163S Drum Bearings Replacement

[nogger]

Yesterday our WIL163S finally ground its bearings out (to be honest its never been a quiet machine since new). Today as its such a beautiful day outside i thought what better than to try to repair it !
Anyway, i have seen all the YouTube videos showing how to do it , seems straightforward if not a little drawn out. Well i have the top off, front control panel removed & it seems to me that the whole front panel on this machine does not unscrew as it seems to be spot welded on. That being the case then i guess its a question of putting the machine on its side to remove the ballast & suspension springs etc at the bottom, am i right ?

Also , before i go to those lengths i noticed that the outer drum is a metal drum & i believe from reading on the web that the inner drum is sealed inside & not removable. I also believe that the spider that is on the back of the outer panel contains all the bearings so possibly i dont need to remove the drum anyway. Again is this a correct assumption OR is this now a throw away & get a new machine scenario or are the bearing replaceable still ?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Graham

[Martin]

Re: Indesit WIL163S Drum Bearings Replacement

The bearing support hub simply removes from the back. Beware sharp edges will ensure a sunny day spent in A&E. Those Torx headed bolts are challenging, so more fun there!

I favour the skip, (but then I’m biased in favour of buying a better machine) and instead sitting in the back garden this sunny day holding, not a spanner, but a glass of Merlot. Cheers!!!

[nogger]

Re: Indesit WIL163S Drum Bearings Replacement

Thank Martin, that is my plan for later in the day (Garden not A&E)

So i don’t have to remove the drum at all , just the spider ? & the concrete weights that seem to be bolted over the spider fixing screws

If i can get this thing to last a few months more for the sake of a set of bearings then i will be happy, not a good time financially

Thanks again
Graham

[Andy jones]

Re: Indesit WIL163S Drum Bearings Replacement

Good luck and be careful. Count fingers afterwards 🙁

[nogger]

Re: Indesit WIL163S Drum Bearings Replacement

Thanks Andy/Martin I will get my gardening gloves on i think 🙂

I need all my fingers for holding my drink while watching the FA Cup later

Graham

[nogger]

Re: Indesit WIL163S Drum Bearings Replacement

Well i still have a full set of digits, but i can see what you mean. I wonder how many Indesit employees still have a full set ?

Managed to get the bolts out ok (gardening gloves came in handy) that secure the bearing carrier to the drum. Got the drive belt pulley off as well but struggling to get the carrier out so i can replace the bearings. I have put some wood against the drum spindle & given it some wellie but its still reluctant to come off. Decided to adjourn for the day as the football is on shortly & i have to get in the mood 🙂

Had to lie the machine down on it’s back to get at the bottom bolts for the bearing carrier & on righting the machine i noticed one of the top suspension spings had come loose. Never mind i’m sure i can get it back on. About a week before this bearing problem i had issues with a program sticking & on its last rinse before i stripped it (when it was shaking itself to bits) i had red & green lights flashing all over the place so i am hoping a new set of bearings will cure those issues as well although i can’t see a direct connection with those problems

Thanks again for your help
Graham

[Martin]

Re: Indesit WIL163S Drum Bearings Replacement

Don’t get too violent with the lump hammer as any dents and dinks on the stainless outer tank will mean putting it all back will be pointless. Much like getting the lid back on a metal biscuit tin that’s been trampled on.

There is a small metal wedge placed under the bottom spigot arm. Don’t lose that and refit it (very important) when you reassemble.

In my experience, if the front bearing has collapsed and comes off in bits then the whole job is a lost cause and should be scrapped. Any damage to the drum shaft and it’s goodnight Vienna as it’ll start rattling like a Ford Mondeo’s valve springs at 3,000miles after the 2nd wash load. 🙁

[nogger]

Re: Indesit WIL163S Drum Bearings Replacement

Now managed to remove the spider & drift out the old bearings. They don’t appear to have broken up so i’m feeling quite optimistic. They took quite some knocking out though,i think the inner one was rusted in a bit. I hope they drift in easier than they came out.

The shaft of the inner drum doesn’t seem to have been damaged, it’s darker at the end of the shaft nearer the drum & quite polished at the outer end. Also the shaft seem to be machined slightly smaller diameter at the outer end (either that or its worn 😀 )

Will try & get some bearings locally tomorrow or may have to go mail order. There seems to be quite a range of prices for what appears to be the same item&. Will see how it goes after that.

Graham

[Martin]

Re: Indesit WIL163S Drum Bearings Replacement

Go Graham the Nog!… :tup:

[nogger]

Re: Indesit WIL163S Drum Bearings Replacement

Well a new day & a new set of bearings installed. Got some yesterday & fitted them today, they drifted in quite easily & look to be in nice & square.

Results ?, bit of a mixed bag to be honest. When you spin the drum by hand its nice & smooth & no visible end play.When the washer is slowly toggling the clothes back & forth it there’s a graunching sound but when the washer is doing the slow or fast spin it’s spot on. No sound at all except the familiar whistle as it spins up. Strange ,if the bearings aren’t right then why ok at slow & high spin but noisy when slowly contra-rotating ?

Another problem (although this was there before the bearing problem is that program settings 8 & 9 (Flash Wash) doesn’t work properly. It goes through the wash cycle as normal but never kicks on to the final spin & just keeps refilling/slow draining out. The seperate spin program though works fine. Is it possible the programmer is corrupted & can it be reset

Graham

[Martin]

Re: Indesit WIL163S Drum Bearings Replacement

You will recall I referred earlier to ‘the biscuit tin effect’ on these stainless tub & drums. Any slight distorting in the fitting of the bearing support spigot will mean it even fractionally misaligned and the result you are experiencing. That little wedge I also mentioned is there to align that spigot central to the outer tub and must not be overlooked.

As to the programme problem? I’ve no clue TBH. 🙁

[nogger]

Re: Indesit WIL163S Drum Bearings Replacement

Oh well , if it runs a few week longer then i will be happy. My wife has her eyes set on a new LG Direct Drive machine from a local dealer so no doubts i will succumb to the pressure

Thanks for all your help

[Author]

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