Recovering item from outer drum – Ariston AWD12

[DG55]

So I managed to do a wash cycle with a wallet in the load. I recovered the screwed up wallet and its contents, but there is one card missing, regular credit card size, and I am almost certain that it has worked its way into the gap between the inner and outer drum. Once I had figured out that the card was missing, I noticed coinsidentally that the machine was making some unusual grinding/clicking/knocking noises on that very cycle. The noises have stopped now, so I assume the card is now in a location where it is not getting pinballed between the drums.

So far this machine has been notorious for letting all-sorts into the filter, which is another reason I highly suspect the card is inside the drum, but unfortunately this item is too big to fit into the drain pipe.

Anyway, is there any way I can get the card out from between the drums? I am happy to dismantle things a bit, but I just have no idea where to start! Is there any easy thing I can try? All I need is a view into the gap inbetween the drums so I can try to find it and hook it out. Is it even possible to take the inner drum out at all?

I will be very very greatful if someone anyone can help at all. Even if it is not specific to this particular machine – just some advice about how I might go about getting inside the machine would be very much appreciated.

Many many thanks.

[iadom]

Re: Recovering item from outer drum – Ariston AWD12

DG55 wrote:

So far this machine has been notorious for letting all-sorts into the filter,
What you really mean is that the users of this machine have been notorious for not bothering to check pockets etc before loading into the machine as advised in the user manual. 😉

It does not matter what make of appliance you have, if you don’t check pockets, wash underwired bra’s, coins, hairgrips, etc, etc then at some point these will find their way into the filter. Thats of course if they don’t punch a hole in the outer drum and totally wreck the machine. 😥

Your machine has a totally sealed drum, the only way you can access the inside is by removing the large sump hose or by taking out the heating element from the back. The heater is not really designed to be removed and refitted but it can be done with care.

Be sure to remove the mains plug and watch out for some sharp edges.

[DG55]

Re: Recovering item from outer drum – Ariston AWD12

Thanks for the reply. Yes absolutely, it is indeed our fault for putting foreign objects in the wash, apart from the ribbons and stringy bits which have fallen off clothes of course. Just wanted to make the point that, from past experience, it is extremely likely that the card has gone into the drum.

Doesn’t sound very likely that I’ll be able to remove it, but worth a try.

The sump hose looks like the obvious place to start, do you know where I am likely to find this and how I can access it? I assume it is at the bottom front, in which case I can turn the machine on its side and access from underneath? Any special tools required?

Cheers.

[iadom]

Re: Recovering item from outer drum – Ariston AWD12

No special tools for the sump hose, possibly better laid on its back but do take care not to splash any water on the main PCB.

TBH if you tip it back or lie it on its side the chances are the card will slide out of the way.

The heater at the back would be the way I would go in personally.

[DG55]

Re: Recovering item from outer drum – Ariston AWD12

Done. Tipped it forward just enough to get underneath and remove the hose, the card was right there at the bottom. 🙂

Cheers for your advice.

[Author]

Posts