Servis M330 – Element failed,damaged by drum

[Gerryo]

Nine year old Servis M330, started making knocking noise on fast spin.

Thought it was the springs getting weaker or unevenly distributed clothes. Stopping the spin cycle, letting the drum spin down, then continue spin cycle usually stops the noise.

This week, it tripped the RCD when heating water.
Took out the element, saw it was scored at one end where the drum had been hitting it. Measured the resistance to earth with the element in a bucket of water, meter reads less than 1 Mohm.

I surmise the drum damaged the element, caused a minute crack & corrosion at the impact site. I guess I can replace it, but I assume worn drum bearings caused the drum to start hitting the element on full loads.

I don’t notice much play in the drum bearings, but it’s hard to tell without spinning on a full load.

Is this the common cause of element failure in these machines?

Cheers

[Dave_Conway]

Re: Servis M330 – Element failed,damaged by drum

Gerryo wrote:Is this the common cause of element failure in these machines?

Yes, is the simple answer 🙂

Either the bearings have failed or the drum support shaft/spider has cracked.

There’s no point fitting a new element until the underlying issue has been resolved to be honest.

Power off when checking please..

Dave.

[Penguin45]

Re: Servis M330 – Element failed,damaged by drum

Or the heater stability bracket has rotted off the base of the drum, allowing the element to flap up and down, contacting the drum.

Penguin45.

[Gerryo]

Re: Servis M330 – Element failed,damaged by drum

Penguin45 wrote:Or the heater stability bracket has rotted off the base of the drum, allowing the element to flap up and down, contacting the drum.
Penguin45.

Well, it looked OK when I removed it, no corrosion.
Plenty of calcium carbonate though.

However, could it have shifted over the years, it’s only held in place by a single bolt through the grommit?

When spinning with an unbalanced load, the drum assembly often smacks off the sidewall, probably have weak springs. There was a lot of grey dust underneath (concrete?).

TBH, it was a bit noisy, so it’s probably the drum bearings, don’t see anything else cracked/broken.

Will have to have a good look this weekend, see how much it will cost to put right.

Thanks for the replies.

Gerry

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