Whirlpool AWO 3551 bearing change advice please?

[T_i_m]

Hi all,

A while back I posted about WM that was given to my Mum on the understanding that it needed fixing but was much newer than her old Hotpoint. Apparently the Hotpoint failed to spin the other day so I looks like I’ll be trying to get the spare machine working.

I’ve changed bearings before, both on a spider and the sealed tub on our old Zanussi so I would just like some pointers from anyone who has done this job on an AWO 3551 (or any clones if such exist) who could give me some pointers re what replacement parts I might need (over bearings and seal etc) and any special tools etc please (I have a reasonably well equipped workshop).

I was thinking of first taking the old bearings out and if that goes ok, order the parts and put it back together again?

Cheers, T i m

[electrofix]

Re: Whirlpool AWO 3551 bearing change advice please?

from the look of it the whole drum unit will have to come out taking care to make diagrams, photos of and wiring that’s removed etc

then you will have to remove the drum clap and split the drum undo the drum pulley and knock out the drum taking care not to damage the shaft

then take a close look at the drum shaft and the aluminium spider attaching it to the drum. if there is any bad corrosion the cost of repair is too high

if all ok knock out the bearings and the parts you should need are as follows

4812 530 58101 Gasket Tub

https://shop.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/4812530 … e-tub-seal

4812 530 58099 Shaft seal 1200

https://shop.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/4812530 … aring-seal

941 0 4812 520 28004 Bearing,ball
6206 2Z C3 GJN

https://shop.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/6206zz- … um-bearing

941 1 4812 520 28066 BEARING 6204 2Z C3 GJN

https://shop.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/9724900 … ne-bearing

Dave

[T_i_m]

Re: Whirlpool AWO 3551 bearing change advice please?

Hi Dave and thanks very much for the prompt reply and info.

So I can tell Mum it’ll cost her about 35+ quid for the parts, once I’ve stripped it down and checked the condition of the key bits etc.

In case it makes any difference to the parts list it’s a:

12 NC 8592 032 15001 ?

Cheers, T i m

[electrofix]

Re: Whirlpool AWO 3551 bearing change advice please?

no probs parts the same with that 12 nc

Dave

[T_i_m]

Re: Whirlpool AWO 3551 bearing change advice please?

Excellent and thanks again for the prompt reply.

I’ll let the group know how I got on.

Assuming it’s just the bearings etc, are these machines generally ok?

Cheers, T i m

[electrofix]

Re: Whirlpool AWO 3551 bearing change advice please?

the older whirlpool units are quite tough but it all depends how its been used as low temp washes and over dosing with soap powder over the years takes its toll

you wont find what its like till you get in there. inspect the aluminium spider for corrosion and there will be a brass ring the water seal turns on. inspect that for bad scoring. you will only get that with very bad failure so if bearings are just noisy it should be ok

as an extra if you want to do a 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} job you need to buy
https://shop.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/univers … ant-grease

you put this in the rubber seal that stops the water. it will lubricate it and makes it not only last longer it stops any chance of squeaking

Dave

[T_i_m]

Re: Whirlpool AWO 3551 bearing change advice please?

Thanks once again for the prompt reply and heads up.

The bearing is now pretty well failed (drum won’t rotate but moves slightly) so I’ll check all the relevant surfaces for damage before ordering anything.

I don’t think it was *that* old when it failed and I can’t remember if it was passed on because it actually failed or was getting noisy / leaking etc (I’ll ask).

I see I mentioned that the tub was held together with clips when I mentioned this machine a few years ago so is there a particular tool required to release / re-fit them or can you advise the use of anything in particular please (if the question is actually relevant etc).

Cheers, T i m

[electrofix]

Re: Whirlpool AWO 3551 bearing change advice please?

seen them but never had to remove them

believe they can be tapped back on with a small hammer but not tried

no doubt whirlpool have special tool number sdlkujsodifjoldfij or the like but not seen one
I suggest you remove a couple and see if you can tap them back

Dave

[T_i_m]

Re: Whirlpool AWO 3551 bearing change advice please?

Hi and thanks again for the info.

I’ll do as you suggest and give the clips a test go etc. I just thought I’d ask in case there was a special tool required and before I broke anything etc.

Thanks again for all your help. 😉

Cheers, T i m

[T_i_m]

Re: Whirlpool AWO 3551 bearing change advice please?

So,

This afternoon we got round to looking at Mums washing machines and found it looks like just the brushes on her old WM (Hoover Ariston Auto 1000 I think? [1]) and after stripping the Whirlpool, we found it was just caked full of limescale and the like? ;-(

The spider looks like it has some surface corrosion (how do you attach a picture here please?) but seems sound and the bearings, shaft and seal all seem nice and tight, smooth, clean and greasy?

So, should I just clean it out and put it back together again and see how we get on, or replace the main seal ‘because’ and the tub gasket or what?

Cheers, T i m

[1] The remaining whole brush measures about 13 x 5mm (rule, vernier is in the garage) with a about 20mm of braid to a mini spade terminal, so would that be enough info to pin a replacement brush down please?

p.s. I used the bench grinder on a pair of large expanding circlip pliers to remove the clips that hold the tub together. It made it pretty easy work, once I’d ground the profile of the end of the jaw to suit the clip that is. 😉

[electrofix]

Re: Whirlpool AWO 3551 bearing change advice please?

go to the full editor and it has options to attach pictures

brushes should be
https://shop.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/sv1202- … on-brushes

Dave

[T_i_m]

Re: Whirlpool AWO 3551 bearing change advice please?

Thanks for that Dave,

These particular brushes are loose, not in a carrier of any sort?

This should be a picture of the spider:

OOI, is it common for a WM to build up such a quantity of loose limescale that it jams the drum up?

Cheers, T i m

[electrofix]

Re: Whirlpool AWO 3551 bearing change advice please?

white deposit can also be aluminium oxide ( ali rust). look at all the legs carefully, scape them and look for bad corrosion that might weaken it. if you poke as hole in it then its time to give up

lime scale, being in Liverpool means we don’t get a lot of lime scale problems but in some part of the country its normal but it would have to build up a lot to stop a drum

Dave

[T_i_m]

Re: Whirlpool AWO 3551 bearing change advice please?

Hi Dave and thanks again for the reply and feedback.

So, we are currently round Mums working on the Whirlpool and after a bit of a clean-up and from a closer look at the spider (in the daylight) it would seem it is indeed cracked (in a couple of places) so I’m guessing it’s finished? ;-(

FWIW, on our old Zanussi TD the rear bearing failed and damaged the central stub on the SS drum and the bearing mount but to my surprise, all the bits were available separately, just requiring me to drill out the rivets holing the spindle mount to the drum and I re-fitted it using cap headed SS bolts and Nylok nuts and it’s been fine ever since (probably 10 years now). 😉

I’m assuming such a replacement (spider) isn’t available for this WM?

So, I think I’m just going to put it back together again (I’ll turn the tub seal 90 degrees to give it a two fresh faces to the tub halves) and hopefully Mum will be able to get a few washes out of it before it fails completely and a chance to choose / find a replacement.

Cheers, T i m

[T_i_m]

Re: Whirlpool AWO 3551 bearing change advice please?

So apart from it coming up with an error code on the first test that was down the the drain pump seized (now freed), it all seems to work and no leaks or bits left over. 😉

I’ll suggest Mum doesn’t use it on the highest spin speed and we can start to look about for a replacement.

Cheers, T i m

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