- This topic has 15 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 6 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Hello.
I’ve got a White Knight 38AW dryer.
My drum stopped turning. I diagnosed that this was due to a snapped belt, because when checking to see if the drum rotated by hand I heard the snapped belt fall into the machine!
Tonight I tried to replace the belt – in fact, I did so successfully. What confused me is that the sides and front appear to be a continuous sheet of metal. I tried removing the back, but was hampered by the blades of the fan, which are larger than the hole they sit in front of.
In the end, I did the following:
1) Removed all screws in the back panel – including removing the panel itself, the cover over the fan and unscrewing what I believe to be the heating element (?).
2) Pulled the top of the back panel as far out as I could without damaging the fan.
3) Lifted the drum as high as possible. I took this opportunity to clean out the inside of the machine.
4) Slipped the belt over the inside of the door rim. From the door-side, I then stretched the belt over the drum.
5) Re-asembled everything, turned the dryer on its side and removed a small plate from the bottom.
6) Used a screwdriver to lever the belt over the motor spindle.
This was really tricky, and now I’m covered in cuts from trying to work around the back not coming off.
The only problem I now have is that I noticed that the felt bearing around the inside of the machine where the drum is seated was disintegrating. I stupidly thought it might work anyway, but it makes a horrible grinding/clanging sound.If I have to replace the felt, I’m wondering – is there an easier way to access the inside of this machine? I don’t fancy lacerating my forearms again if I can help it!
Thanks,
LawrenceEDIT: Ooh! I’ve just seen another thread with a picture of the back with the heating element removed:
Would it be possible to install a new felt bearing without removing the whole back panel, or is that a bit too hopeful? From the picture it looks like it might just push in… 🙂
Re: White Knight 38AW: The back/sides don’t come off!
Hi. Is anyone familiar with this machine? I’m dying to know if there is an easier way in before I order replacement bearings, as I’m concerned that I’ll find it even harder to get to them now that I’ve replaced the belt. 🙁
Re: White Knight 38AW: The back/sides don’t come off!
Unhook belt via bottom plate removal. Back panel off and lift the whole drum out. A very simple straightforward procedure and even easier once you’ve done one or two. (…..as is our lot in the trade, where we quickly learn that the edges of the pressed steel panels are razor sharp! 😉 )
Re: White Knight 38AW: The back/sides don’t come off!
Haha! Thanks, Martin. I’m going to order the part – will be sure to wear a thick sweater and gloves this time!
I figured it may be a case of removing the belt again via the bottom panel. In terms of lifting the drum, do you know of a way of removing the back panel more than the couple of inches that the fan seems to allow? Is it okay to bend the fan slightly?
Also, I didn’t remove the switches from the front last time and the barrel of the timer switch was very in the way. Would probably simplify things a bit if I didn’t skip removal of this! 🙂
Re: White Knight 38AW: The back/sides don’t come off!
I didn’t think so, but had read somewhere else that it was okay to bed the blades a bit! ❗
Will see how I get on with it using the space I will have. 🙂
Re: White Knight 38AW: The back/sides don’t come off!
Is this the 3kg version or a full size version?
Re: White Knight 38AW: The back/sides don’t come off!
Yes, that’s right. 3kg. 🙂 Will probably get a chance to take another look at it tonight.
Re: White Knight 38AW: The back/sides don’t come off!
I did manage to remove the blades by removing the clip and unscrew it without difficulty. It’s how I would put the belt on which is another matter so I am keen to hear from others on how they did it.
I have a theory involving removing the back panel and partly lift the drum out of the door channel and slip the belt on, then screw it back in. Turn the dryer on its side and open up the plate underneath and slip the belt onto the motor. Well that’s the theory but I do know from experience the dryer belt need to be very tight and often requires special tool to do this. If you do know a trick or two, please post back.
Cheers
MattRe: White Knight 38AW: The back/sides don’t come off!
Hi Matt.
I can’t see a “clip” on my blades. Maybe I’m just being silly. I’ll try to get a photo of it sometime, it could be different.
Your theory regarding putting the belt on seems exactly right, and it’s what I did. Slip the belt around the drum with the back open, re-assemble, turn onto side, remove panel and stretch over motor spindle.
I’d seen someone on YouTube use a long screwdriver as a lever and did something similar. It was reasonably easy to get it onto the end of the spindle by hand, but it needed to be further back and this is where levering it in with the screwdriver helped. Other than that, it was really just five minutes of pulling hard, pushing the machine in the opposite direction and swearing at it! Seemed to do the trick. 😛
Lawrence
Re: White Knight 38AW: The back/sides don’t come off!
Alright, now here’s a quick update on my machine!! This is in the hope that someone can help or, at least, that it helps someone else in future.
I emailed the ukwhitegoods store for some assistance in selecting the correct parts. Kenneth has been unbelievably helpful, and has provided me with some exploded-parts diagrams.
It seems that the White Knight 38AW has (links go to products on site):
– Two felt seals (front and rear).
– Two felt strips (rear).
– Three plastic bearing pads (front).
– Either three or (in my case) one plastic bearing pad at the rear.In my case, it’s one of the felt strips that has come off and become rather mangled. Everything else seems fine.
Apart from ONE thing… there appears to be some damage to the “seat” of the drum, underneath where the rear plastic bearing pad should go (see image).
To my untrained eye, this doesn’t seem terminal – but I could understand why it might be. Does anyone have any thoughts?
Other challenges I’ve not resolved, which may make the job easier:
1) How to remove the fan blades from the motor spindle at the rear.
2) How to remove the timer switch on the front control panel, as this would give more space to lift the drum.Re: White Knight 38AW: The back/sides don’t come off!
That damaged drum is going to rip your washing to shreds the first time you use it. My advice : Scrap it!
Re: White Knight 38AW: The back/sides don’t come off!
Martin wrote:That damaged drum is going to rip your washing to shreds the first time you use it. My advice : Scrap it!
Just to be clear – it’s not the drum. It’s the rear ring inside which the drum sits. I can’t see any damage to the drum itself, and this bit would be covered up by the plastic rear bearing pad.
I think I may buy one replacement felt strip, fit it, re-fit the plastic bearing pad and see how it goes. I did mean to double-check the condition of the plastic bearing pad, but forgot to do so.
Re: White Knight 38AW: The back/sides don’t come off!
Just a quick update…
The bit of broken metal was a wafer-thin bit (like tin foil almost!) that goes inside the plastic bearing clip, which then clips onto the machine panel. I replaced the plastic bearing (the old one was worn and had a groove in it), having bent this bit of metal roughly back into shape. I also replaced one of the two felt bearing strips (although it may have been an idea to replace both).
The drum was turning fine when empty. Having put some clothes in it, it started making a horrible grinding noise. I disassembled again. I could see evidence that perhaps the fan blades were catching on the outer cover. After all that was said here, I think I must have bent the fan or its blades whilst trying to undertake the repair.
So, after blood, sweat and (nearly) tears I’ve thrown in the towel (no pun intended!). I’ve stuck it on eBay for spares or repairs at a super-low price and a replacement is arriving from AO.com in the morning.
I suspect I could’ve saved myself the best part of £14 had I heeded advice to scrap it sooner, but at least I can say I’ve had a go. 🙂 Thanks for your help, all.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.