[dave_h]

Re: Zanussi 1397 spin/no spin problems

Yippee – think I’ve sorted leak. Spin Doctor – that was the missing info -I thought that it took in a hot/cold mix -possibly does ,but if hot is at low temp , it needs a bit of help – tried a 40 wash,and let it into cycle -stopped it on a quick wash, with water below door level -it’s hot .

So to all who helped -Mrs H sends a virtual pint .

[dave_h]

Re: hotarius point Aquarius 1100 WM63

Very much a newbie to this sort of machine ,but electrical /electronic principles ( I would think apply ) . Now that you’ve found how to stop RCD tripping – I would ( in the absence of a washing machine ecpert ) try reconnection ,one at a time ,to see which one causes RCD to trip . Just my 2p worth .

[dave_h]

Re: Zanussi 1397 spin/no spin problems

Thanks Spin Doctor -think I’ll work on the leak , then try something in for a 40 ,taking it out before the machine fills again -that should tell me .Don’t really want to go looking for imaginary faults due to assumptions ( like as water coming in is matched to temperature chosen ,or as close as , befor heater kicks in )

[dave_h]

Re: Zanussi 1397 spin/no spin problems

So far so good – tried a partial cold fill -and empty -all ok .Then tried a short spin ,again ok .Then tried a 40wash – looks ok ,and a long spin – again ok.
So that’s the spin problem cured .But , got a leak -possibly from the hose to the drum -that’s the one I thought might be iffy .
Now ,can anyone tell me -on a wash , does water get heated during wash ,or before ,as when drum rotates ,water is cold .There’s no blockage of the hot supply – I’ve run the tap hot and monitored the water in at the soap dispenser -hot .

I’ve taken some photos showing underside and the air chambers if they’re any use to the site – some a bit blurred ,but possibly of some use to someone like me as first timer trying to get to the air chambers . Only bit of advide I’ve got for anyone moving the spring clips is to tie a bit of string to them when removing and refitting -prevents them flying off into the machine if moles are used -there must be a proper tool ,but in all my years of replacing hoses/pumps on elderly twin tubs etc -never found one .

[dave_h]

Re: Zanussi 1397 spin/no spin problems

Update – info a big help -now spotted capillories to pressure switches so I could then spot air chambers-
getting into filter one took a bit of thought – but was a lot easier than I’d have thought .That was the one causing the problems ( I’d say ) -full of fluff ,with no real escape path( hand the jap designer of this a sword ,someone) .Took a bit of blasting outside with hose to get it out .The other air chamber on this machine ,I’d say leave alone ,unless you can see it’s blocked – any muck getting in will come out by gravity( and this machine is almost a teenager) .( and the sump hose is a bit of a pig to refit .
Can confirm that disconnected chambers can also cause really wierd problems -I hadn’t secured the clip over the solid end – result programmer going wild ,programs half working etc .
But this one is determined to try me .Got it up and running again -tried a fill ,but then discovered pump not working – so get a wet floor .Turned out wire had popped off motor .So leaving any further work till tomorrow -then I can check for leaks ( especially the sump hose ) .

[dave_h]

Re: Zanussi 1397 spin/no spin problems

Penguin45 wrote:There are two air chambers on most of these. One is in the side of the top of the sump hose – split the casing to access. The other is part of the box which the filter fits into. It is retained by snap-in lugs through the floor of the machine and it’s really, really awkward to remove.

Penguin45.

Just to makesure I’ve found them both – one is on the output of the sump , and goes off upwards on a thin hose , the other is from the filter – both parts connected ,andit looks like both have to be removed together – with several smal hoses removed – but the hoses seem almost glued on -any tips for removal with no damage .

BTW blokes -i’m a maintenance eng by trade ,though it’s on comms electronics and comms/radio – so the principles etc ain’t foreign to me – but the “geography” is – I was taught -“know how it works ,then if it goes faulty ,find out whatit’s not doing , and compare to what it should do ,then you can start looking for a solution”

[dave_h]

Re: Zanussi 1397 spin/no spin problems

Thanks ,Penguin – job for tomorrow .Anyone got any ideas on the temperature problem .Haven’t done any testing yet – just looking at what ifs ,to ty and narrow problem down .

What doescome to mind is that some time ago ,we had a problem with kitchen gulley not clearing properly .On investigation I found a lot of white solid in the bottom ( like solidified soap powder , and thought mrs H had been overfeeding Zanussi ) -possibly now not dissolved properly due to low low temperature wash -if so ,it’s a credit to the machine ,that it has never failed to wash properly .

[dave_h]

Re: Zanussi 1397 spin/no spin problems

Update -after next wash -back to no spin .Brushes ok ,need some help on location of air chamber -bit more info – on short spin – drum moves a coupleof times ,then program switches to end ,condensor motor kicks in for a few seconds ,and program jumps to drain ,drum rotates once or twice then stops .Spin problem occurs whether full /empty .When it decided to work ,it span an item (IMHO) CLOSE TO MAX LOAD .

Tried a really hot wash to see if it would shift any gunk in places .Seemed strange that drum window did not steam up – so tested water temp – stone cold .Tried shutting off cold supply – with hot tap indicating about just around 40 – programs at 40 ,would not fill , programs over did fill -so it looks like hot control is ok .Switched on cold -it fills ok ,and no back fill to hot inlet .Cold responds to water valve control ,but not it seems to tempperature control .

Suspecting now that spin problem could be related to gunk in air chamber (assuming temperature has been low for some time ) .

Any ideas on the temperature problem would be appreciated – and the location of aur chamber ( to elimunate /prove fault there)

[dave_h]

Re: Zanussi 1397 spin/no spin problems

TheSpinDoctor wrote:Hi.

Things to check:

Motor brushes.

Air chamber.

Loading.

As said -haven’t been inside ,but motor ( working on assumption that it’s single motor with different configuration for fast spin) rotates drum on wash ,and after a bit does run every time on fast ( 1250) spin -unless there’s separate brushes for fast spin section .
.
Loading ,presume you mean in drum – still performs the same ,taking several attempts to get to proper spin cycle ,then stays that way on every attempt ,till a wash/rinse cycle is used – from empty to nigh on a full load . .

Having seen mention of air chamber elsewhere -strikes as possibility – as machine does more from a wet condition it performs a fuller spin cycle –
got some Dr beckman -will try that on a hot wash( if the rest of MC has powder sludge like fluff filter it’s a possibility -failing that will have to upend M/C and check brushes and chamber .

Edit ,to add update -mrs tells me that MC has completed cycle on a hot wash,no detergent ,only a bottle of Dr Beckman -spin cycle now back to normal -only now remains to test machine with clothes ,but on surface fault appears to be cured – from items above ( and the bits of soap powder gunk I saw) -strong possibility that it was air chamber gunked up .

Thanks to all for advice -if still giving problems will report back .

[Author]

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