Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
OK< I can understand the lack of enthusiasm to my ridiculous saga.
I have just ONE question, that I hope someone can answer as I cannot find the answer to it on the internet.
How much lateral (side to side) movement should there be in the drum when the machine is off?? How many inches should I be able to push the drum, from side to side?
I have done nothing further with the machine, but rather used it the way I used to (before I became timid with it), with a full load. It actually worked normally, with the exception that, during the final spin, it was vibrating more than it used to do. It wasn’t walking across the floor or moving about, but there was more of a side to side drum movement inside the cabinet.
I imagine there is a loss of interest in my ‘project’, nevertheless, I am still thinking about why, with the new suspension rods, things are not better. I opened the machine up again today. While there is little play when pushing the tub down, the amount of play, pushing the tub from side to side is more than I expect it should be. As you know, the replacement rods that I bought are for the next newer model of the Hotpoint. The bottom of my original rods have two metal brackets that cover rubber bushings, one on top of the chassis, and one that screws into it, underneath, like this:
https://imgur.com/a/OScasnA
The newer rods just have smaller rubber bushings, one on top of the chassis and one that presses into it underneath, like this:
https://imgur.com/a/1KG8Qs3
I think that these new bushings are providing too much lateral movement to the tub, so that, while the tub movement may not be ‘excessive’ it is more than it was with the original rods. So I’m thinking about going back in, and replacing the smaller rubber bushings at the bottom of the rods with the original metal brackets. What do you think??Well, if nothing else, the top of the drum is central. I suppose I’ll just keep using the old girl as she is until she gives up……
I’m not happy. While my machine has less vibration than it did before I replaced the suspension rod, it is still vibrating more than before, particularly on the final fast spin. I’ve tried balancing the load, checking the machine’s level, looking again for a cracked chassis, checking the bearings, checking the concrete block, etc. While I suspect that the original suspension rods were more ‘robust’ than the replacements, I’m still wondering if something is amiss. I know that I’ve been told here that putting the top rubber bushing in ‘width ways’, rather than ‘length ways’ along the tub should not cause a problem, as long as it’s tight. The rubber bushing has that metal housing on it, which is curved along its length, (which should go alongside the plastic tub) and open along it’s width (which should go alongside nothing, but is currently alongside the plastic tub). Part of me feels compelled to go back in and correct this. When I put my hands on the sides of the machine to try to identify where this vibration is coming from, both sides are vibrating and I can’t feel much difference. But something is amiss. Is there anything else I can check? Do these springs on the top of the machine have much importance (they’ve never been changed). I’m at a loss to understand what’s going on…..:(
Update. I did a full load of wash. And found out what the banging is…..the 3 screws at the bottom of the front panel are missing, and the panel is banging against that ‘kick plate’ at the very bottom. Whew. Other than that, everything worked well.
Thank you all again for all your advice and putting up with my silliness….and my effort to keep this machine going. Looks like, at least for the moment, the Hotpoint 95360 has a future. Thanks again.OK, this is how stupid I can be. I’m studying how to load my washing machine. I found this:
https://www.ariel.co.uk/en-gb/washing-machine-101/common-problems/loading-a-washing-machine
Do you guys know how to do laundry properly (I can’t believe I’m asking this….)
Does having one heavy thing in with a load of lighter things cause the machine to be off balance?
Is this one hand idea in that Ariel link the way to do this?OK, will try this. In racking my brain, I don’t think that the bracket was there. I seem to remember the ‘loop’ at the top of the tubes, and just sliding the heater in as I was putting the front plate back on. I guess I’ll have to tackle the clips again….I can’t do this with my hands alone, but was able last time, with a bit of difficulty, to do this with the help of a pliers. I see that Ebac has kindly replaced the clips with screws. A much better idea!!
Anyway, so, I pull the heater out, there is no bracket at the end, which hopefully means that the bracket is still attached to the securing lug in the plastic tub. Presumably I can fish it out from its position, put it back on the heater element, and then slide all in properly. Got it. I will do a test load of laundry on Sunday, see if the banging is still there with a more balanced load. (I guess I have to learn how to do laundry properly…lol. Heavy things together like towels and sweatshirts, and a separate wash with lighter things.). Then I’ll tackle the heater element next week, when I get up the gumption to do this.
Thank you for all your advice and help. My continued insistence on an ‘economy wash’ appreciates it!!To be honest, I don’t remember if it was there or not. I just remember the tubes, but not if there was anything at the tip of it. As the heater element is attached in some way to that front drum plate, and slides into the plastic drum itself, how do you get it out without removing the front plate? I can’t figure out how this is possible….the front plate has the seal, is clipped on to the drum. In looking at that photo above, I see that the element sits in some kind of ‘indentation’, and obviously the front part of it is outside of the front plate, where all the electrics attach to it. So it’s possible just to try to prise it out through that hole? And what prevents the hole from leaking, when you put the element back in again?? I can see that this would be difficult (probably more difficult than actually having to deal with the clips again…..)
And yes, I will most certainly do another proper load, before attacking any of this.
Ah, ok. Yes I know the top was cropped off…it’s from a video on the internet. The purpose was just to show that I have to remove the front clips to pull out the heater element, no??? Is there another way to do this without taking off the front plate??? Or does this mean that I have to take the front plate off again to check.
Yes, I used that old photo just to show that the plastic housing where the metal plate should go, would dictate that the metal plate should be parallel to the tub, rather than perpendicular and sticking out sideways, as it currently is. I’m glad you advise that this is ok….I really didn’t want to have to deal with this again, but was already starting to make plans to do it. Thank goodness you said it was unnecessary.
The heating element is attached to the front tub plate, like shown in this photo, so hopefully it’s inserted properly. The front plate can only go on with the little ‘nubs’ between the plate and the rest of the plastic tub lined up perfectly:
https://imgur.com/a/LW8Dm0j
I will try to do another wash with a full load that’s more balanced, and see if there is any difference. I will say that even with the tub looking more unbalanced than the first load after the suspension repair, even so, the washer cabinet wasn’t rocking around back and forth, like it was originally doing.
Remember (LOL) despite having ‘taken this to bits’ I really don’t know what I’m doing with this, so can be inclined to panic. If it wasn’t for the calm and educated responses I’m getting here, I’d be a basket case….;)Ugh. Just the thought of having to deal with those clips in the front tub plate is a nightmare. As the heating element just slides into that channel (and it’s impossible to attach the front tub plate without aligning it to the rest of the plastic tub) how do you ensure that the front bracket is in the right place???
But before I try to tackle this again, some questions:
The tub in my second video seems less balanced than immediately after the new suspension rod was put in.
Could this be caused because the top gasket on the suspension rod (which is a rectangular plate) was put in crossways, so that it is perpendicular to the tub, rather than parallel?? Does this make a difference???????
Could this be caused just because, for some reason, the load was unbalanced (one heavy sweatshirt among other lighter items).I don’t think there’s a problem with the heater element, as it’s attached to the front drum plate, so I don’t think I could have screwed this up. But I’ve noticed this. The top of the new suspension rod has the square rubber gasket (similar to what was originally on the bottom). The guy that screwed the suspension rod in for me put that top square gasket in sideways.
This photo shows where the suspension rod is attached, and you’ll notice that it should be going from ‘front to back’ alongside the tub:
https://imgur.com/a/O7u3Gvl
But when I look down in the machine with the top off,so I can see the metal plate….it’s going sideways (so it’ sticking out toward the washer cabinet/side panel). Is this something that needs to be corrected? Could this be the problem?I should really be taking photos of everything as I take the machine apart. I don’t recall much about the heater element other than that it was two rods that connected and just slid under the machine. Does the bracket connect to anything, or just works as a wedge in the cavity where the heater element sits?? I’m a bit ‘tuckered out’ taking the machine apart so often, but will put this on my to do list. Is the issue that the drum will be damaged, or just the heating element?
Hmmm…In looking through my service manual, I see that there’s a ‘heater support bracket’ under the tub. When I’ve taken the heater out, it has just slid out, and I’ve slided it back in, but never attached it to any bracket. Hopefully that’s the banging…..???
OK. Thanks for looking at the videos. I did notice that the cabinet was not shaking nearly as much in the second ‘repaired’ video, as it had before the suspension rod was put on, but glad that this is not considered excessive. I’ve checked the chassis, and at least visually, it looks fine. I’ve also checked the weights, at least the one on the top, and it is secure. The drum does look rather ‘off balance’ as the spin slows down, and it’s a bit more than it was directly after the new suspension rod was put in. I don’t recall anything holding the heating element in place….it just slid into the channel below the tub and sits there. Is there supposed to be something that holds it tightly?? I also noticed, with the new drum pulley, that it is (very) slightly ‘warped where the belt is, where it goes in about 1/8 inch or so, at a particular point in the revolution. This was a replacement, as one of the arms on the original had a hairline crack in it.
Anyway, as long as I know that what is happening is not something to be alarmed about…..
