I just need some advice please I have a WM52 1000 spin and I think something has gone through the holes in the drum as when the drum is going round I can hear something catching. How easy is it to get it out and if it is left in there could it cause any damage?
Something Stuck Inside Washing Machine
Started by Curious, May 31 2006 02:47 PM
1 reply to this topic
#1
Curious
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Posted 31 May 2006 - 02:47 PM
Curious, is a made up name that I use to re-post questions I answered in my original Washerhelp forum (before I closed it to new questions). The reason I've transferred them to this new forum is to make them easier to find, more useful, and to add more relevant information and related links - as well as to host them on a much better forum. Andy - Washerhelp.
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#2
Washerhelp (Andy)
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Posted 31 May 2006 - 02:53 PM
If there's something stuck between the outer tub and the inner drum, it can write off a washing machine these days. The majority of washing machines have plastic outer tubs. I've seen many where the tub has had a hole punched through it or a crack has appeared. Other parts such as the inner drum, heater, and front plates can also get damaged. The main cause of problems like this is coins.
The most common object that gets stuck inside a washing machine, and makes a noise when the drum turns is an underwire from a bra. These are far less likely to cause any serious damage as they aren't substantial enough, but they can cause leaks by working their way to the front plate seal and more commonly they can get stuck in the sump hose and filter. Once in the filter they snag bits of cotton and fabric, and eventually a build up becomes great enough to block the water from draining.
If it is an underwire from a bra there will be a constant scraping noise when the drum is turned. Assuming it is a bra wire (although other obstructions may be retrieved this way too)
The first thing to check is that a small piece of the end of the wire isn't poking through a hole in the drum. It may not be obvious at all and a normal look could miss it, but I've managed to get the odd one out this way. Look very carefully and feel all round the holes with your hand. If you are very lucky, a millimetre of the end could be protruding from one of the holes. You'd be able to pull it back through with some pliers.
If there's no sign of it, the next thing to try is to get the wire from the sump hose.
Obviously make sure the washer is unplugged from the mains, then take off the back panel.
* The sump hose is the black concertina hose that goes from the bottom of the tub to the water pump.
* Take off this hose at the tub end, and pull it away from the tub.
* Have a towel ready to catch the water that will be inside.
If you are lucky, the wire will be in the top of this hose. Look carefully inside it and then feel carefully through the hole in the bottom of the tub. The wire should be round here - possibly trapped under the heating element.
If you cannot see or feel it here. try tipping the washing machine back and forth to see if the wire slides about and get it to slide to the hole where you can reach it.
If it isn't a bra wire, and you can't find anything in the sump hose and filter, or by tipping the washer back and forth so that the object drops through the sump hose hole then you can't do any more without resorting to major surgery - that is, stripping the washing machine down.
[UPDATE]
A worrying trend among some manufacturers (such as Hotpoint) is to produce washing machines with sealed outer tubs. This makes stripping down a tub to carry out any repair including removing a trapped object is impossible. This is a ridiculous idea and these washing machines should be avoided. I hope to write an article showing which ones are affected soon.
The most common object that gets stuck inside a washing machine, and makes a noise when the drum turns is an underwire from a bra. These are far less likely to cause any serious damage as they aren't substantial enough, but they can cause leaks by working their way to the front plate seal and more commonly they can get stuck in the sump hose and filter. Once in the filter they snag bits of cotton and fabric, and eventually a build up becomes great enough to block the water from draining.
If it is an underwire from a bra there will be a constant scraping noise when the drum is turned. Assuming it is a bra wire (although other obstructions may be retrieved this way too)
The first thing to check is that a small piece of the end of the wire isn't poking through a hole in the drum. It may not be obvious at all and a normal look could miss it, but I've managed to get the odd one out this way. Look very carefully and feel all round the holes with your hand. If you are very lucky, a millimetre of the end could be protruding from one of the holes. You'd be able to pull it back through with some pliers.
If there's no sign of it, the next thing to try is to get the wire from the sump hose.
Obviously make sure the washer is unplugged from the mains, then take off the back panel.
* The sump hose is the black concertina hose that goes from the bottom of the tub to the water pump.
* Take off this hose at the tub end, and pull it away from the tub.
* Have a towel ready to catch the water that will be inside.
If you are lucky, the wire will be in the top of this hose. Look carefully inside it and then feel carefully through the hole in the bottom of the tub. The wire should be round here - possibly trapped under the heating element.
If you cannot see or feel it here. try tipping the washing machine back and forth to see if the wire slides about and get it to slide to the hole where you can reach it.
If it isn't a bra wire, and you can't find anything in the sump hose and filter, or by tipping the washer back and forth so that the object drops through the sump hose hole then you can't do any more without resorting to major surgery - that is, stripping the washing machine down.
[UPDATE]
A worrying trend among some manufacturers (such as Hotpoint) is to produce washing machines with sealed outer tubs. This makes stripping down a tub to carry out any repair including removing a trapped object is impossible. This is a ridiculous idea and these washing machines should be avoided. I hope to write an article showing which ones are affected soon.
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