Zanussi Zwf1221W Sealed Tub

[Stagman]

I have the above washing machine and the drum bearings are going home fast. This model number is subdivided into several product numbers and when I check the usual sources of supply for replacement bearings, quoting the supplementary product number of my machine, I find they are not supplied - I suspect because the tub halves are sealed together instead of bolted (I have checked this by taking off the top and there are no bolts holding the halves together). I have changed bearings on washing machines a couple of times in the past and I am sure I did not have to separate the tub, I managed to do it without. Is it possible at all to replace the bearings on this model without separating the tub? (The bearings are available for all the product numbers leading up to mine so I'm sure they would fit).

A replacement tub is about 180 quid which is not worth it as a replacement machine is 250ish. Are recon tubs available for less?

If I go for a new machine, is there a way to tell whether the bearings are replaceable so I do not fall into the same trap again because bearings do fail and it seems criminal to scrap an otherwise serviceable machine just for want of new drum bearings.

[Whitegoodshelp]

It's hard to find a definitive list but many if not most AEG, Zanussi, Indesit & Hotpoint have sealed tubs, as do many Ariston, Scholtes, Beko and Bosch machines. It's sadly a bad development that many manufacturer's are following.