AQ113F497IUK Drum issue

[robsavagex5]

Hi.

I have a <2year old Hot[oint AQ113F497IUK which I have been very happy with. Wife loves it for the 11kg load, with three teenagers.

However it recently started knocking when spinning, noisier when slow. I greased the bearing at the back, no change.

I tried reducing the washing load weight and using a lower spin speed, no difference.

Last week, big bang, emptied water, but no drum movement but I could here motor spinning.

Took inspection cover off back, Drum pully in half, on bearing, belt (unbroken) and half a pulley in bottom of machine.

Drum and motor spin well by hand, no horrible noises from either. Believe knocking was probably due to the drum pulley gradually going out of shape and catching on back of drum?

Problem is I'm having trouble removing the Drum Pulley bolt. Its a star TorX but I'm not sure of the size. I've tried T20 which appears too small and a T30 is way too big.

I believe the pulley and screw are Loctited in so they will need heating up with a heat-gun to break this. Believe its a standard anti-clockwise thread to undo?

Any advice on the bolts removal and it's TorX size would be much appreciated.

Thanx.

Regards,

Rob.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

It could be a left-hand thread but not sure. They are usually either Loctited in or have some tab or mechanism to prevent them coming loose. You shouldn't normally need a heat gun. Loctite is usually fairly easily broken. If you sheer the bolt you could have major problems so be careful.