Hotpoint WMA9P

[Linda]

I have a Hotpoint Model WMA9 - Serial Number 07101058 (an older machine given to me).   Just lately it has been a bit of a noise and when turning the drum by hand it's making a bit of a grinding noise.   I know the bearings on the drum are going and made enquiries today at Hotpoint as to what bearings I need.   The reply I got over the phone was that it could either be 30 OR 35mm bearings and would need to take them off to check, and would I want an engineer to come out?   No thank you was the reply!    So they genuinely can't tell me or won't unless I buy from them?   Does anyone know which size my machine would need - many thanks.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

I agree. That sounds ridiculous. Of course they know they can tell from the serial number. Go to a spare parts Site such as advertised on this site and put in your model number to try to find them. Having said that, replacing drum bearings is a very big job with several possible complications and the parts are expensive. I would advise against trying to fit them especially on an older machine. 

[Linda]

19 minutes ago, Whitegoodshelp (Andy) said:

I agree. That sounds ridiculous. Of course they know they can tell from the serial number. Go to a spare parts Site such as advertised on this site and put in your model number to try to find them. Having said that, replacing drum bearings is a very big job with several possible complications and the parts are expensive. I would advise against trying to fit them especially on an older machine. 

Thanks for your reply - unfortunately I did contact Ransom spares first who were at a loss as to what size was needed and it was they who advised me to get in touch with Hotpoint.   Luckily my husband has already replaced bearings on other machines - successfully so instead of a new machine it's worth laying out around £20 to give it a try!!    When I do find out the bearing sizes I shall post on here to let other people know.

[Linda]

I'm not much further forward but after going onto the spares part list on Hotpoint for my machine it's listed as part no J00161373 but no sizes mentioned.   Their prices are more than double from elsewhere.   Does anyone know how I can look up this part Number for more details on size etc.  Thanks.

[Linda]

Just to let anyone else know that my machine required 35mm bearings - although in the drum bearing kit there are two bearings (one 35mm and one approx 30mm) with the seal.     Fitted successfully and machine is running very well - and quiet!! !!  

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Thanks for the update. The bearing kit should always have the front and rear bearing. The rear bearing is the smaller. So you should normally replace both. It's a shame you had so much trouble finding the right part, you should never need to know the actual sizes of bearings unless you are getting bearings from a bearing company. Manufacturers do often fit different parts inside the same model so it is possible to order the wrong part but parts are normally identified by using the model number and the serial number. So the people you ask for help should have asked you for your serial number.

The way it works is when a manufacturer continues to make a specific model, but decides to change the specs or the design of a particular part they log the manufacturing serial number codes where the first new part is fitted. So for example they know that all WMA9P washing machines up to a specific serial number have one version of the parts fitted, and then from that serial number onwards all WMA9P washing machines have a different part.

If they then subsequently change the part again, which is more rare but can happen then they would have it in their system that all WMA9P washing machines up to  xxxxxxxxxxxyz serial number have one type of part fitted. All WMA9P washing machines between xxxxxxxxxxxyz and xxxxyyyyyyyyy serial numbers have another part fitted. And all WMA9P from serial numbers xxxxyyyyyyyyy onwards have another. So when you need to buy spare part for one of these washing machines if different parts are available for the same model that should be just a simple case of working it out from the serial number. And I am glad you managed to get it done. It's a big job.

[Linda]

Thanks for explaining this.   If Hotpoint had been able to give me the part Number from the serial number i gave them I wouldn't have had any problems, but there are huge problems getting through to them at the moment by phone.   I did go on to their spares parts list and was given the a part Number (30mm) which was wrong, but was able to return these to Ransom Spares after I ordered the 35mm size.   Yes, it was a huge job and not for the faint hearted - the tricky part is getting the old ones out and putting the new ones in and not damaging the bearings in the process.  One of the bearings was full of water and rusty, but both were replaced.   And not to mention all the other parts that need to come off and go back in the right place.    YouTube tutorials are also a great help!