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General Category >> The Cafe >> Glad that is done!!!!!!
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Message started by Dave on 12/22/24 at 03:48:05

Title: Glad that is done!!!!!!
Post by Dave on 12/22/24 at 03:48:05

We have been in this house for 17 years and over past year we have had a string of failed appliances. We needed a new water heater last summer, then in the fall the computer in the oven failed and the parts are not longer available and we purchased a new one that does not have a computer (we don't care if the oven doesn't know what time it is). Then the refrigerator failed in the late summer - followed by the furnace! That was followed up by the replacement of 5 panels in the concrete driveway that had cracked and were heaving.

There was one remaining item that was acting up, and this was on my "Honey Do" list for a while - I was really not wanting to tackle this job. I delayed it for a while by claiming I was waiting for a cold, rainy winter day to do the work.......that day finally came! Our washing machine was getting really noisy, and on the spin cycle it was starting to sound like a Space Shuttle launch. I didn't want to buy a new one - I was seriously concerned about all the good motorcycle money that was being spent on the appliances! I watched a YouTube video and it looked like the bearing could be replaced - however it was not a quick job and I expected it would take an entire day.

Here is where the project was at the end of the first day. The washing machine had been taken apart and the drum removed. The housing around the drum had been separated and all parts were pressure washed to remove the old soap scum from the parts. The shaft had been cleaned up and made ready for the new bearings. The bearings fought really hard to come out of the plastic housing - there is a steel insert that holds the bearings and it was rusty and holding the bearings tightly. I had to drag 6x6 wood blocks, a piece of steel pipe cut and a 1" thick block of steel to hold the housing while the bearings were pounded out! I had put the new bearings in the freezer and used a hair blow dryer to heat up the housing so the bearings would go back in easier. I stopped for the day around 8PM when the assembly was ready to go back into the washing machine.

Title: Re: Glad that is done!!!!!!
Post by Dave on 12/22/24 at 03:51:59

Here is the new and old bearing on the rear - farthest away from the drum. It was very worn and rusty inside and did not turn smoothly.

Title: Re: Glad that is done!!!!!!
Post by Dave on 12/22/24 at 03:53:18

This is the bearing nearest the drum and just behind the seal. Evidently the seals fails and allows water into the bearings....and the trouble begins. This bearing was a disaster and very rusty and loose.

Title: Re: Glad that is done!!!!!!
Post by Dave on 12/22/24 at 03:55:10

This is what it looks like assembled prior to putting all the sheet metal and control board back on. The drum has 3 concrete weights attached to dampen the drum movement....and the drum is suspended on springs.

Title: Re: Glad that is done!!!!!!
Post by blod on 12/22/24 at 03:58:07

I shot our freezer once, all the gas came out of it. It was beyond repair. :(

Title: Re: Glad that is done!!!!!!
Post by Dave on 12/22/24 at 03:58:43

I am glad this 1.5 day project is over and the washing machine is now working just fine and quiet again!

In the future I am going to be a bit kinder to it and I will avoid washing my shop rags in harsh cleaners - just in case the rubber seal didn't like that stuff.

Here is a photo of what I had to carry in/out of the basement to get this job done! (Photo doesn't show carrying the washing machine parts out and pressure washing them, drying them and then carrying them back to the basement).

Title: Re: Glad that is done!!!!!!
Post by LANCER on 12/22/24 at 04:36:41

Sometimes you get to have more fun than other times.

Title: Re: Glad that is done!!!!!!
Post by Ruttly on 12/22/24 at 07:35:48

Job well done Super Dave !

Title: Re: Glad that is done!!!!!!
Post by zevenenergie on 12/22/24 at 11:59:49

You could have used ceramic bearings, that don't oxidize and give less friction.
I would also have installed a large pump if I were you and a larger soap dish.

With some sodium percarbonate and borax in the detergent it washes much more powerfully.
For even more washing power, you can add a boiler.