What happens if you don’t unscrew the shipping bolts on the washing machine?

What happens if you don’t unscrew the shipping bolts on the washing machine?Both the factory instructions, the loader, and the store consultant warn: if you do not unscrew the shipping bolts before using the washing machine, inevitable problems will arise. But not everyone knows what exactly awaits inattentive washing machine owners. We propose to understand what consequences can result from fasteners that are not removed in time.

What can break?

Removing the shipping bolts is a matter of minutes, but simple haste and inattention can play a bad joke on the owner. After all, if you forget about the fasteners, you can forever lose the machine you just purchased or get yourself into trouble with the warranty and further operation. This perspective can be explained simply.

The bolts used during transportation are designed to secure the movable drum of the washing machine. This prevents it from sagging and rotating during transportation and ensures safe and sound delivery. But starting a cycle with the drum stationary will only do harm:

  • convulsive “jumps” around the room;
  • uncontrolled vibration;
  • loud knocks.

All this is the most harmless thing that will happen in this case with the washing machine. More often the matter ends much worse - the drum is damaged, and the machine itself fails.

Strong vibration will cause enormous loads on all elements of the washing machine, and especially on the bearing assembly and motor.

The machine can jump precisely because of the transport boltsIt is forbidden to turn on the washing machine with transport bolts precisely because of excessive fixation.The drum clamped with screws does not “hang” on vibration-softening shock absorbers, and all shocks from the accelerated motor go directly to the body. The situation is aggravated by the imbalance of the laundry, which crumples and causes random shocks. The type of drive does not matter - non-functioning dampers will harm both direct-drive machines and belt-driven vehicles.

It’s easy to avoid an unpleasant prospect - just remove all the transport bolts in time. Or check the work of the installers: look at the back panel of the machine and make sure that there are closed or uncovered holes in their place. If you can’t find the grooves for the fasteners, you can look at the instructions and check the data sheet. As a rule, four large screws are used for fixation, the absence of which is easy to notice.

The fate of the guarantee

The machine's warranty will be voidEven running a washing machine once with transport bolts will forever deprive the owner of the warranty provided to the machine. Washing with fasteners not removed is a direct violation of one of the main requirements of the instructions, which leads to automatic termination of the warranty period. Therefore, if the consumer wants to repair third-party breakdowns at the manufacturer’s expense, the consumer will receive a reasoned refusal from the service center.

It will not be possible to hide the fact of a violation of the warranty. If you do not remove the transportation bolts and start the machine, then characteristic damage will remain on the drum, which is easy to notice even with an unprofessional eye. Any further repairs will have to be paid for out-of-pocket.

Monetary losses are also expected when selling a washing machine.Attention is paid to the condition of the drum first of all, and there is a high probability that after an unsuccessful start, an unpleasant knock and increased vibration will remain. Therefore, it is better to spend time and double-check again than to go to the store for a new machine.

   

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