The drum in the washing machine is spinning poorly

The drum is one of the main elements of a washing machine. In the event of a malfunction, washing the laundry becomes impossible. Having diagnosed a breakdown of this kind, it is necessary to figure out as soon as possible why the drum is spinning tightly, what served this. So, we will discuss the main reasons, point out methods for solving the problem.

The most common causes of the problem

To begin with, it’s worth understanding why the washing machine does not rotate laundry well during washing. It is after conducting a complete diagnosis of the machine that you can determine which way should go in order to eliminate the malfunction. The drum may stop spinning due to several factors.

1. Overload washing machine. For each automatic machine, the maximum permissible mass of dry laundry loaded into the drum is determined. Most modern devices are equipped with special sensors that determine the weight of things. It is because of overload that the intellect may refuse to start a program launched by a user.
2. Damage to the drive belt. In such a situation, if you turn the drum by hand, it will spin freely, but at the same time the washing machine itself will not be able to rotate it. The drive belt has the ability to wear out and lose its properties. Also, maybe he just jumped off the seat.
3. Problems with engine brushes. In machines equipped with collector engines, brushes are one of the most vulnerable places. If you have been using such a machine for a long time, and the electric motor has not received the necessary maintenance, it is better to check the brush wear and replace the part if necessary. In most cases, after replacing the engine brushes, the machine returns to normal operation.
4. Control Module Failure. The failure of the electronic unit is considered one of the most serious problems, in order to return the machine to operability it will be necessary to flash or install a new module. The elimination of such a malfunction is best entrusted to the master.
5. Failure of the electric motor. If the drum rotates unevenly, or even stands still, the engine may have “flown”. Failure can occur due to a short circuit or damage to the components of the motor. Engine repair work belongs to the category of complex, therefore, it is not recommended to do it yourself.

It is such malfunctions in the system of the washing machine that can lead to problems with the rotation of the drum.

Some causes can be identified and eliminated on their own, more serious damage will help to eliminate a qualified master.

We carry out the initial diagnosis

Any hostess can carry out the initial diagnosis of the system. First of all, you should deal with the permissible mass of things put into the drum. Typically, information about the maximum load is available on the machine or in the instructions. If the weight of the laundry does not exceed the norm, it is necessary to look for the problem further. Check if the sunroof lock has worked. Perhaps the door did not close tightly, and that is why the machine does not start the program and does not rotate the drum.

Try turning the drum by hand. If manually it rotates freely, but when the washing program starts, it stands still, most likely there was a breakdown in the electric motor of the washing machine or its control module.

In some cases, the movement of the drum may be blocked by foreign objects falling into the cavity between the metal rim and the tank of the machine. If during testing no foreign bodies were found in the cavity, it is worth going to the diagnosis of other elements of the washer.

Inspect the heater; if the heating element is out of order, the drum may also not spin. This will be due to the fact that intelligence will block the entire washing process.Also examine the engine belt. The drive belt may be torn or fly off the seat. Install it correctly or replace with a new one.

Also, worn bearings may be to blame. To exclude this possibility, you will have to disassemble the washer and see what condition the components are in. If the machine has served you faithfully for several years, and the bearings have not been serviced, you will have to replace the elements.

Check the brush motor

If after examining the engine brushes, you noted their high wear, it is better to replace the elements. To choose the right brushes for the electric motor, you need to know the type and model of the engine of your washing machine. These data can be obtained by inspecting the markings on the electric motor.

The brush replacement algorithm is quite simple, it is necessary to remove the old elements from the motor and install new components, fixing them with bolts. After installing the brushes, rotate the slider by hand to understand the tightness of their contact with the engine.

When rotating, the device should make slight clicks.

Check and change the heater

In a situation where the drum “jammed” and the intellect does not start the selected washing program, it is necessary to check the heater. The heating element may have stopped functioning. Removing the part from the case is easy enough, you just need to find its location, reset the wiring and pull out the heater. When purchasing a heating element for replacement, make sure that the analogue exactly matches the model of your washing machine.

If the heating element is located in the back of the case (on Samsung, Virpul, Zanussi, Ardo, AlGi, etc.), it is necessary:

• move the machine away from the wall;
• unscrew the bolts holding the rear wall.

The heater will be located in the lower part, directly under the SMA tank. In cars of the Bosch, Siemens and AEG brands, access to the part is possible only from the front of the case. To get to the heater from the front, you should:

• remove the powder receiver from the housing;
• unscrew the screws that hold the main control panel, carefully put the socket on the top cover of the washer;
• Release the latches holding the lower bezel. So you get access to the drainage filter;
• unscrew the dust filter, drain the water remaining in the system;
• open the clamp holding the cuff of the hatch, pull out the metal ring from the machine;
• insert sealing gum into the drum;
• Remove the bolt holding the front wall of the housing and carefully remove it.

After carrying out the described actions, you will get to the heating element located under the SMA tank. Before removing and replacing the heating element, it must be checked for operability. A multimeter is useful for this.

Disconnect all the wiring of the heater, put the tester in resistance measurement mode and attach the test leads to the heater contacts. The value of 20-30 Ohms should be reflected on the screen of the multimeter. If the resistance value is above or below the norm, the heater must be replaced. For this:

• loosen the nut on the central bolt;
• push the item inside the tank;
• carefully remove the heater from the housing by prying it with a screwdriver;
• insert a serviceable element into the socket;
• tighten the fixing nut;
• connect to the contacts of the heater in the same way.

If the reason for the “standing still” drum was precisely in the malfunction of the heater, then these actions should return the AGR to full operability. It is very important to observe safety precautions during repair work and not to forget to disconnect the machine from the network and utilities.

Something jammed the drum

When it seems to you that the drum is walking very hard or moving in certain jerks, it periodically “freezes” in place, and in addition to this you hear strange knocks and noises from the body, probably, a foreign object got stuck between the walls of the drum and the washing tank.

To check the guess, you need to access the heater of the machine, and remove the heater from the housing. Then, using a flashlight, look into the hole formed, so you can see a foreign body stuck in the cavity.

Elimination of a similar breakdown in top-loading machines

If the drum is spinning tight in the “vertical”, perhaps the root cause of this is the open sashes in the tank. If the door latching device accidentally opens at the bottom of the tank and not at the top, a “wedge” of the drum may occur, as a result of which it will stop spinning. There are two ways to solve the problem:

• Without dismantling the washer, rotate the drum with a hook, which you can make of wire with your own hands. To do this, prepare a steel wire of small diameter and bend its end, making a kind of hook. Insert the wire into the hole in the drum and try to close the doors in the tank and scroll the drum.
• Having gained access to the flaps, removing the front or bottom wall of the washer housing. To do this, turn off the power to the unit, disconnect it from the house communications, put the machine on its side, remove the pallet. Then the lower counterweight should be removed. You can stick your hand into the hole and slam open the doors.

It may be more convenient for some users to close the sash through the hole in which the heater is installed. To do this, you have to remove the side wall of the housing and remove the heater, then close the doors and scroll the drum. If the shutters are bent, then closing them just will not work, you must resort to the help of a professional repairman.