How to change the door handle of an Indesit washing machine

The door handle is the most painful place for Indesit washing machines. As soon as you increase the pressure or pull sharply towards yourself, a spring or rod will pop out in the locking mechanism. The result will be a locked tank and the need for repairs. Fortunately, you can remove the blockage, fix the problem and replace the hatch door handle on your own. Read below for detailed instructions.

First you have to open the hatch

A broken handle is unpleasant and troublesome, and first you need to open the hatch of the machine. Firstly, the lock breaks down when trying to get the laundry out after the end of the next cycle and the owner of the washing machine is concerned about the washed items remaining locked. Secondly, it is not possible to replace a faulty part through the wall. Therefore, first we will pay attention to unlocking the door lock. The easiest way for Indesit machines is to use a rope:

1. We find a long thin cord.
2. We pass it between the door and the body.
3. We pull the ends towards ourselves on both sides.
4. We sort out clean things.

If there is no rope at hand, we proceed according to a different plan, approaching the lock through the top or bottom of the unit. In the first case, remove the top cover by unscrewing several screws from the back. We return to the front side of the machine and push the panel away from us until it clicks. Next, we tilt the body back until the tank moves to the rear wall. All that remains is to stick your hand to the lock and open the hatch. In the second option, you will need to repeat the same steps, just start from the bottom cover.

We repair without replacing parts

Not every breakdown of a door lock mechanism necessarily requires a complete replacement.It is likely that the handle broke due to a loose pin, spring, or tab. In such cases, it is enough to slightly twist and tighten the elements to restore the previous order and establish trouble-free opening of the hatch.

To determine the extent of the problem, you must first disassemble the door. Withdrawal occurs according to the following algorithm:

• disconnect the machine from the electrical network and turn off the water supply;
• unscrew the two screws holding the door to the machine body;
• We place the removed door on a flat surface so that the glass “looks” upward;
• unscrew all the screws located around the entire perimeter;
• press out all the plastic latches using a flat-head screwdriver;
• We disconnect the outer part, the glass and put it all aside.

Important! It is recommended to record all manipulations performed on a camera to facilitate the reassembly process.

What remains is the inner part, where it is easy to find a broken lock. We carefully inspect the handle, especially the metal pin, spring and plastic tongue. The listed locking elements must be in place, and the flying parts can be easily detected and returned to their original position. Then we put the door back together and check that the lock is working.

Changing the handle

When cracked or broken parts are found during disassembly, repairs will no longer help. Most often, the plastic tongue or base becomes unusable, and it is not possible to buy them separately - you will have to change the entire opening handle of the Indesit washing machine. Any man can do this kind of work.

Some craftsmen suggest patching the chips with a soldering iron or installing a metal latch from other models of washing machines in place of the old one.There are no guarantees for long-term and trouble-free use of handles repaired in this way. In the near future, the lock will have to be changed, so it is better not to delay the inevitable and not waste time, energy and nerves.

A replacement part can be purchased at a service center, but it is cheaper to order a suitable handle from an online store. Its approximate price is $3-4, but expensive models will not be more durable. In both cases, plastic is used, which is easily damaged by careless handling. The following instructions will help you install a new handle.

1. We remove and disassemble the door according to the previously mentioned diagram.
2. We get to the lock and use a screwdriver to pull the pin out to the side.
3. We remove the spring, the tongue and the handle itself one by one.
4. We install the new part in special grooves.
5. We place the spring and tongue in place.

The metal rod is mounted last. After fixing all the elements of the locking mechanism, we check whether the handle “moves”. If the pressing occurs smoothly and completely, we assemble the door and return it back to the hatch. To do this, place the front glass under the handle, cover it with the outer cover and press down to release the latches. All that remains is to tighten all the screws and secure the door to the washing machine body.

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