Can this washer be repaired?
During the final spin smoke started pouring out of the drum. After emptying it the drum will barely move. There are some really tiny bits of white stuff - rubber? - on the clothes. They were there 2 washes ago but I had pre-soaked a couple of tshirts in Asda 'Vanish' and thought it just hadn't dissolved properly, but now I'm wondering if there's some rubber part around the drum that has disintegrated?
Is this something that could be repaired? The machine is 11 years old and been lightly used, about 5 washes a month and only ever on minimum spin speed.
Solution Summary
AI-generated from this discussion
This thread was marked as solved. Here's a summary of the problem and the fix, generated from the discussion below.
Beko WMB71297B smoked on final spin and drum became very stiff
- The problem
- During the final spin, smoke came from the drum. After unloading, the drum would barely turn by hand. Very small white debris had also been found on clothes in earlier washes. The machine is around 11 years old.
- Likely cause
- The strongest diagnosis in the discussion is a serious mechanical failure affecting the drum assembly. Suggested causes were failed drum bearings, a broken drum spider/drum support, something jammed around the drum shaft or heater area, or belt/pulley damage. The exact failed part was not confirmed.
- What fixed it
- Do not use the washer again. Isolate it from the mains and inspect for obvious mechanical damage only when safe to do so. The accepted advice was to check drum stiffness, any up-and-down play, belt condition, and signs of the drum rubbing the door seal or outer tub. Because smoke was involved and the repair may be uneconomical on an older machine, further diagnosis should be carried out by a suitably qualified appliance engineer.
- Checks to try
- Turn the inner drum slowly by hand to assess stiffness, scraping or jamming
- Check for up-and-down play in the drum from the door opening
- If safely accessible, inspect the drive belt for burning, fraying or melting
- Inspect around the door seal and drum edge for signs of rubbing
Safety: Isolate the washer from the mains and do not try to run it again. Because smoke was involved, further diagnosis should be carried out by a suitably qualified appliance engineer.
1 Answer
It does sound repairable in principle, but the symptoms suggest a serious mechanical failure, so it may not be economical on an 11-year-old machine.
Before doing anything, isolate the washer from the mains and do not try to run it again.
1. Check how the drum feels by hand Open the door and try to turn the inner drum slowly. If it is very stiff, scraping, or jammed, that points to a failed drum bearing, seized spider/drum support, or something wrapped around the drum shaft or heater area.
2. Look for signs of belt or pulley damage If you can safely remove the back panel, check whether the drive belt has burnt, frayed or partly melted. Tiny white or pale debris can sometimes be belt material or plastic/rubber from a failing drum seal or support part.
3. Check for bearing/spider failure If the drum has up-and-down play when you lift it from inside the door opening, worn bearings or a broken drum spider are strong possibilities. Either fault can cause rubbing, overheating and smoke during spin.
4. Inspect around the door seal and drum edge Look for any section where the drum has been rubbing against the seal or outer tub. That could explain the smoke and debris if the drum dropped out of alignment.
5. Consider repair cost versus age On many Beko machines, bearings/spider/tub repairs can be labour-heavy and costly. If the outer tub or drum support has failed, replacement is often more sensible than repair.
Because smoke was involved, I would strongly recommend a qualified appliance engineer to inspect it before any further use. Any mains-related work should be left to a qualified professional.
WhitegoodsHelp AI Assistant
You may also find this guide on our main site helpful: "Washing Machine Spin Speeds" – https://www.whitegoodshelp.co.uk/washing-machine-spin-speeds/
This answer was generated automatically by the WhitegoodsHelp AI Assistant. It is not provided by an engineer or any other qualified person, may be inaccurate or incomplete, and is not professional or technical advice. Do not rely on it. Always use your own judgement and consult a qualified engineer before carrying out any electrical, gas or water work. Use is entirely at your own risk. See our full Terms of Use.
SAFETY FIRST: READ BEFORE ACTING ON THIS GUIDANCE
Never work on a live appliance
Always unplug it at the mains before going near it with any tools.
Never attempt gas work
By law, gas appliances must only be worked on by a Gas Safe registered engineer. If your fault involves gas, stop and call a professional. Do not attempt it yourself.
Watch for sharp edges
Outer panels are smooth, but internal parts have sharp machined edges. Wear protective gloves and arm sleeves.
Water appliances can leak
Turn off the water supply before disconnecting any hoses.
Know your limits
If you are not confident testing or working inside the appliance, stop and call a professional.
AI guidance, not guaranteed
This response is generated automatically by the WhitegoodsHelp AI Assistant. It is not professional or technical advice, may be incomplete or wrong, and must not be relied upon. Always use your own judgement and consult a qualified engineer before any electrical, gas or water work.
This is general information only and is not professional advice. The WhitegoodsHelp AI Assistant is not an engineer and is not qualified. See our full Terms of Use.
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