Hi, bit of a novice on tiny stuff. The old 9 yr old washer was spooling up and started clunking. Not sounding good, had a look and the drum is moving laterally as well as vertically. Popped the top off, and the dampers feel really weak. Gentle push and it bottoms, looks like fine oil at the base too. Should they be this weak? Is there anything to stop the drum moving laterally apart from inertia? Thanks in advance.
Solution Summary
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This thread was marked as solved. Here's a summary of the problem and the fix, generated from the discussion below.
Hotpoint WMM59 clunking and excessive drum movement traced to weak dampers
- The problem
- A 9-year-old Hotpoint WMM59 washing machine was clunking as it spun up, with the drum moving laterally as well as vertically. On inspection, the dampers felt very weak, bottomed out with a gentle push, and there appeared to be fine oil at the base.
- Likely cause
- Worn or leaking suspension dampers. The discussion also supports that the springs keep the drum central, rather than there being a separate lateral damper.
- What fixed it
- Replace the washing machine suspension dampers. The accepted reply said the suspension should be fairly stiff and that the description suggested the suspension needed attention. The original poster then ordered and fitted replacement dampers.
- Checks to try
- Observed clunking during spin-up
- Checked drum movement and found excessive lateral and vertical play
- Removed the top and manually tested the dampers
- Noted the dampers bottomed out easily
- Saw fine oil at the base
- Parts or tools mentioned
- Replacement suspension dampers
- Genuine Hotpoint suspension parts for WMM59 were recommended by forum members
5 Answers
Normally the suspension on a washing machine should be fairly stiff but not too stiff. It's hard to describe how stiff but they are quite bouncy. Nothing like as stiff as on a car etc though. Your description does make it sound like the suspension could be needing attention.
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Yeah, had a proper look tonight. Work trousers have knee pads - floors get harder with age! Figuring as it should have 6kg load, it should take more than that before there is any deflection but these are proper wibbly! Figure also the springs keep the drum central rather than having a lateral damper / mounting. Best get some dampers ordered and give it a whirl.... Where did I put those JCB ones???
Good point Edd, even genuine parts these days aren't so good but any copies designed to undercut will be worse. For reference, these are the genuine Hotpoint suspension parts for WMM59
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