LG rotor Bolt Scraping after replacement
Hi all. First post, I hope someone can help.
I replaced the bearings on my LG washer yesterday. Great! Ran smooth on an initial test.
Put a load in and came back to a scraping noise. Dreading having to open it all up again I decided to take a look at the back and removed the rotor.
the gold bolts that fasten the direct drive motor to the tub had been scraping agains the housing! Some have been bent severely!
i really don't know how this could have happened as I fastened them all in securely and checked them all when I refitted..
Any ideas?
pics
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.
LG direct-drive rotor scraping stator bolts after bearing replacement
- The problem
- After replacing the bearings on an LG washing machine, the first test run was smooth, but on a loaded wash a scraping noise developed. On removing the rotor, the gold bolts securing the direct-drive motor to the tub were found to have been scraping the housing, with some bolts bent badly.
- Likely cause
- The accepted diagnosis was misalignment after the bearing job rather than the bolts simply loosening. The strongest suggested causes were the drum shaft not fully seated in the new bearings, a bearing or seal not fully or correctly fitted, or the stator/rotor not sitting square. Possible drum spider or shaft damage under load was also suggested, but not confirmed.
- What fixed it
- Do not run the machine again until the rear assembly alignment is checked. Re-inspect that the spider shaft is fully home in the bearings, the bearings and seal are fully and correctly seated, the stator is mounted flat, and the rotor is not distorted and is fully tightened. Any badly bent bolts should be replaced. The thread was marked solved, but no final confirmed repair was posted.
- Checks to try
- Removed rotor and found the gold direct-drive motor bolts had been scraping the housing
- Some of the bolts were bent severely
- Check whether the drum/spider shaft is fully seated in the new bearings
- Check whether the bearings and seal are fully and correctly seated
- Check the stator mounting is flat and not distorted
- Check the rotor for distortion or trapped debris and that its fixing bolt is fully tightened
- Check for drum spider or shaft play/run-out
- Parts or tools mentioned
- Bearings
- Seal
- Gold stator mounting bolts
Safety: Isolate the washing machine from the mains before inspection. Further diagnosis should be carried out by a suitably qualified appliance engineer.
1 Answer
Hi, that usually points to the rotor/stator not sitting in the correct relationship to the rear tub after the bearing job, rather than the bolts simply “coming loose” on their own.
Before inspecting anything internal, isolate the washing machine from the mains.
1. Check the spider shaft is fully home in the new bearings If the drum shaft is not pressed fully through the bearings, the rotor will sit too far in and can foul the stator bolts. From the rear, compare how far the shaft projects and make sure the rotor pulls fully onto the taper/splines as intended.
2. Re-check the bearing and seal installation If one bearing is not fully seated, fitted crooked, or the wrong bearing/seal was used, the whole drum position can be slightly out. That small offset is enough to cause scraping on an LG direct drive motor.
3. Inspect the stator mounting Make sure the stator is sitting flat against the tub and that none of its mounting points are trapped, cracked or distorted. If the stator is tilted even slightly, the gold bolts can sit proud and get hit.
4. Check the rotor itself Look for distortion of the rotor, damage to the centre mounting face, or anything trapped behind it. Also inspect the main rotor fixing bolt and confirm the rotor was tightened fully.
5. Inspect the drum spider and shaft for play/run-out If the spider is cracked or the shaft is worn/bent, it may have seemed fine empty but moved under load, bringing the rotor into contact.
6. Replace any bent bolts Do not reuse badly bent bolts. They may no longer clamp correctly.
Most likely causes are: shaft not fully seated, bearing not fully home, or stator/rotor not sitting square. If you’re unsure, strip it back and check alignment carefully before running it again. If any mains-related work is needed, or if the spider/shaft damage is confirmed, it may be best to get a qualified appliance engineer in.
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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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