Bosch WFL1662 - knocking noise
Hi folks.
I have a nice clean secondhand Bosch WFL1662 front-loading washing machine.
During spin, and occasionally during wash rotation, there is a knocking noise inside.
I have removed the top of the machine and rocked the tub front-to-back on its springs, first on the right and then on the left side. There is knock/clack always on the right side, rarely on the left. It does not vary depending on rotation of the inner drum.
Also, when rotating the drum slowly, there is a squeak.
Otherwise, it's all working fine.
I have uploaded three videos describing this to the WeTransfer sharing site, links below.
I would appreciate suggestions on probable causes and recommended repairs. It will most likley be done by myself, as my budget is currently being spent on new, non-leaking gas pipes :D
Thanks,
Stuart
Test Rock Drum:
Spin Rattle:
Squeak:
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.
Bosch WFL1662 knocking during spin likely from shock absorbers
- The problem
- A secondhand Bosch WFL1662 made a knocking or clacking noise during spin and sometimes during wash rotation. The drum also squeaked when turned slowly, but the machine was otherwise working normally.
- Likely cause
- The strongest supported diagnosis is worn or noisy shock absorbers. The original poster reported that the ballast weights were secure, the noise was not from inside the tub or the belt wheel, and moving the shock absorbers by hand from below reproduced a similar noise. The squeak was identified separately as the drum lip catching the door seal. A cracked chassis or loose fixing around the shock absorber mounts was also mentioned as something to rule out.
- What fixed it
- Recommended action was to pull the machine out, remove the back panel and inspect for loose parts, then check the shock absorber mountings and condition. Replacement of the shock absorbers was described as likely straightforward if access and fixings allow. For the squeak, the advice was to inspect the door seal for rubbing and check the drum is not misshapen or loose. No completed repair was confirmed in the discussion.
- Checks to try
- Rocked the tub on its springs from above and found a knock mostly on the right side
- Rotated the drum slowly and noted a squeak
- Checked that the ballast weights were not moving
- Checked that the sound was not coming from within the tub
- Checked that the sound was not from the belt wheel
- Moved the shock absorbers by hand from below and reproduced a similar noise
- Identified the squeak as the drum rubbing on the door seal
- Parts or tools mentioned
- Shock absorbers
- Door seal
- Spanner
Safety: Disconnect the washing machine from the mains before inspection, and isolate plumbing before laying the appliance down. Further diagnosis should be carried out by a suitably qualified appliance engineer.
4 Answers
Hello Stuart.
In order to find out where the noise is coming from you need to completely pull the washing machine out and remove the back panel. It should be very obvious once you have full access to the entire machine. At the moment all you can tell is that something either at the back or at the bottom of the machine out of sight is causing the noise.
Ideally you should disconnect the washing machine from the mains. Then you can freely shake and pull without fear of electrocution. Be careful as some of the parts can be very sharp inside. So either wear something like garden gloves, or just handle everything very carefully.
You should be able to tell if something is loose. It could be anything, like the motor not fixed properly to the drum, a bolt coming loose, one of the tub weights being loose. There could be a problem around the suspension or the chassis.
The washing machine does sound generally quite noisy on top of the specific noise. That could be the motor that's getting noisy. Regarding the squeaking noise, that could be the lip of the drum catching on the back of the door seal. Check all around the door seal at the back where it is close to the drum and see if you can identify any point where the drum lip is catching the seal.
If it isn't caused by the drum lip catching on the door seal then the most likely alternative explanation is that the drum bearing seal is making that noise. There's nothing much you can do about that apart from a complete strip down and replace all the seals and bearings. It may not even be possible to replace seals and bearings independently. Many washing machines now come only as a complete outer drum with the bearings and seals already fitted. If they are available though it is still a very big job and potentially risky in an old washing machine.
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Thank you Andy.
Well, as near as I can make out, it's the shock absorbers.
The ballast weights are not moving, the sound isn't coming from within the tub, or from the belt wheel. I can't see anything else moving.
Rattling the shock absorbers by hand from below (as opposed to rocking the tub from above) produces a similar sound.
What's the hardest part of replacing them?
Also, the squeak does indeed appear to be the drum on the door seal. Can (or should it) this be lubricated?
Thanks,
Stuart
Hello Stuart. The shock absorbers should be quite straightforward to replace. The washing machine will be laid down on its front to do it. I would disconnect the washing machine from the mains and the plumbing, take off the back panel and lid, and then carefully lay it down. Just have a good look at how they are fixed on. They should just be bolted at the base. Make sure the noise isn't coming from a cracked chassis where they fix. Or a loose welded spot on the chassis. The critical thing is to observe how they are fixed to the tub. See if you can get in there with a spanner. You can buy washing machine spares from 4Washerhelp with next day delivery option.
Regarding the door seal. It could just be that it is worn and gone floppy at the back and is now catching on the drum. It might be possible to gently and carefully trim a little part of the seal that is catching with a sharp blade. If it's really bad it might need replacing. Make sure the drum isn't badly out of shape or loose on the shaft.
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