Drive belt rubbing and noisy
I've got a front loader whirlpool that recently started to make rubbing noise in the back. I suspected it be the belt and installed a replacement. This didn't help as is still slipping away and rubbing into the drum. I'm suspecting is a loose bolt holding the drum, but thought I'd ask for an opinion here. Cheers. (Pic attached)
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.
Whirlpool front-loading washing machine belt rubbing due to drum play
- The problem
- A Whirlpool front-loading washing machine developed a rubbing noise from the rear. After fitting a replacement drive belt, the belt still slipped off line and rubbed against the drum.
- Likely cause
- The discussion most strongly supports worn or collapsing drum bearings, causing the drum/pulley to move out of alignment. A loose pulley bolt was checked by the owner and tightening it did not change the fault.
- What fixed it
- The accepted advice was to confirm whether the drum pulley was loose or whether the drum could be moved on the shaft. The owner confirmed up-and-down movement and some resistance/noise when turning the drum by hand. This points to major drum/bearing repair, involving strip-down. One reply added that if the front drum bearing has collapsed, the drum shaft may also be damaged, and a full drum, bearing and seal repair may be needed. Exact repair completion was not confirmed.
- Checks to try
- Replacement drive belt fitted with no improvement
- Pulley/drum fixing tightened by the owner with no change
- Drum could be moved up and down
- Drum was noisy and had resistance when spun by hand
- Parts or tools mentioned
- Drive belt
- Drum bearings
- Seals
- Possible complete drum
Safety: Further diagnosis should be carried out by a suitably qualified appliance engineer.
4 Answers
Hi. If the drum pulley isn’t loose it has to be the drum and bearings that are collapsing. Can you move the drum pulley back and forth on the shaft or can you lift the drum up and down on the shaft from the front near the door seal?
Is it noisy when you spin the drum by hand by pushing one of the drum paddles?
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
Yes, I can move it up and down, which is why I thought it was loose, but I tightened it and still same issue. It is noisy, but not terribly noisy, but yes I can hear there is resistance.
If it’s the drum you can lift up and down it would need stripping right down and major repairs.
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
If the front drum bearing has collapsed, it could narl up the drum shaft and need a complete new drum bearings and seals. Usually not worth repairing.
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
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