Washing Machine Motor Placement
Hi, Andy. All the washing machines I have worked on have normally had their wash motors underneath the machine attached to the outer drum tub - but i have noticed on some throughout the years that some have had the wash motor at the top of the machine tub. This must make it a dream for changing carbon brushes or the motor itself, just pop the lid off the washing machine and bob's your uncle!
so why did the manufacturers go back to / or switch to putting them under the drum nowadays? - Does the placement of the motor affect spin keeping the drum more stable when spinning or weight on shock absorbers is less on top of the drum if underneath , or maybe they put it on the top when there was not enough clearance under the machine - or was it just preference with some manufacturers to put the motor on top?
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.
Top-mounted versus bottom-mounted washing machine motors
- The problem
- The thread was a general question about why some older washing machines had the motor mounted high on or beside the tub, while most others had it underneath, and whether motor position affected stability during spin.
- Likely cause
- The accepted explanation was that a motor mounted low and centrally at the bottom of the tub is mechanically preferable because its weight helps stabilise the outer drum and reduces the effect of motor torque on drum movement. A top or side-mounted motor was described as more likely to contribute to instability.
- What fixed it
- No repair was discussed. The accepted answer explained that bottom-centre motor placement is considered the better design, while older Hotpoint top/side-mounted arrangements were criticised for causing instability and casing bashing. The original poster accepted the explanation.
4 Answers
Aye, Hotpoint had their motors on the top and to one side for years. I always thought it was a stupid place to put the motor, although as you say, it did make changing brushes a doddle.
The best possible place for a motor is dead centre hanging at the bottom of the tub. That way, its weight and low position help to stabilise the outer drum.
When it's on wash and spin and creating strong torque that wants to move the motor to one side the effect on the drum is minimised.
The Hotpoint motors used to create instability and used to violently bash the side of the casing. Thrybalso fitted a door opening mechanism that fitted onto the motor which constantly broke when the motor hit the sides.
Terrible idea.
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
ah right really , i didnt realise it was Hotpoint that done that _ I used to work on Hotpoints quite a bit years ago but the motor was always on the bottom on the ones i worked with .
Di you ever think back in the day when washing machines used to have carbon brushes that they would end up brushless induction in the future? (well a lot of them anyway) - I wonder who were the first to start fitting inverter brushless motors first to their washing machines , do you reckon it was miele or bosch or AEG or someone else?
Actually, brushless motors were first. The first washing machines I worked on were from the 50s and 60s and they all had induction motors. Eventually, motors with carbon brushes came in because of a drive for faster spin speeds and cheaper to manufacture. So they slowly took over.
But presumably they worked out how to make induction motors spin as fast, so they came back. Brushless motors were always much more reliable, but I believe more expensive to make. for me, they were always associated with the quality brands because they were quiet, and much more reliable.
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
ah right thanks Andy., interesting that they were induction motors at first
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