Making High Pitched Squealing Noise During The Spin Cycle
I have a Hotpoint WD860 washer dryer. It's about 5 1/2 years old. Recently it has been making a very high pitched squealing noise during the spin cycle. As the spin speeds up the noise starts then fades as the spin slows. It only did it occasionally to start with on the higher spin speeds but now it's every time.
I called a local repair man. He said it was the motor bearings which were dry as the built in lubrication wasn't working properly. He tried some WD40 and said if it didn't improve I'd need a new motor unit as its a sealed unit so you can't replace the bearings. He quoted me £170 for the motor plus fitting.
The problem persisted. I decided to call Hotpoint as the manufacturer. They offered me a 1 year warrenty for £190 which would fix the fault or replace the machine if it couldn't be fixed. This seemed a good deal to me.
The Hotpoint engineer came out this morning. He says it's not the motor bearings themselves but the rubber seals protecting the motor bearings which dry out. He also squirted WD40 around then sggested I try running the machine on a boil wash. He said this would cause the rubber to expand and contract which would ease it and stop the noise.
I have done the boil wash and a couple of washes after that and so far no change. The squeal still kicks in during the spin.
Who is right? Should I be concerned about this noise? Should I get Hotpoint back to replace the motor?
Advice would be greatly appreciated!
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.
Hotpoint WD860 squeals on spin; likely bearing seal noise rather than failed motor bearings
- The problem
- A Hotpoint WD860 washer dryer, about 5½ years old, developed a very high-pitched squealing noise during spin. It first happened occasionally at higher spin speeds, then occurred on every spin. The noise starts as spin speeds up and fades as it slows.
- Likely cause
- The accepted reply supported the manufacturer engineer’s view that the noise was more likely related to a seal associated with the bearings rather than the motor bearings themselves. It was also stated that if the noise is from the seal protecting the drum bearings, it may be annoying but should not in itself cause further problems unless the drum bearings later become noisy with a rumbling sound.
- What fixed it
- The advised course was not immediate motor replacement based on the evidence given. The accepted advice was that the Hotpoint engineer was more likely to be correct, that WD40 is not suitable for bearings, and that the squeal could be tolerated if no other symptoms develop. Repair becomes appropriate if the noise changes into a rumbling drum-bearing noise. The thread was marked solved, but no confirmed repair or fix was reported.
- Checks to try
- Noise occurs during spin, starts as speed rises and fades as it slows
- Problem progressed from occasional at high spin to every spin
- Local repairer diagnosed dry motor bearings and quoted £170 for motor plus fitting
- Hotpoint engineer said it was related to bearing seals rather than the motor bearings
- A boil wash was tried as suggested, with no change
- Accepted reply noted WD40 is not suitable for lubricating bearings
- Parts or tools mentioned
- WD40
- motor unit
Safety: Further diagnosis should be carried out by a suitably qualified appliance engineer.
1 Answer
I would think the Hotpoint engineer is more likely to be right.
Motor bearings can make a high pitched squealing noise, though personally I would never put WD40 on them as it would tend to thin out any grease that's in there and could make them eventually run noisier. WD40 is a liquid and not suitable or designed to lubricate or even stay inside bearings.
If the noise is coming from the seal protecting the drum bearings then you can't possibly get any lubricant any where near it without stripping down the drum.
If it is the seal on the drum bearings then it may eventually stop on its own but can be put up with as it shouldn't cause a problem other than the annoyance. If eventually the drum bearings start to become noisy with a rumbling sound that's the time to get it fixed.
.
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