Solved

Drum Not Rotating

Asked almost 14 years ago 4,541 views
0

Hi This machine is about 12 years old and never needed anything apart from cleaning the filter .

It has stopped rotating and spinning it just fills and empties and goes through its cycle although when I let it fill with water only without a load it does rotate .

I took the back panel off and the belt is not broken or slack . Any ideas what it might be .

we have 2 of these almost identical only the other one is just branded Bendix I've never known washing machines last as long as these 2 the Hoovers and Hotpoints didn't last half as long.

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.

Washing machine drum would only turn without a load

The problem
A 12-year-old washing machine would fill and drain and complete the programme, but would not rotate or spin with a normal load. It would rotate when filled with water only and no laundry. The drive belt was checked and found to be neither broken nor slack.
Likely cause
Motor brush trouble was strongly supported. The accepted reply suggested a motor fault, possibly worn carbon brushes, after ruling out a slack belt. The original poster then found one carbon brush jammed solid while the other still had plenty of wear left.
What fixed it
The motor brushes were removed for inspection. No replacement parts were fitted. The jammed brush was freed off and reassembled, using WD40, and the machine then ran again.
Checks to try
  • Observed that the drum would rotate with no load but not with a load
  • Checked the drive belt and found it not broken or slack
  • Inspected the motor, identified as Sole 20580 052
  • Noted significant sparking from the motor
  • Removed the carbon brushes and found one worn normally and the other jammed solid
Parts or tools mentioned
  • Motor Sole 20580 052
  • Carbon brushes
  • WD40

Safety: Further diagnosis should be carried out by a suitably qualified appliance engineer.

Confirmed fixedGenerated 15 Aug 2026 · AI summaries can make mistakes - read the full thread below.
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4 Answers

Accepted Answer
0
Verified Engineer
Answered almost 14 years ago

If it turns without a load in but not with then the main suspects (after a slack belt) are a motor fault (maybe worn carbon brushes if fitted) or even a pcb control module fault.

Whitegoods Help — appliance repair expert and forum host.
0
Answered almost 14 years ago

Thanks I had a look at the motor its a Sole 20580 052 and looks as if it has carbon brushes quite a lot of sparking when it turns does that fit with worn brushes.

0
Verified Engineer
Answered almost 14 years ago

Yes, there will often be some small sparking, but flashes indicate something's worn. I wrote a very comprehensive section on carbon brushes aimed at Hotpoint brushes and motors but the advice is very useful for any washing machine motor with brushes so give it a good read - how to check for worn brushes

Whitegoods Help — appliance repair expert and forum host.
0
Answered almost 14 years ago

No new parts required I removed the brushes to compare them with some on ebay and found one brush with lots of wear left and the other jammed solid took it apart wd40 and its back up and running.

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