Hotpoint Aquarious Drum Will Not Turn
Before I get the tools out maybe you can give me some pointers. Washing machine started stopping mid cycle and while trying to get it finished it tripped the electrics RCD.
Now it will fill and drain, timer clicks and turns, but the drum will not turn. If I put on spin it will drain until empty but does not turn the drum.
It did spin initially, after the RCD tripped but is not playing now. There is resistance in the drum when turned by hand. I would appreciate some advice
Cheers.
Solution Summary
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This thread was marked as solved. Here's a summary of the problem and the fix, generated from the discussion below.
Hotpoint Aquarius drum not turning due to worn motor carbon brushes
- The problem
- Hotpoint Aquarius washing machine was stopping mid-cycle and had tripped the RCD. It would still fill and drain, and the timer advanced, but the drum would not turn. On spin it drained but did not rotate the drum.
- Likely cause
- Worn motor carbon brushes were the strongly supported cause. The accepted reply also noted that with an RCD-tripping machine there can be an insulation fault in the motor, so the motor itself remained a secondary concern until proved otherwise.
- What fixed it
- The motor was removed and the brushes inspected. One brush was found very worn and the other was badly worn, dirty on the contact face and split when pressed. A new set of carbon brushes was fitted and the motor was cleaned of carbon dust. The engineer advised that proper insulation testing of the motor is the correct way to rule out any remaining motor insulation fault.
- Checks to try
- Observed that the machine filled and drained but the drum did not turn
- Observed that on spin the machine drained only, without drum rotation
- Checked drum resistance by hand and confirmed it felt normal
- Removed the motor and inspected the carbon brushes
- Found one brush very worn and the other badly worn, dirty and split
- RCD had previously tripped during use
- Parts or tools mentioned
- Replacement motor carbon brushes (white set)
- Insulation test meter
- Continuity test meter
Safety: Because the machine had tripped the RCD, further diagnosis of the motor insulation should be carried out by a suitably qualified appliance engineer if any fault remains. Ensure the appliance is properly earthed.
4 Answers
How much resistance is there in the drum? Do you mean it's hard to turn or do you just mean you can feel that it's also turning the motor via the drive belt? With a fusing washing machine, or one that trips the circuit board, the main suspect is the motor. You really need a proper insulation test meter to test it.
Sometimes, if the carbon brushes are worn and there's a lot of carbon dust around them, simply replacing the carbon brushes and dusting the motor out or blowing the dust away can stop it tripping out. However, there's also a chance that it wont. To deal with a fusing washing machine properly and safely you need to use an insulation test meter.
( Related: Hotpoint and Creda carbon brushes diagnostic and fitting help | Washing machine tripping electrics | Buy appliance spares )
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
Thanks for the quick reply. The drum has the normal amount of resistance. I took the motor out and found what I would think are worn brushes!! after following your carbon brush guide.
One brush looked ok, clean contact face etc, but in comparison to your pictures very worn. The other brush was bad, dirty face, split in half when I pressed it also worn to within 4/5mm of number printed on brush.
I take it I have found the problem! so I have ordered a set of brushes (White set) from you.
Thank you for a brilliant site!
Yes, I can confirm that this is almost certainly the problem. As I pointed out in my first reply though, you really need an insulation test meter to check the rest of the motor. Without one, all you can do is chance it by blowing the dust out of the motor and replacing the brushes. There is definitely a chance it will work, and no longer trip the electrics but if it still trips out then there must be another insulation fault on the motor. Fingers crossed.
Another related concern, is that if your washing machine is not earthed, then having a part with low insulation can cause the casing to become live and there would then be a danger of electric shock. If you don't have the insulation test meter, at least ensure that the washing machine is properly earthed by testing continuity from the bare metal on the door hinge to the earth pin on the plug with a continuity test meter, and check the wall socket is properly earthed too if possible.
One sign that a washing machine isn't properly earthed is if you get a tingle from it - I get electric shocks from the washing machine ( Related:DIY washing machine safety )
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
Cheers Andy
Fitted the new brushes which arrived Tues (Quick!) and washer is now working!!
Thanks again for the great site and advice.
All the best
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