Washing Machines and Holiday Breakdowns :-((

Peter A Forbes · 2006-01-02T15:49:27+00:00

Why do domestic appliances always gasp their last on or about a holiday when youcan't get spares or a service guy out?In our case I strongly object to service engineer's extortionate charges, and wehad already organised a bearing and seal kit from ebay last week, so today weset to and stripped the washing machine down.Creda and Hotpoint use a pretty standard set of bearings and seal, so one kitcovers most models. We got a set of brushes for the motor as well, but they wereOK. Total price was just under £14 including postage, which is VERY favourablecompared with the official service agent's prices!The actual job took about 90 minutes - and a pack of elastoplasts. I have never seen so many razor-sharp edges on metalwork! Even the drive pulleywhich was a pressure-casting had sharp edges on it that drew blood.The motor is on top of the drum and very easy to get to. The door seal is heldwith piano-wire clips, one like a Jubilee clip and the other is a push-togetherplastic arrangement. The drive pulley is held on with a large nut, and it isthreaded as well, which was unexpected.The front of the drum is clipped to the back and it all came apart without toomany problems, except that it needed more violence than I expected to shift thebearings out of the housings, and the replacements went in with some Copasliparound their circumference.A long drift is needed to get the front bearing back inside, but that was all.Original bearings were Polish PLT brand, replacements were mr Skefco's finest,made 'en francais'.Peter--Peter & Rita ForbesEmail: Web:

Jan 02, 2006 22 Replies

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christopher 20 years ago

........and my bloody feet! --

Chris Edwards (in deepest Dorset) ..."There must be an easier way...!"

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jrlloyd 20 years ago

Hi Keith, Juice OK here & broadband up to 1.1Mb/s too!! Its the middle of the shooting season, & I've just finished extending the cattle/utility shed (the one just below the house). That's why the machining is a bit quiet. Have you noticed how much heavier building materials are than they were 15 years back? Thank goodness they put cement in girl-sized bags these days!! Used the Kerry this week tho' to make a tool for fitting & removing removable chokes into shotgun barrels - much nicer than the bit of flat steel that they come with, & again today some bits for my second Niva bought for £50 stuck in second gear - not any more it isn't - & MOT until August. ----------------------------------------------------------- snipped-for-privacy@boltblue.com

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jontom_1uk 20 years ago

John

Glad to hear it, BT keep telling me we are "up to 2MB" here in the east but I don't think we get "up there" very often .

Totally agree I'm absolutely sure they make shovels from 3/8" thick lead as well. Still they have managed to reduce the weight of my wallet with this new "slim line, empty" style. So slim these days I don't notice it is there anymore. Not so down your way I hear, need the Niva to climb up on yours? Hows that duck? my daughter keeps asking.

I'm going to come over and stand by you for a bit - you are always in the right place at the right time !!!! I bet it cuts the grass too.

Best wishes

Keith

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