How to exchange bearings on an Indesit washing machine: step-by-step instruction

Perhaps, any other type of repair work of the washing machine cannot be compared in complexity with replacing the bearing. This process is one of the time-consuming, since its successful completion requires a complete disassembly of the washer.

If you have no idea how to change the bearing on the Indesit washing machine, and you have never had any experience in repairing household appliances, the work should be entrusted to the craftsmen from the service center. But do not make hasty conclusions. Look at the replacement algorithm and maybe you decide to repair it yourself.

The need for timely repairs

Traditionally, in the design of washing machines for horizontal loading, two bearings are used. Thanks to these supporting elements, it is held in place, fixed in a horizontal position and the drum of the washing machine rotates freely.

Both bearings are mounted on the same shaft and are closed against water ingress by a seal on the inside of the drum. Meanwhile, the wear of the existing seal after some time of operation of the apparatus leads to leakage of water into the area of ​​the front bearing.

Replacing the bearings of the washing machine’s working shaft is one of those serious malfunctions that require time to resolve, searching for components and the hands of professional performers

As a result, the bearing parts corrode, rust, and eventually collapse. The drum does not rotateloses balance, wedges. It is better not to bring to such a state - to change bearings and perform other washing machine repair It follows on time (when noise appears).

The last generation Indesit washing machines are equipped with a self-diagnosis system, which greatly facilitates and accelerates the identification of arising and emerging breakdowns. Machine owners need to know error codes. Their decoding will help to understand whether it is possible to repair it yourself or is it better to contact the workshop.

Bearing replacement procedure

Before starting repairs, it is strongly recommended that you determine the exact nomenclature (marking) of the spare parts that make up the repair unit, find suppliers and buy everything you need to replace.

A classic set of bearing assembly (No. 180202, 180203 or 180204), which is necessary for repairing almost all models of washing machines under the Indesit brand, supporting the configuration of the horizontal laundry load

As a rule, the set of purchased components is as follows:

• single row deep groove ball bearing (2 pcs.).
• rubber sealing sleeve (1 pc.).

It is also recommended to get a service manual (repair manual) on the "Indesit" of a particular model. The Internet and the official website of the brand will help here.

Finally, we need a fitter and electrical tool, in particular:

• different screwdrivers;
• pliers, hex wrenches;
• set of wrenches (spanners);
• knife, hammer, files;
• puller for small bearings;
• sandpaper, wooden blocks, rags.

Armed with everything you need, having some experience in repair and knowledge of electromechanics, you can safely proceed with the adjustment of the washing machine.

Step 1. Access to the washing tub

Start repair process, of course, - disconnecting the washing machine from the power supply line. You will also have to disconnect the water supply and discharge hoses. The device is preferably disassembled in conditions of sufficient free space of the room.

Disassembling the washing machine with horizontal loading, where diagnostics showed a defect in the bearing assembly, usually begins with the dismantling of the upper panel. Also on some models you need to open the rear hatch

It is recommended to prepare several trays for fasteners, removed from different structural elements. Separate storage of dismantled screws designated for fastening each individual part will simplify the subsequent assembly of the machine.

The first fasteners to be removed are on the top panel of the washing machine. Usually two to four fastening screws are required.

In parallel with the top panel, the dispenser for loading detergents, as well as the panel with control knobs, are dismantled. The dispenser bath is usually held on two or three plastic latches.

The panel of control mechanics before removal must be disconnected by electrical contact groups. First, draw up (draw) on paper and mark all the points of electrical connections of the control elements. Moreover, it is necessary to do this if there is no circuit diagram of the washing machine.

Dismantling the control panel together with the detergent dispenser module, as well as disconnecting the rubber cuff from the housing of the loading hatch. On most models, the cuff is attached with a wire clip

Step 2. Dismantling the tank (washing container)

The best option for dismantling the tank of washing equipment is the removal of this part through the opening that opened after removing the top panel of the machine body. Some models from Indesit I have a removable cover on the back wall. This option is also suitable for excavation, but is considered somewhat inconvenient.

Removing the tank cap on a machine with a rear hatch. Here you can not remove the tank completely if both halves of the tank are pulled together by a radial clamp. However, pulling the drum cover through the hatch is quite problematic

In any case, the dismantling of the tank must first remove the interface belt pulleys of the motor and drum

You will also need to disconnect the electric motor, which is usually mounted on the tank body. Remove the clamp (or paper clip) tightening the rubber cuff along the side of the boot hatch and separate the cuff.

Then the socket screw of the drum pulley is unscrewed with a socket wrench and the pulley is removed from the shaft using a puller.Next, you need to unscrew the counterweight fastener (lies on top of the drum) and remove this part of the structure.

Dismantling the counterweight mounted on top of the tank. This part is usually fastened with three screws, two of which are turned off with a socket wrench. Counterweight - a piece of concrete of a certain shape (there are different forms depending on the model)

After all the noted manipulations, the tank of the washing machine remains hanging on the damper springs. Other models are additionally equipped with lower shock absorbers. The springs are carefully uncoupled, the shock absorbers are disconnected and the freed tank is removed through the upper opening of the machine body (or through the opening of the rear area).

By the way, if the drum is removed through the opening of the rear wall of the washer body, it is not necessary to remove the entire tank structure. Why? More on this later.

Step 3. Proper dismantling of the washing tank

To get to the bearing assembly, you will need to separate the metal drum from the tank body made of polyurethane. As a rule, the tank design of any washing machine, including the Indesit brand, consists of two halves. They must be disconnected.

A tight connection of the halves of the body is achieved by a screed with a clamp or special metal clips. In the first case, it is enough to loosen the clamp to be able to disconnect and dismantle one half of the tank along with the drum.

Saw the cast design of the washing machine tank. These are increasingly found in Indesit models of recent releases. As planned by the manufacturer, this type of tanks cannot be repaired. But the craftsmen refute engineering

If the screed is made with staples, you will have to remove the entire tank, since it will not be possible to remove the staples on the sides without dismantling the tank. It should also be noted about the existing "soldered" version, where two halves of the body are tightly sealed. Here, some craftsmen simply saw the hull of the tank with a hacksaw along the weld line.

Step 4. Retrieve items

So, the tank is removed, divided into halves, one of which, due to the bearing assembly, holds the drum. Now it's time to carefully remove the stuffing box seal, and then separate (knock out) the drum shaft from the bearing assembly.

Using a screwdriver to remove the packing gland. Not entirely successful (incorrect) extraction method, as a rule, destroying the part. However, in most repair options, the seal still has to be changed

The packing gland is removed using a screwdriver, you can also use a suitable puller. Next, the half of the tank with the drum is placed on wooden blocks (or on other suitable supports) to ensure the condition of the sag of the drum for its separation.

Separate (knock out) the drum should be very careful. One of the options for the separation procedure is to make a metal stud-punch, which is screwed into the place of the mounting bolt from the shaft end by thread. Such a stud is tightly wrapped, after which the drum is beaten out with light hammer blows.

Removing the shaft with the drum from the bearing assembly. The process is carried out by screwing (until it stops) into the place of the fixing bolt of a metal stud with a length of 150-180 mm, followed by easy hammering out with a hammer

Following the removal of the shaft with the drum, the process of dismantling the bearings is carried out. As a rule, a bearing assembly contains two bearings of different sizes.

They are also knocked out, using a tool that eliminates damage to the seats. It is better, of course, to use a pulling puller, which, if desired, can be made from improvised materials.

Step 5. Replacing damaged assembly bearings

Before installing bearings in the seating areas, a thorough cleaning of the mounting surfaces should be performed. It is not recommended to use aggressive cleaning products. Plastic surfaces are cleaned with soap and water.

Pressing (landing) bearings in place must be given special attention.The slightest skew at the time of pressing in threatens to turn into a deformation of the support walls. If this happens, you will have to change the entire tank of the washing machine.

The procedure for mounting a new bearing. As a pressing tool, a conventional wooden block of strong wood is used, with a cross section along the long side equal to the diameter of the bearing

It is necessary to precisely place the bearing along the edges of the landing groove. Then, through a wooden block with a cross section equal to the outer diameter of the bearing, uniformly, with light strokes of the hammer around the circumference, slowly press the bearing into place. The same actions apply in relation to the second instance.

After pressing in the supporting elements, it is necessary to install a new oil seal on the bearing assembly from the inside of the tank body. Gland seating also requires careful and careful action.

But in this way the gland ring is pressed into the groove of the drum casing. Even distribution of impacts over the entire area of ​​the o-ring through a wooden block

Next, put the drum shaft on the bearings, but first the shaft needs to be cleaned with a null-skin and grease its surface with a thin layer of ciatima 221 or a similar means. It remains to connect the two halves of the tank and assemble the car.

Step 6. Reassembling the washing machine

The assembly procedure of the apparatus is performed in the reverse order. The assembled tank is placed inside the housing, hooked onto the damper springs, attached to the lower shock absorbers, connected to the loading hatch through the cuff.

Following this, a counterweight is placed on the upper part of the tank, this component is fixed with bolts and transferred to the motor mount. Having fixed the electric motor on the tank body of the washing machine, put a pulley on the drum shaft, fasten it with a bolt and connect the transmission belt to the motor pulley.

Fastening the motor to the tank body and installing a torque transmission belt. Also, a bundle of electrical conductors that supply power to the electric motor is usually attached

The next step is the installation of the control panel. This part of the structure is mounted with an eye on previously made notes of electrical connections.

Then install the body of the dispenser for detergents, close the body of the washing machine with the top panel. That's all, the replacement of the bearings of the washing machine has been completed successfully.

To complete the assembly of the equipment, working water hoses are connected. Here, along the way, it is recommended to remove the strainers (on the inlet valve and in the design of the drainage pump), clean them or replace them with new ones.

The nuances of repairing top-loading models

Repair of the bearing assembly for Indesit designs for vertical loading is to some extent even easier than on horizontal devices. The configuration of the vertical loading tank of these washing machines is characterized by the fact that to replace the bearing (one!) And the packing gland, it is not necessary to disassemble the complete washing system.

It is enough to open the side panel on the side where the drum pulley is located, and dismantle the pulley.

This is the pulley of the Indesit equipment designed for vertical loading of linen. It is attached to the shaft with a screw, the head of which has a groove under the sprocket key. Behind a pulley on a tank case several bolts of fastening of a nave are visible

This opens access to the hub, into the housing of which a bearing is pressed in and an oil seal is installed. The hub is made removable. It is attached with several bolts to the tank body. After loosening the screws, the hub is easily removed.

Dismantled hub, inside of which a thrust bearing is visible. It can also be gently knocked out and replaced with a new one. However, they do not do this more often. Simply change the entire hub

Usually, if the drum bearing is destroyed, it is not changed separately, in fact, like the stuffing box.

They purchase a hub with a complete assembly kit (together with an installed bearing and gland) and completely replace this part.This approach seems more practical.

With all possible repair operations available to the independent owner of the washing equipment Indesit, will introduce next article, in which options for breakdowns and methods for eliminating them are described in detail.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

You can learn how to repair a washing machine with a cast tank from the following video:

Concluding the topic of replacing bearings and hubs on Indesit brand washing machines, it should be noted: most models are made as disposable. That is, the manufacturer of equipment by default developed these designs taking into account their zero maintainability.

Such a technique should completely change after the development of the declared resource. However, as practice shows, virtually every model is repairable.

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