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Electrolux washing machine jumping around on my floor...

Hi

I have a bit of a problem with my 4 year old Electrolux EW 1276F washing machine.

The normal wash cycle works fine, however any spin-dry program will fail because of heavy vibrations when it spins up - enough to move the machine around on the floor. I have tried with several different loads and wash programs with the same result. Never had any other problems with this unit. I would guess that the drum is somehow poorly balanced

- or there is a mechanical failure. There are no obvious damage to the drum and it appears clean on the inside. Dirt buildup on the outside?

Any clue?

Best Regards & Thanks! Peter

Reply to
Peter Szmulik
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Don't they have a knock sensor that keeps the drum turning until the load is distributed enough to spin?

If so, is it busted?

Reply to
EricP

Probably worn bearings. Try and rock the drum back and forwards to see how much play there is - if the bearings are worn there will probably be a considerable amount.

Reply to
Farmer Giles

Worn bearings would probably be very noisy if they are worn enough to cause this problem.

Try looking at the suspension system of the outer drum - springs, dampers etc. A loose concrete weight has also been know to cause this problem. My money's on the main circuit board, failing to ensure an adequate distribution cycle prior to spinning.

Do you have a one-man washing repair guy in the area who would diagnose without charging a fortune?

Reply to
Paper2002AD

This will be a suspension problem. If youre lucky it'll just be a spring above the drum come unhooked. More often its dampers wearing out. A flapping drum wont normally cause enough unbalance to do this: bearing wear will generally be exceptionally noisy before it gets that bad.

Its a fair amount of work to replace the suspension, but one can often bodge it up quickly with bits of rope etc. Its icky crude, but quick and easy, and lasts quite well with thick rope. You need to allow the drum assembly to move the full width, but with friction so oscillation is damped. The rope needs to go over gentle curves so you get friction without any tendency to cut into the rope.

Before you moan about such a rank bodge, its much quicker than buying a new machine.

Regards, NT

Reply to
N. Thornton

Before you start taking it apart, I'd check that it hasnt moved a fraction on the floor and needs re levelling. I noticed ours was clattering and shaking madly during spin cycle last week (only time I do notice it!), when it hadn't been before.

A quick tweak with a spanner to the front right foot soon eliminated it.

Reply to
Yebligs

I'll toss in another possibility. Mine did thia: Turned out the cement counterweight had broken loose. Glued it back with car body filler. 3 yars on still fine.

Ok th0e motor went but the block is still glued on :D

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

Many thanks for all your answers!

I removed the lid and located the suspension springs and they where both fine. The bearings are fine. I could not - from the top view I had - locate any dampers. The drum assembly seems to move quite well dampend up-down and sideways. However in the axial direction it is swinging quite easily. Would this be normal?

I suppose the dampers must be located under the drum assembly. I guess I could possibly access them by turning tme machine upside down.

The last possibility would be that the electronics that controls the spin-up is damaged, however, it does spin down as soon as there is unbalance and it does try repeatedly to spin in the other direction. Are the dampers "active" in any sense or just rubber blocks?

Best Regards & tanks! Peter

Reply to
Peter Szmulik

May be rubber blocks or like small shock absorbers on a car.

Reply to
EricP

Just take off the back of the machine

Usually loke a car damper, or those things that stop a car tailgate from flapping about

While you've got the back off, take a look at the concrete block - make sure it hasn't loosened>T

the drum assembly seems to move quite well

Yes - the drum can usually move very easily axially

Reply to
Paper2002AD

juast get on your hands and knees. The dampers are on the 2 suspension struts underneath. do unplug it b4 playing.

no

usually either car type dampers inside the springs, or just plastic sleeves that rub on the rods.

NT

Reply to
N. Thornton

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