Methods for disassembling drums of Indesit washing machines

Replacing bearings in an automatic machine is a rather labor-intensive process, because in order to replace them, you have to disassemble the plastic tank. But a serious problem that may arise already at the first stage of the procedure is the non-separable design of the latter. Today, owners of modern SMA brands such as Zanussi, Samsung, Ariston, and Siemens are increasingly faced with a similar situation. Therefore, in order to replace the bearing, you have to cut the washing machine tub. How to disassemble a non-separable part and the best way to do it, says the author of the video on the MasterPlus channel.

Why do you have to glue it?

Sealing and gluing the washing machine tank is a forced process that owners of some SMA models have to deal with. Washing machines with a non-removable tank are offered, for example, by brands such as Ariston and Indesit. Manufacturers, making this element monolithic, do not intend to disassemble it. If the bearing breaks, the unit must be completely replaced. But such a replacement costs a lot of money and our people simply cannot agree with this order of things. As it turned out, you can halve the drum, remove the bearing, replace it with a new one, and then connect the halves. It is important to know how and with what to seal the tank.

Required Tools

Even a master shouldn’t start complex repairs without consumables and the necessary set of tools. Therefore, the owner of a faulty washing machine first needs to purchase or borrow from friends:

• screwdriver, set of screwdrivers and open-end wrenches;
• car puller;
• blowtorch (gas torch);
• drill and drill bits;
• hacksaw (jigsaw);
• copper hammer or drift adapter;
• wooden blocks;
• special lubricant.

Other tools and consumables may also be required.

Requirements for glued joints

When new bearings are installed, the question arises - how to repair a plastic tank that has been sawed in half. How to seal the drum to prevent leaks? What to choose - glue or sealant? It is better to use glue, since no sealant can provide the necessary strength characteristics of a glued structure.

Reliable connection of parts requires two operations:

1. The halves are connected using bolts and nuts. To do this, holes are made in the plastic - evenly along the entire seam.
2. The gap between the parts to be joined is filled with glue or sealant.

Not every composition will work. It is important to know what sealant to glue the halves together with. In this case, the operating features of the unit are taken into account:

1. Strong vibrations - the connection must withstand severe mechanical loads.
2. Extreme temperature conditions - the unit either heats up or cools down.
3. Contact with aquatic environment. Including water supplied under pressure.

If the purchased composition fails you, leaks are possible. Then you will again disassemble the machine and fix the problem.

Cleaning

Soap scum, lint and hair remaining on perforated walls after washing, mold and mildew that actively multiply in a humid environment are not only a source of unpleasant odors, but can also cause serious damage to household appliances.

Regular cleaning of the drum will maximize the period of uninterrupted operation of your LG washing machine.

Modern models of washing machines are equipped with a “drum cleaning” mode. Launching the program is simple:

• press the “Start” button and wait for the sound signal;
• We find two buttons with the “*” icon on the control panel and press them for a few seconds (at this moment the washing machine stops responding to any other commands);
• Press the “Start” button again (the self-cleaning program starts).

Cleaning lasts 90 minutes. A sound signal will indicate the end of the program.

The “drum cleaning” mode is started with an empty tank, without using any detergents. As soon as the self-cleaning process is completed, the hatch door is opened to allow the inner surface to dry thoroughly.

How to glue a plastic water tank?

Below are adhesives and sealants that are suitable for bonding the drum. These compositions easily withstand the difficulties characteristic of SMA - temperature extremes, vibration attacks, high pressure, contact with water.

Permatex 81730

This is a flowable adhesive-sealant designed for hermetically sealing headlights and glass in a car. The composition is characterized by transparency. Frozen seams do not allow water to pass through and are not afraid of extreme temperatures. The operating range of the composition is from minus 62 to plus 232 °C. Great for the task. Costs on average - 175 rubles.

Kraftool

The composition is highly elastic. Withstands strong vibrations and heating up to plus 250 °C. Its main purpose is to seal connections in electric motors. Reliably fastens the halves of the product even without bolted connections. One tube can glue 4 tanks together. The cost is about 200 rubles.

Glue F

This is polyurethane glue. If you use it, then you won't need bolts. But it is so strong that if you need to disassemble the machine again, you will have to saw it again. The second disadvantage is the price, it costs much more than sealants, a 310 ml can costs almost 700 rubles.

ABRO 11AB-R

An ultra-resistant sealant that can withstand the harshest conditions. He is not afraid of very high temperatures, and is not afraid of chemically aggressive substances, including acids. The cost is approximately 350 rubles.

Getting to the bearings

Unlike the top part of the tank, the bottom part is not so easy to remove after cutting - it is a whole process. First, unscrew the nut holding the drum pulley. Next, do the following:

• remove the pulley;
• screw the bolt into the thread (no need to use a bolt from a machine - a screwed-in bolt will most likely be damaged);
• Place the rubber piece from the mallet on the bolt. If you don’t have one, you can use a wooden block or something similar;
• Tap the block or mallet with a hammer until the bottom half moves. If this does not happen, wet the area near the bolt with WD-40 and tap again with a hammer.

Once you get rid of this half of the tank, you will have full access to the drum. The bearings are located on the shaft. You can remove them using a car puller. If it is not there, take the drum to a car repair shop and they will help you disassemble the washing machine drum.

When the bearings are removed, you can install new ones and put the washing machine back together. Use sealant and bolts to reconnect the tank. We won’t describe how to put the car back together - everything is the same as when disassembling it, but in reverse order.

Interesting:

• Disassembling the Indesit washing machine
• Repairing malfunctions of the Indesit washing machine...
• How to change a bearing in an Indesit washing machine
• Design of the Indesit washing machine
• How does a Kandy washing machine work?
• Why is the drum knocking in the washing machine?

1 reader comment

1. 11/16/2021 at 2:36 pm

   serega:

   Everything is extremely clear and intelligible. Thanks for the help.

   Answer

How to glue the halves?

There is nothing complicated here. The main thing is to properly prepare the parts for gluing. Before sawing, you need to make 30–40 small diameter holes across the seam. They are then precisely aligned when gluing, and the halves fit together flawlessly.

The joint of the halves is smeared with the selected composition, and then the bolts are screwed on. Moreover, they tighten the bolted connections without waiting for the glue/sealant to dry. The seam will dry completely in about two hours.

Before disassembly begins

First we need some free space. If the machine is in a combined bathroom, there may be enough space, but if the bathroom is only “one meter by one meter,” there will be a lot of inconvenience when disassembling and repairing it. The best option is to move the device to the garage or outside (if you are doing repairs at the dacha). If this is not possible, move the washing machine to any room where there is at least 2 square meters. m of free space. Next, you need to do the following work.

1. Cover your work area with scrap cloth or newspaper.
2. Move the washing machine to your workplace, having first disconnected the hoses and wires from it.
3. Disconnect the powder receiver from the machine - it will only get in the way.
4. Drain the remaining water from the tank by unscrewing the drain filter (located at the bottom).

Also prepare a separate area for small parts and detachable parts. You can immediately put a powder receptacle and a filter there.

How to get it?

Disassembling and cutting the tank may be necessary when:

• bearing faults and seal wear;
• bearing wear, which leads to shaft deformation.

To cut a product, it must first be removed. Disassembly of SM from Indesit:

1. Disconnection from the mains.
2. Dismantling the panels - top and rear, by unscrewing the bolts.
3. Removing the drive belt from the pulley.
4. Disconnecting the wiring connected to the heating element.
5. Loosening the clamp holding the drain pipe. Eating the last one.
6. Unscrewing the shock absorber nuts.
7. At the top of the SM, unscrew the suspension fasteners.
8. Removing the powder container - unscrew the screw.
9. Removing the panel and removing the detergent tray.
10. Removing the cuff and pressure switch.
11. Removing the product from the hangers and removing it.

Features of replacing drums in washing machines

The main difference between automatic washing machines with vertical and horizontal loading is the method of attaching the drum, which is attached on one side for the “front” machine, and on both sides for the “vertical” machine. It is this circumstance that must be taken into account when disassembling a specific model.

In conclusion, I would like to note that repairs that involve replacing the tank, removing the drum, bearings, oil seal and cross take a lot of time. Therefore, be patient and be sure to film the process of disassembling the unit on your mobile phone camera, so as not to make a mistake or forget anything while assembling an expensive device.

How to cut?

1. The element intended for cutting is placed on the floor. The surface must be flat.
2. Place marks under the screws.
3. Drill holes in the plastic - 3 mm in diameter. Only 15–20 pieces.
4. Place the product on its side. Using a metal file, they start cutting from the top.
5. The maximum depth is 5 cm. A large cutting depth can damage the drum.
6. As sawing proceeds, the seam is sprayed from time to time to make sawing easier and prevent the plastic from heating up.
7. Having cut the product into two halves, pull out the drum. For this purpose, unscrew the fastening bolt and disassemble the shaft - the drum is attached to it. Remove the pulley and remove the drum. Now you can change the bearings and seals. After replacing the parts, gluing begins.

Sawing time and result

A modified jigsaw will help you spend a minimum of time cutting. Before moving on to the main work, it is necessary to cut off all the “ears” from the surface of the tank, that is, the protrusions present on the welding seam that will interfere with sawing. Next, the blade is placed on the seam, after which you can start the jigsaw.

It is important to monitor the location of the file; it should run almost parallel to the tank so as not to damage the elements.

Also, if you are doing work in this way for the first time, then it is still better to go through difficult areas of the tank (for example, the place shown in the figure above) manually. This will help cut the tank as neatly as possible.

A master who has already become skilled will be able to cut a tank using a jigsaw in literally 45-50 minutes. If you are spending more time dividing the tank for the first time, remember that the work will go faster each time. The cutting method using a jigsaw is very effective and does not require much effort from the “sawing” person.