The washing machine drum does not spin, what should I do?

If the drum in the washing machine does not spin, you need to take immediate action. There may be several reasons for this malfunction. To find them, you need to find out at what stage the washing machine broke down: when starting with laundry or during the spin stage.

Let's look at how to identify signs of a malfunction and perform repairs yourself.

The drum does not spin when washing

Why doesn't the drum rotate when washing? Here are the main reasons:

Imbalance.
Problems with the drive belt.
Failure of the heating element.
Motor malfunction (brush wear).
Problems with the tachometer (motor speed controller).
The electronic module has burned out.
Wiring fault.
Entry of a foreign object.

There are many reasons: how to figure out what happened in your case and what needs to be done with the washing machine, read below.

Bottom line

Various malfunctions cause the washing machine drum to stop during operation. Moreover, each of the problems must be eliminated at the stage of its occurrence, otherwise, the cost of repairs can be commensurate with the price of a new washing machine. Only competent operation of the equipment in compliance with all the manufacturer’s recommendations will completely avoid the occurrence of various malfunctions, the elimination of which will require contacting a specialized service center.

Doesn't spin when spinning

The automatic washing machine carried out the wash normally, but the drum does not spin during the spin cycle. Why does this happen? Here are some reasons:

The “No spin” program is turned on, or the delicate wash mode has been selected. In this case, the laundry is wrung out minimally or not at all.
If there is a blockage in the drain system, the water does not drain after washing, and the spin cycle cannot begin.
An imbalance has occurred. The load of laundry has been exceeded, which has led to imbalance. Things got to one side and work stopped.
The pressure switch, which sends information to the main module about the amount of water in the tank, is faulty. If there is no command, the spin will not start.
Problems with the control board. The wiring may have burned out or the control triac has burned out.

A similar malfunction can happen with any brand of washing machine: Indesit, Ariston, Bosch, Zanussi and others. It is necessary to react in time and fix the problem.

Replacing the drive belt

Sometimes the reason for the drum moving out of its seat may be a heavily worn drive belt. In this case, you cannot do without replacing this part. This is quite easy to do, because each product has markings, which will make it easy to choose a new belt.

The belt is first put on the electric motor pulley, and then installed on a larger diameter wheel located on the tank. To make the task easier, you can pry the belt with a screwdriver, but even a new, undeveloped belt is usually easy to put on by turning the pulley 1 turn, after first throwing the part onto the wheel.

If the drum in the washing machine falls off, then it is absolutely not necessary to seek help from specialized workshops. You can save a lot if you carry out the repairs yourself according to the recommendations given in this article.

The machine does not turn, but takes in water

Why does the machine take in water, but the drum does not rotate? Immediately drain the water and try turning the drum by hand. If it doesn't turn by hand, it's probably jammed.

For what reasons did the problem occur:

The drive belt has broken or fallen off and is wrapped around the pulley. This was the reason for the jamming.
An object is stuck between the tank and drum. It could be any items that fell out of the pockets.
The drum bearing has deteriorated, so it cannot rotate normally.

In most cases, bearings fail due to prolonged use, overloading of the drum, or if the seal has never been lubricated.

Design features of different manufacturers

Before you begin repairing household appliances using the algorithms given earlier, you must take into account that each washing machine has its own design features.

LG

LG household appliances use direct drive. But, despite this design feature, washing machines produced by this company break down, mainly due to the above reasons. It is also recommended to check the condition of the hall sensor during diagnostics.

Ariston

For Ariston equipment, the area of attachment to the tank is considered weak. Therefore, breakdowns of devices of this brand mainly occur due to the use of hard water or improper installation.

Samsung

The design of the latest Samsung models includes powerful magnets that ensure torsion of the drum. And the breakdown of this part is also one of the reasons for the failure of household appliances and the occurrence of the problem in question.

Indesit

Indesit brand devices are characterized by a standard design. The difference between the models of this manufacturer mainly lies in the operation of the built-in electronics and the size of the drum. Therefore, owners of Indesit devices usually encounter the previously described breakdowns.

Beko

Structurally, Beko washing machines do not differ from similar devices of other brands. The difference between such devices is that household appliances from this manufacturer are equipped with parts made of more durable materials and an asynchronous inverter motor. This configuration extends the service life of the devices, but increases the cost of maintenance in case of breakdown.

Bosch

Bosch brand devices use drums of different designs, which must be taken into account when disassembling the devices.

The washing machine hums, but does not spin

You start the program, the washing machine begins to hum, as if drawing water, but the drum does not turn. Let's look at why this happens:

If the engine breaks down. Perhaps the brushes are worn out, the lamellas are worn out, or a short circuit has occurred. This can only be checked by inspecting the engine.
When the bearing is jammed.

CM does not work, the drum does not spin

The washing machine may not work at all for the following reasons:

Electronic module malfunction. As a result, the engine does not receive the command to start working.
Failure of the heating element. If the heater breaks down, the machine may not only wash in cold water, but may not work at all. Why does this happen? If scale forms and overheats, the heating element may explode and block the operation of the MAS.

SM works, but does not turn

If you don’t know why the washing machine works but the drum doesn’t spin, here are a few reasons:

The washing machine has filled with water, but the drum does not rotate. Most likely, the heating element has burned out.
Malfunction of the triac on the module, which is responsible for engine operation. In this case, the program starts, but the motor does not receive commands to rotate. The electric brushes could also burn out.

Slow rotation

The machine continues to wash, but the laundry is not spinning well. This is the first “bell” about an imminent breakdown. It is necessary to immediately find and eliminate the cause. Otherwise, expensive repairs will be needed.

Check what:

Bearing condition.
Belt location.
The performance of the engine and its brushes.
Presence of foreign objects.

If our recommendations helped you, then the article was not written in vain. Monitor the operation of the equipment. The slightest deviation from the norm should alert you. Happy renovation!

How to fix the situation

What should I do to troubleshoot? Let's look at the problems and their solutions.

Imbalance

To correct the imbalance, you need to stop the program. If there is water in the tank, it must be drained. To do this, unscrew the drain filter - it is located behind the hatch under the front panel. Read more about how to do this below.

Now open the hatch door and distribute the laundry evenly throughout the drum.

Blockage in the system

To clear a clog in the drain filter, proceed as follows:

On the front panel below, open the small hatch by releasing the latches.
Unscrew the filter, drain the water into a container and clean the filter from debris.
Reinstall the part.

Belt problems

In order to check the drive belt, you need to remove the rear panel of the CM. Proceed sequentially:

Remove the plug from the socket, turning off the power to the machine.
Turn off the water supply and disconnect the intake hose (be careful, there may be water in it).
Take a screwdriver and unscrew the screws on the back cover.
After removing the panel, inspect the belt. If it frays or falls off, it needs to be put back in place. In case of wear, a new element is put on.
First put the belt on the small pulley of the electric motor, then, while simultaneously turning the drum pulley, put the belt on it.
Installation is complete, screw the panel into place.

Heating element malfunction, foreign object

These two problems can be resolved simultaneously:

Remove the back cover as described above. In some models, the heating element is located behind the front panel: Samsung, Bosch, Siemens.
There is a heating element under the tank. To check it, you need to connect a multimeter to the contacts and measure the resistance.
When you are convinced of the malfunction, disconnect the wires from the heater.
Unscrew the central nut (not all the way) and push the bolt inward.
Prying the edges, pull the element out.
Now you can check through the hole to see if there is a foreign object inside and remove it.
Install the new heating element in reverse order.

Engine problems

You don't have to put the panel back in place since the motor is also at the back. Inspect its wiring for damage.

Then you need to remove the engine to inspect the brushes and other parts.

Disconnect the motor wires.
Unscrew the mounting bolts.
Pull out the motor and its brushes. If they are worn out, new parts need to be installed. The same applies to lamellas and windings. They are checked last, if everything is in order with the brushes.
Inspect the tachogenerator. It is mounted on the engine housing. If faulty, replace.

The main module burned out

It is difficult to repair electronics yourself, but it is possible to inspect them for damage.

Unscrew the two screws at the back and remove the top cover.
Remove the powder dispenser tray by pressing the latch in the center.
Unscrew the control panel mounting bolts.
Unclamping the latches, remove the panel from the SMA body.
Inspect the wiring for integrity. Unclench the clamps and, having disconnected the panel, inspect the control board.
If burnt parts are visible on it, it means repair or replacement is required.
You can replace the element. Reinstall the new module, connect the connectors, and secure the panel to the chassis.

All parts in the washing machine can be replaced independently, but not everyone can cope with their repair. If you are not confident in your abilities, contact the service center.

First actions

Regardless of the severity of the problem, it is important to take the right actions and not panic. The future fate of your household appliances depends on your subsequent decisions: whether it will continue to work or whether you will have to buy a new one.

So, suddenly, in the middle of the cycle after starting, the drum of the washing machine stopped spinning and froze tightly. A minute, two... nothing changed, alarming doubts began to creep in... Don’t panic, do the following:

If the model is equipped with a display, if the program fails, an error code will be displayed on it. Inspect the display; if it shows an alphanumeric code, for example, E21 or DE, then you should look at the instructions for the washing machine. If the problem is a program failure, the instructions will tell you in detail what the error code means and what actions need to be taken;
Let's say there is no display or it does not give an error. Unplug the appliance by unplugging it. This way we will eliminate the short circuit and its unpleasant consequences in the future;
getting ready for “wet work”. All models of machines have an emergency drain on the front wall below. Find it and cover the floor with rags, or prepare a suitable container to drain the water. Drain the water through a filter or emergency hose, if available;
wait until the hatch is unlocked and take out the laundry. Slightly damp laundry indicates a spin failure. If things are wet and soapy to the touch, the trouble happened in the midst of washing;
rotate the drum clockwise and counterclockwise. If the attempt is unsuccessful and the drum is tightly jammed, there is reason to worry. If the movement is tight and there are extraneous noises during movement, we can talk about the presence of a foreign object in the space between the drum and the tank. Unimpeded movement indicates a breakdown of the drive elements.

If you suspect a breakdown, then with some skill in working with equipment you can try to fix the problem yourself. If the risk is not justified, the machine is under warranty, or you do not have the necessary skills, then we recommend calling a washing machine repair specialist.

Important: often the reason the washing machine drum stops is imbalance and overload. Do not load too much laundry into the tank (no more than 2/3), if there are strong vibrations and clumping, stop the cycle and redistribute the clumped items.

Where and how much to buy a new one?

You can buy a new drum in online stores and in retail outlets that sell spare parts for household appliances.

Experts recommend purchasing the assembly together with the drum . This is especially true when doing DIY repairs.

Installing a one-piece structure is easier. The main thing is to know exactly the SMA Atlant model. Otherwise, the new drum may not fit correctly. The assembled structure costs about 7,300 rubles. A separate drum will cost 3,000 rubles.

Electric motor is faulty

You turned on the machine, selected and started the washing program, but the sound of the motor is not heard and the drum stands still. What could be the reason? There are several options:

brush wear or breakage in one of the motor windings;
the contact between the control triac in the control unit and the engine is broken;
The triac that supplies power to the electric motor has burned out;
The controller processor is faulty or there is a failure in the non-volatile memory.

It is better to entrust the diagnosis and repair of such breakdowns to an experienced specialist. If it turns out that the motor does not work due to wear on the brushes, if you have certain skills, you can replace them yourself.

The author of the video shares his experience in replacing worn-out electric motor brushes in LG, Ariston, Bosch, Indesit, Beko, Ardo and other brands: