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We have an elderly (I suspect around 15 years old, it came with the house) Hotpoint washing machine. It has been incredibly robust, only needing new brushes which cost pence. However, it has now started making a loud rumbling noise like a jet on takeoff when it spins, which I think are the bearings on the way out.
I do not want to part with it to replace it with something that I suspect will last just a few years. Does anyone know if bearing replacement is practical / possible? It's just like a Pro II hub, isn't it...?!!
Yes you can replace bearings in washing machines, but it involves taking the whole drum assemby out of the machine, seperating the innner and outer drums. Getting the bearings in and out was awkward too. Took me the best part of a day to do it and it was a real pain to do. Repair didnt last more than a year or two IIRC.
Sounds similar to our machine that's just gone to the great washing machine garden in the sky, god rest it's weary soul.
Just have a crack at fixing it. And if you struggle give a repair bod £20 to have a look. I didn't, and have now spent £377 odd quid on a new machine. Your main concern will be finding parts for a machine that old, so long as the PCB's not gone you should have a fair chance.
Mainly you've just time to loose, and in the meantime launderettes can wash stuff in just 30 minutes.
Bearings mate - not all can be done as many of the modern machines have sealed drums and you cant get at the bearings.
HOWEVER .... most old Hotpoints (WM,WMA) are worth saving & parts are plentyful. To check if the bearings can be replaced take off the lid and have a look at the tub - if it has screws around the middle it can be sorted, no screws = sealed drum.
Not exactly straight forward as people would have you believe but easy enough to do if you dont mind messing around with mechanical stuff. No pullers/presses needed, 1/2 inch round bar and a suitable club ...
Might be worth getting it done by somone who does it on a regular basis - as a guide id charge about £70 all in to sort a WM/WMA - others charge much more, especially in the sarrf !!
Did the bearings on ours last year. Sadly - after they'd disintegrated, not before. Worst bit is cleaning X years of gunge out of the drum. The bearing change itself wasn't desperately difficult - put the bearings in the freezer and heated the housing up with a blow torch and they popped in fairly easily.
Perfectly doable if you're mildly mechanically adept.
Thanks all. Sounds like a question of "what is there to lose?".
Will get the top off soon and see if the drum can be split.
Cheers
Sorry - just an update/edit ...
If its a Hotpoint WM they dont have screws around the center, the front of the tub uses clips and splits at the front, not around the middle !!
