Eccentricity / Run-Out

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

on the Drum of our Miele Washing Machine …

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

The washing machine recently started making "interesting" noises, with a periodicity of once per revolution of the drum.

Watching through the glass door today, I realised that there is about 5mm eccentricity [i.e. 10mm peak-to-peak displacement] of the drum !!

The drum is still circular; the bearing feels good; and there is no obvious looseness; … so I can only assume that the drum has shifted on its attachment.

Miele spares are 'not inexpensive' and the workshop manuals are probably classified Secret, so any guidance would be appreciated.

Has anyone seen this problem ?

Should I just buy a new one, and salvage any potentially useful components ?

MichaelG.

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P.S. … Sorry, I don't have the model number to hand.

But it looks very much like this one: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VmY9PvT1ylM

 

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 27/09/2017 14:24:41

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

A build up of missing socks can throw the balance off

How old is it?

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by JasonB on 27/09/2017 14:26:24:

How old is it?

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Not sure … but definitely more than 5years ['cos the warranty has expired]

If [as I suspect] the spider has failed … and it's the four legged one like this:

**LINK**

Then the almost inevitable decision is: Buy a new machine

MichaelG.

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

MichealG Haynes Manuals used to do a manual for washing machines which even explained which parts were interchangeable and where to get parts from. Used to be a firm in Stockport as I remember

Roy

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by roy entwistle on 27/09/2017 14:47:37:

MichealG Haynes Manuals used to do a manual for washing machines which even explained which parts were interchangeable and where to get parts from. Used to be a firm in Stockport as I remember

Roy

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Thanks Roy

We do live near Stockport, but to be honest I think a new one with 5 year warranty is the way to go.

MichaelG.

[Brian Sweeting 2Participant @briansweeting2]

In that case can I recommend LG inverter machines.

They're not cheap but was told about them by a friend who runs his own white goods repair business. He has installed them in old peoples homes where heavy use is likely and, to date he hasn't had any breakdown calls to them.

The wife is very happy with ours, and that's the important part.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Just ignore the noises.

Our Beko's sounded like a bucketful of bricks in a cement mixer for about 2 years now, but still delivers a decent wash, properly spun.

Mind you, we had to put it outside in the conservatory in order to preserver normal conversation…

[Jon GibbsParticipant @jongibbs59756]

I must admit I thought that washing machine drums were supposed to rotate off-axis when there's an uneven load?

I think it ought to effectively rotate around the centre of gravity of the drum if everything is working well.

Jon

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 27/09/2017 14:40:17:

If [as I suspect] the spider has failed … and it's the four legged one like this:

**LINK**

MichaelG.

.

How much.????? 'Mein Gott.' !!!

Looks to be made of an alloy. – Is there not a member that is handy with a Tig welder in your area.? Does not need to be pretty as it will never be seen. Just functional.! Install a new bearing for good measure while it's in pieces.

Nick

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

MichaelG,

check the drum suspension system to see if one of the springs is not broken or loose.

Martin P

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

That looks like the spider with the bearings in it, which fits to the outside of the outer tub, and if your bearings are ok, it is not needed. I am not familiar with Miele machines, but usually the inner rotating tub has an aluminium cast spider, usually with three long bolts through the vanes inside the inner tub , and the shaft which goes through the bearings cast into it like this.

https://www.huoltopalvelu.com/LG-washing-machine-spider-MHW62021601

If you open the machine door, and grasp the tub top and bottom and try to lift it up and down, you can usually feel the movement if the spider has failed, try turning 1/3 of a turn and try again.the spider legs are where the vanes are inside the tub. Also when the spider has failed, they usually make quite a din, especially when spinning, and sometimes self destruct almost instantly. If there is no play detectable, and no noise, it may be that the machine has been overloaded at sometime, or run with a blocked pump screen, and gone into spin with a wet unbalanced load and got slightly bent. If there is no detectable play, and no noise or heavy vibration, and the inner tub is not catching on the door gasket I would carry on using it. It is a Miele after all!

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

I think new Miele machines come with 10 or more years warranty.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Chris Evans 6 on 27/09/2017 17:33:23:

I think new Miele machines come with 10 or more years warranty.

.

Chris,

If you can find me the extra 5years, I would be grateful

**LINK**

https://www.miele.co.uk/domestic/product-selection-of-washing-machines-and-washer-dryers-1565.htm

MichaelG.

.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Brian Sweeting on 27/09/2017 15:10:25:

In that case can I recommend LG inverter machines.

They're not cheap but was told about them by a friend who runs his own white goods repair business. He has installed them in old peoples homes where heavy use is likely and, to date he hasn't had any breakdown calls to them.

The wife is very happy with ours, and that's the important part.

.

Thanks for the recommendation, Brian

We will have a look at LG before making a decision

[ probably irrelevant, but; the 4K TV is remarkably good, for the money ]

MichaelG.

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 27/09/2017 18:04:20:

 

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Thanks for the recommendation, Brian

 

MichaelG.

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Find out what make this guy recommends for washing and spinning.

Nick

Edited By Nick_G on 27/09/2017 18:17:07

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Phil Whitley on 27/09/2017 17:29:13:

… If you open the machine door, and grasp the tub top and bottom and try to lift it up and down, you can usually feel the movement if the spider has failed, try turning 1/3 of a turn and try again.the spider legs are where the vanes are inside the tub. Also when the spider has failed, they usually make quite a din, especially when spinning, and sometimes self destruct almost instantly. If there is no play detectable, and no noise, it may be that the machine has been overloaded at sometime, or run with a blocked pump screen, and gone into spin with a wet unbalanced load and got slightly bent. If there is no detectable play, and no noise or heavy vibration, and the inner tub is not catching on the door gasket I would carry on using it. It is a Miele after all!

.

Useful description, thanks Phil

However; As I said in the opening post … there is no evidence of bearing failure, or of looseness.

It is conceiveable that the shaft is bent; but it is not evident … the drum appears simply to have been displaced radially.

The noise and vibration are apalling; and yes, the drum is intermittently contacting the door gasket.

I don't really understand what has happened, but I'm pretty sure something significant is amiss !!

[ forensic inspection to follow in due course ]

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Nick_G on 27/09/2017 18:16:53:

Find out what make this guy recommends for washing and spinning

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… but isn't an enrichment centrifuge over-doing it a little ?

MichaelG.

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 27/09/2017 19:04:02:

.

… but isn't an enrichment centrifuge over-doing it a little ?

MichaelG.

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Hahahahahaha.

Nick

[larry PhelanParticipant @larryphelan54019]

Five years from a Miele would not impress me very much. My Whirlpool is 15 years young and I still get annoyed when it makes noises. It did act up a while ago but I gave it a few thumps and it settled down again. I expect at least another 10 years from it.

[Dod MoleParticipant @georgeclarihew]

Look closely inside the drum for a crack developing and study it closely for anything sticking through a hole which could be catching on the heater element. Drums are notorious for not being precisionly (technical term) round and the user usually does not notice such things till something happens.

Always look for something simple before dismantling and performing major surgery, 26 years says look for simple things first.

Edited By George Clarihew on 27/09/2017 20:28:16

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Simple advice for buying washing machines:

1 Choose one that costs less than the three-year extended warranty

2 Don't buy the extended warranty

3 Ideally make it one of the badge engineered brands and choose a non-premium brand so you get all the same features with a different fascia.

4 Keep it running with parts from espares

When our machine eventually gave up (after three sets of brushes and a new controller board when the first set of brushes blew it out) this year it was because it kept cutting out (probably the out of balance detection had gone over-sensitive). I replaced it with an all-singing all dancing hi-capacity high spin-speed Swan with loads of easy eco-programs and a wonderful countdown timer for under £200.

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

Michael. I seem to remember looking at Miele machines last year when we replaced our machine, we where in a branch of John Lewis where we bought a Bosch machine. I will take a look next time we are there at the warranty it may have been a store enhanced thing as all electricals from them get minimum two years.

[HowiParticipant @howi]

Samsung make washing machines too, they play a tune when the wash cycle has finished.

You get an extended warranty free from Samsung.

Well made, reliable, but the picture quality is crap

[SandgrounderParticipant @sandgrounder]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 27/09/2017 21:00:00:

Simple advice for buying washing machines:

2 Don't buy the extended warranty

I wondered about that when we bought our previous machine many years ago, the top of the range ones, Bosch, AEG etc were around £600 + with a 2 year guarantee while a Candy was about £150 with a 1 year guarantee, however for about an extra £100 – £150 you could buy a 5 year guarantee for the Candy, so if you just wanted a basic washing machine without any special features which is a better buy? £600 with a 2 year guarantee or £300 with a 5 year, I'm not quite sure.

John

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