Washing machine welded drums why you can’t change the bearings
Why can't you change the bearings in most washing machines any more!!
Customer´s
Hi All
I have been doing repairs for 30 years and I think it is disgusting that the manufactures do this on a lot of washing machines , there is no saving on the way that they make the drums like this, and there is only a few bolts that saves them few pennies. We are meant to be caring about the environment but now most of the manufactures are doing these welded drums to build in obsolesce. Washing Machines should be able to be repaired, where possible affordably.
I would advise all our customers and viewers to make sure, when buying a new washing machine that they ask the sales man/woman (is the drum welded or can I change the drum bearings) and If not, find one that can be done. Avoid all manufactures that build machines like this as they are deliberately building them this way so that they only last so many cycles, and there for guarantee that the washing machine will only last so many years before you have to buy a new one.
A welded Washing Machine Drum
To replace this Starts at £140 to £400 Plus!!!
A Non Welded Washing Machine Drum
To replace the bearings and seals start from £10 to about £50 Affordable!!
Some things you can do with a washing machine drum when the bearings are gone.
193 Responses to “Washing machine welded drums why you can’t change the bearings”
according to Sale of Goods act, a washing machine should last 6 years where serviceable parts are not covered, i.e brushes.belts, pumps ect. so companies with sealed tubs MUST make them last longer than 6 years, so that has got me thinking. if a sealed bearing fails after 3 years are you entitled to a refund from the retailer?
Drum bearings gone in my Hotpoint Ultima after only 2 and a half years. Why did I by another Hotpoint? AARRGH!! I had the same experience with the last Hotpoint washing machine I had before this one and found out then about the sealed drum bearing issue.
All they are doing is forcing people to by new machines. Even though I am well capable of changing out bearings its not worth the cost of the complete drum in case something else is going to fail around the corner. Hotpoint, I will definitely not be buying another Hotpoint appliance.
Hotpoint you are greedy scheming bastards and have no concern for the environment, forcing us to be a throw away society.
I will be in touch.
Does Siemens WD14H442 have a welded tub?
My Panasonic NA140VX3 washing machine bearings need replacing (noisy and some play when drum is rocked up and down).
Does this machine have a split tub with a bolted connection, allowing me to replace the bearings and seal; or am I cursed by the move towards welded tubs?
Just found out the hard way that the Zanussi ZWG6100K also has a sealed drum. Buyer beware!
i bought an angle grinder for $8 at harbor freight then cut the outer drum in half. used sealant instead of glue in case i had to get back into it then screwed it back together. works great
Hi I’ve noticed that u can clamp the drum together with mini clamps like some drums are put together that are accessible to breakdown this way too.
Bosch Exxcel 8 Varioperfect WAQ24461GB/11 – a sealed drum. Would have thought Bosch would have been better than that…
I fixed my welded tub by cutting the sealed tub with saw and re sealed after replacing bearings with good grade silicone and 4 mm nuts and bolts all around casing left it 48 hrs to cure …been perfectly fine for 18 mth now and in future I could change bearings again if need be …check out videos on YouTube how to do it
Anyone got a list of (preferably cheap) machines without a sealed drum? I’m in the market for a new machine and this will be one of the deciding factors in which machine I pick
Hello!
There is a way to replace bearings on a welded tub. drill holes on the weld rim, cut in half, replace bearings as on a classic machine and then fit them via the holes with screws and seal with silicone sealant.
You will need some hand tools and also a bit of skills, but yes, it is possible, with a cost of few 10 pounds (bearings, shaft seal , silicone and screws) If you use good quality shaft seal (made from viton, not from sh*t) they will last more than the factory one.
I live in Eastern Europe, and here we can’t afford every 3yr to buy a new machine. I own a washing machine service and I replace bearings on welded tubs almost every day, at least 2-4 welded tubs weekly.
Hello,
Interested in your comments washing machine welded drums and not possible to replace bearings.
We have a Beko WMB81241 LS approx. 7 years old so far a very good machine but presumably a sealed drum.
We live in Wales,uk and no one is repaiing bearings on sealed drums .
Iam not in the trade but interested in technology problem solving .
Could you please advise for a future purchase the best auto washer wit h non sealed drums and best of luck with the business .
Glanfor Jones.
This again a money making racket. With the water we get these days the machine spider has disintegrated and so with your selled drum no hope of repairing in. Another inviroment hazard.
Really annoyed with this, not just the waste of money but the world’s resources. So much plastic going to waste when it’s just one small 35mm bearing that needs replacing.
Yep, just cracked open the candy grand vita. I would saw the outer drum if I could get bearings for it, but none are listed anywhere.
It’s 2 years old with the usual 5 years free parts…£149 inclusive for labour, guess they won’t touch it now I done 50% of the work for them, or give me a discount. New washing machine time.
where I can check the models with the sealed drums to avoid buying them
Thanks
I have a Euromaid front loader and am in the process of replacing the bearings. I have also discovered that the drum is welded and I will have to cut and glue the drum. These manufacturers are getting away with daylight robbery. The machine is only four years old and the other parts are still fine. Why should one spend $250 for a drum assembly when it is only the bearings that need replacing at a cost of $20 a set?
i totally agree
I work as a product designer ans i can tell you why they use sealed tubs, because forming a reliable assembled seal in a production environment takes time, energy and MONEY! for cheapness in the initial manufacture, the parts are ultrasonic welded together, this will save on the cost of the rubber seal, the fastenings and the wage of the worker running the screws down. so it may save them £5 a unit, not a lot and most of us would be willing to pay the extra for the serviceability, but if you are making thousands of units a week its a nice cost saving to show the board of directors!! plus its built in design obsolescence, the customer will go buy a new one, its a win-win for them.
Its a very shitty way to behave, but most of these companies have not been about the customer for a long time, they are only concerned with their profit margins and stock price. on the up side, there are still a few manufacturer making units without sealed drums, Miele is one or was?
Daughter’s AEG Lavamat – Turbo, product number 914605004/00, about 7 years old; bearings need replacing. AEG engineer quotes £400 plus for repair. I have done this job on several machines down the years, so had no issue getting stuck in. AEG website lists bearings, bearing seal and tub seal for this model. Being ‘old school’ I decide to get the worn bearings out before ordering new.
Got the drum out to find it is welded plastic. I have repaired sealed car electronic modules by cutting them open, but haven’t yet decided if I will let this AEG beat me.
For me, the big question is:- Why does AEG list replacement bearings for a sealed tub?
Ive got a Hotpoint Aquariaus WF541, had it for about 10 years… I was really happy with this machine… it did start to have a Computer Module fault about 6 years ago… lots of blinking lights. etc Thought Id get it fixed. new Computer Board – GBP160.-…. new Washing Machine GBP260. WOW…. dug around a little further and found I could buy a resister a soldering gun and some solder for GBP20.- which is exactly what they did… I was really impressed… not only had I fixed something, but learned about it too. I also saved a boat load on repair or replacement cost.
I then managed to break the door latch, same thing… managed to find a new latch and door and replaced those… for a margin of the price…
And then the bearings went….
Im really not impressed at Hotpoint’s lack of environmental concern with this approach, nore the approach of the company ‘bullying’ consumers into spending more than required. especially considering the outer fuzzed drum still has the split drum setting (where previous screws existed), only to save initial build cost and ship entire drum replacement cost to the consumer… sometime in the future… which they wont undertaken because a new machine is about 60 pound more than a replacement drum.
Not only replacing the entire drum extremely expensive, for no reason what so ever (when only the bearings have gone) 20GBP vs 200GBP, but the total disregard for the environment is disgusting.
But, unless you have a model of washing machine that takes a better consideration for my pocket and the environment im not really interested. In actual fact im not interested in products from Company who are themselves cutting corners to reduce original build cost with the expectation the device will simply be replaced by a stupid consumer.
be aware
I agree that a washing machine drum must not be welded , It happened to me 2 times in 10 years that the drum bearings could not be changed because the drum was ( sealed )( welded ) this time I both OCEAN , 7kg . and I hope for the best , and it is good that that some-one like you give the chance to tell our story , thanks .
Yep another bearing story. Hot point wmfug742 lasted 2 years bearing shot . I purchased a new machine they delivered it and wanted me to pay 20 pounds to take the bearing damaged machine away. What a con a nearly new machine full of nearly new part to make extra cash for them greedy bastards.