How to replace a rib in a washing machine drum?

The drum ribs of an automatic machine are very important for ensuring the most effective cleaning. The blades turn things inside the washing machine, allowing the "home assistant" to remove all dirt from the fabric. Without "rib beaters", washing will turn into a regular rinse. Sometimes it may be necessary to replace the drum rib of the washing machine. We will tell you what types of beaters there are, what they are for, how to change the beaters yourself on machines with front and top loading.

What types of bumpers are there and why are they needed?

It is easy to notice that the drum rib needs to be replaced. Such a malfunction is visible to the naked eye. You need to look inside the machine. There are two possible options:

• The redan has “come off” from the surface of the drum and is no longer held in its usual place,
• The bump stop is not securely attached and moves when pressed.

In any of the situations, it is better to immediately repair or replace the drum rib. Bumpers must be purchased for a specific model of the washing machine. For example, Indesit and Ardo washing machines with vertical loading have 3 redans, two hollow and one heavy (it functions as a balancer). If the balancing rib bumper is damaged, it is necessary to install the same one.

The vast majority of "frontal" machines have only hollow blades. There is no need for expensive heavy bumpers, so the cost of components will be lower. But in this case, it is more difficult to get to the fasteners. On "vertical" machines of the Bosch and Brandt brands, a flat redan is installed. Such models have only one edge.

What are the bumpers in the drum of the washing machine for? During the washing process, it is the bumpers that ensure the movement of the laundry inside the machine. Things are "thrown" from one edge to another, thus the clothes are "beaten off", the washing process becomes more efficient.

In addition, if even one bumper falls off, the laundry will cling to the drum. The surface has special fastenings for the redans, which are quite sharp and can ruin things. Therefore, it is important not to start the wash until the edge is returned to its place.

Usually, the redans fail due to foreign objects getting into the blades: a bra bone, a paper clip, a small key, etc. Flying under the bumper, the things break the plastic fasteners, after which the edge begins to fall off. You can replace the element yourself.

We change and repair the bump stop on the vertical

The process of replacing the bumper for front and vertical machines will differ. First, we will tell you how to remove the old bumper and install a new one on a vertical machine, using the Brandt washing machine as an example.

The Brandt top-loading washing machine has one flat bumper. It is located at the bottom of the drum. To remove the bumper, you only need a screwdriver. Once you have the tool ready, you need to:

• Lift the top cover,
• Open the drum doors,
• Use a screwdriver to press on the special hole on the surface of the bumper,
• Move the edge to the side, following the arrows as guidance.

The new bumper is installed in the reverse order. The fasteners should fit into the grooves, so the rib is securely fixed on the drum surface.

If a foreign object has damaged only one blade mount, it is not necessary to buy a new element. To save money, it is permissible to repair the old bumper. By turning over the redan of the "vertical", you can see many stiffening ribs.

On the side where there are no factory fasteners, it will be necessary to drill the stiffener ribs in three planes. These holes are necessary to fix the bump stop with disposable clamps. On the side where the latches are not broken, you will not have to resort to such a measure.

To install a repaired redan, you need to:

• Open the drum flaps and put the bump stop in its place so that the remaining factory fasteners fit into the grooves,
• Close the "centrifuge" and turn it until the place where the rib punch is attached is on top,
• Secure the redan by threading the clamps through the holes in the drum and the holes drilled in the stiffeners.

The clamps should be secured as shown in the picture. The clamps should be tightened tightly; the remaining ends should be "bitten off" with pliers. After such manipulation, the bump stop will "sit" securely in its place.

We change and repair redans on the frontal

Replacing the drum ribs on front-loading washing machines is much more difficult. If you install new bumpers, you will have to remove the drum from the machine, that is, almost completely disassemble the "home assistant". This is a fairly labor-intensive process.

If the redan is only slightly loose, it can be repaired. In this case, you won't have to pull the drum out of the machine. To fix the bumper, you'll need regular metal wire with a soft, rubber "braid". The process of fixing the rib will take no more than 5-10 minutes. The sequence of actions will be as follows:

• Turn off the power to the machine,
• Open the hatch door and illuminate the drum with a flashlight or lamp,
• Straighten the edge that is not firmly in place,
• Insert the wire into the near hole of the redan, pass it under the drum and pull it out through the far hole of the bumper,
• Tighten the knots firmly on both sides,
• Hide the sharp ends of the wire in the adjacent holes of the redan.

If the bumper has come off completely, or you just want to replace the damaged blade, you will have to remove the drum from the washing machine to install the new part. To do this, you need to:

• Disconnect the machine from the water supply and sewerage system,
• Drain the remaining water from the system through a waste filter,
• Remove the top cover of the case,
• Remove the lower false panel,
• Take out the powder receptacle,
• Unscrew the control panel bolts and remove the dashboard,
• Remove the hatch cuff,
• Remove the door locking device,
• Remove the front wall by unscrewing the screws holding it,
• Remove the back panel of the case,
• Remove the drive belt,
• Disconnect the wiring from the heating element,
• Disconnect the power wires from the motor, remove the engine,
• Disconnect all hoses and pipes from the tank,
• Remove the shock absorbing elements,
• Pull out the tank,
• Disassemble the tank, removing the mounting bolts and dealing with the latches,
• Unscrew the screw and remove the pulley,
• Remove the drum from the plastic container.

If you need to remove the damaged redan, straighten the special fastening "tongues" on the outside of the drum. When you can't get the bumper out this way, you'll have to use a construction hair dryer. Direct a stream of hot air at the edge, the plastic will become soft, more pliable, and it won't be difficult to pull out the blade.

The new redan is installed in the same way. If the bumper does not fit into the seat, you can also blow one of its edges with a construction hair dryer and "sand" the wall. The fasteners are inserted into the grooves, then the fixing "tongues" are bent. The assembly of the washing machine is performed in the reverse order.