How to tighten the belt on an Indesit washing machine?
Replacing the drive belt on Indesit collector washing machines is done in two stages. First, you need to remove the old part. Everything is very simple here - slightly rocking the pulley, with your free hand, pull the rubber off the drum "wheel".
Next, you need to tighten the belt on the Indesit washing machine. Here, everything is not as simple as it seems at first glance. Let's figure out how to properly put the rubber band on the "wheel" without resorting to outside help.
Description of repair step by step
If you notice that the drive belt on your automatic machine has worn out, do not delay replacing it. You can buy components either immediately, based on the model and serial number of the washing machine, or after dismantling the old rubber. In the second case, the probability of making a mistake when selecting spare parts will be minimal.
Let's figure out how to put the new strap back in place. The sequence of actions will be as follows:
- Turn off the power to the machine,
- Disconnect the device from utility lines (the inlet and drain hoses are disconnected from the body),
- Move the washing machine away from the wall,
- Unscrew the bolts securing the back panel of the case and move the wall aside. If the "top" interferes with dismantling, first remove the cover,
- Find the drive belt - it is located between the large and small pulleys. In some cases, it falls off by itself and lies under the machine,
- Remove and inspect the drive belt. Study the marking - four signs at the beginning of the entry indicate the factory diameter of the element. Measure the circumference of the rubber band and compare the two readings. If the discrepancy is more than two centimeters, then such a belt is unsuitable for further use,
- Put the new belt first on the motor shaft and then on the pulley. Pull the rubber band and start moving the drum "wheel" - this way the belt will fit into the grooves,
- Make sure that the drive belt is firmly in place - rotate the pulley several times. When the "wheel" rotates tightly, you can say that the work has been done correctly.
Having finished all manipulations with the belt, assemble the body of the washing machine. First, return to its place and fix with bolts the back panel, then the top cover. Next, connect the drain and inlet hose to the machine. Then the washing machine moves back to the wall.
This way you can fix the problem yourself. Replacing the drive belt is not a difficult task, even a beginner can handle it. The main thing is to select the right components and follow the instructions.
The belt "jumped" off the pulley after repair
It happens that installing a new part helps to cope with the problem only for a short period of time. If after several washes after replacement the belt has again come off the pulley, then there is some kind of malfunction in the drive system. A more in-depth diagnostics of the automatic machine will be required. You can check the washing machine yourself, at home.
Why might the belt come off frequently? We'll tell you about all the possible reasons.
- Natural wear of the belt. When the elastic band has fallen off once, it is permissible to put it on again. If after two or three such tensions the drive belt falls off more often, it is necessary to replace it with a new one. This means that its diameter has increased by more than the permissible 20 millimeters.
- Drum pulley play. Inspect the drum "wheel", shake it in different directions. Probably, the mounting bolt has come loose, and to fix the problem it will be enough to tighten it. Sometimes the problem can be solved only by replacing the element.
- Insufficient fixation of the electric motor. The washing machine periodically vibrates during the program. Such shaking leads to weakening of fastenings of various parts, including the motor. The motor "looses up", which provokes a violation of the belt drive. To solve the problem, tighten the bolts holding the unit.
- Pulley deformation. The drum "wheel" can be warped during careless repairs. In some cases, you can try to straighten the rim. If this does not help, you will need to install the entire element.
- Damage to the crosspiece. This malfunction may be a consequence of a manufacturing defect or vibrations emitted by the equipment during operation. When a part has a defect, it must be replaced. If a new element is not installed in a timely manner, more serious problems can be provoked, such as failure of the bearing unit.
- Damaged bearings. This malfunction makes itself known after several years of equipment operation. In such a situation, the system is "skewed". The only way to eliminate the malfunction is to replace the drum rings and seal.
You can deal with any malfunction yourself. The most unpleasant situation is damage to the bearing unit. To replace the rings and seal, you will have to completely disassemble the washing machine and remove the tank from it.
Particular attention should be paid to the selection of components. Do not try to save money and buy the cheapest spare parts. Choose high-quality parts recommended by the manufacturer Indesit. To do this, contact specialized stores.
