Restoration of the washing machine crosspiece

The crosspiece is an important element of the washing machine. It is with its help that the tank and the drum are connected. Usually, the part is made of soft metal, so after several years of using the machine it deforms, and repairs are needed. How is the crosspiece of the washing machine restored? Is it possible to do the work yourself? Will it be possible to restore the part, or is it easier to immediately replace it with a new one? Let's look into the nuances.

Which crosspieces can be restored?

Restoring the washing machine crosspiece is not always possible. Sometimes the damage is so severe that there is simply no point in repairing it. Let's figure out when the part can be restored.

When it comes to repairing a crosspiece, this process means restoring the surface of its shaft in the places where the bearings and/or the bushing located under the seal are located. Restoring components is allowed in the case when wear appears on the metal. "Grooves" on the shaft can form for several reasons.

• Untimely replacement of bearings. When the rings begin to crumble, significant play appears, and the shaft has a fairly free movement. Due to this, the seal quickly wears out, and not the rubber seal itself, but the metal insert, designed to give it rigidity, begins to "walk" along the bushing. Due to this impact, deep "grooves" appear on the surface.
• Wear of the bushing under the seal. In this case, the damage to the part is less significant. The "grooves" will be shallow and will not interfere with the operation of the unit.
• The appearance of wear on the crosspiece shaft itself at the seat of the "main" bearing (located closer to the seal). When the ring wears out, the mechanism can jam slightly, and then a fairly deep "groove" is "wiped out" under the collar.

Thus, it is advisable to restore the crosspiece only if a groove has formed on its shaft or bushing. If the part has cracked or has other serious damage, it is better to replace it immediately, otherwise the problem will recur. Let's figure out how the restoration is carried out, how to remove components from the washing machine.

How does recovery happen?

Repairing a crosspiece at home without the necessary skills will be problematic. Any layman can cope with disassembling an automatic machine and dismantling the part, but then you will have to work with special equipment. Therefore, it is better to remove the element and take it to a turner for further restoration.

The algorithm of actions will be as follows:

• Unplug the washing machine,
• Disconnect your “home assistant” from the water supply and sewerage system,
• Remove the lower false panel,
• Drain the remaining water from the system through a debris filter,
• Move the washing machine away from the wall to have free access to all sides of the body,
• Remove the top cover,
• Remove the powder receptacle,
• Unscrew the bolts around the perimeter of the control panel, move the dashboard to the side,
• Remove the clamps securing the cuff and insert the elastic into the drum,
• Remove the rear panel of the case,
• Disconnect all wires, sensors and parts from the tank that interfere with its removal (heating element, engine, drain pipe, pressure switch, etc.);
• Having dealt with the shock absorbers, remove the tank from the washing machine,
• Disassemble the tank by unscrewing the fixing screws around the circumference and dealing with the latches,
• Pull out the drum and disconnect the crosspiece from it (by unscrewing the bolts or drilling out the factory fasteners).

A turner will help you restore the crosspiece correctly. It is important that the master has a suitable machine for the upcoming work, where the part from the washing machine will "fit".

What is done next? If the problem is in the damage of the seat under the bearings, it is necessary to weld the wear. Then the surface is turned on a lathe in the center to maintain the alignment of the bushing, shaft and both bearings. So, what will have to be done to restore the crosspiece of the drum of the automatic machine?

• Weld the shaft in the wear areas.
• Grind the surface to smooth out the areas restored by welding.
• Press a new sleeve onto the shaft.
• Turn the bushing to maintain the alignment of the unit.

The new bushing must be either made of non-ferrous metal or stainless steel. Since it is constantly exposed to an aggressive environment in the automatic machine, and if it is made of ferrous metal, the part will quickly (literally in a few washes) become unusable.

After the crosspiece is restored, it is attached to the drum. The washing machine is assembled in the reverse order. If during operation you have found damage not only to the shaft and bushing, but also to the bearings, it is better to immediately dismantle the old rings and press in new ones.