Washing machines are essential part of every home and it is very important to have a functional washing machine at all times. If you have kids then you know that your washing machine is doing at least one load of laundry (if not two or three) every day. If your washing machine stops, the repair is at least 150 $ (because this is the price of most simple repair) and the pile of laundry is getting bigger every day of waiting for someone to come to repair it. In this article we will show you how to repair the most common thing on washing machine with direct drive.
Before we continue with the explanation of the repair we will cover the basics first. Almost everybody knows that there are two types of machines when the position of the loading door is concerned, there are top loading washing machines and front loading washing machines. Top loading machines are popular in the USA, while in Europe front loaders takes majority of the market. Also there are two main types of transmission when it comes to washing machines, the belt system and the direct drive. The difference is that on the direct drive the drum is directly run by the motor and on the belt system machines the rubber belt transfers the motor power to the drum.
By our opinion the direct drive system is much better solution because there are less noise and vibration than with the belt system. Because of that most of the new washing machines have the direct drive system and because of that we will show you how to repair the most common problem with direct drive washing machines, the motor coupling. The motor coupling consist of two plastic flanges and one flexible rubber coupling. The most common thing is the broken flange but the couplings come in sets for under 10$ a set and it is better to replace the whole set.
In the video below you will see how to disassemble the top loading washing machine with direct drive and how to replace the motor coupling. If you have front loading washing machine with direct drive the system is the same only the motor is on the rear side.
Required tools:
1. spare motor coupling
2. screwdriver
3. pliers
4. claw hammer
5. tubular box wrench spanner
Video source: appliancemike
thanks to sharing such information with us. I hope you will share more information in future about Washing Machine Repair.
Hi Tammy,
noise when draining water usually comes from a warn out bearing! Turn off the machine and try to spin the drum by hand, if you hear a grinding noise then you have to replace the bearing!
My washer is making a lot of noise when the water is draining …will this tutorial fix they problem or us thus something else?
Thanks
Hi Pauline!
We are very glad that we helped you! Feel free to try out other tutorials and recommend us to your friends!
Just you to know I did some more research and some said that this also happened to them. So I went home and was going to tear it down again, but decided to just try one more time. YEAH!!! I did 5 loads last night. Now that I have confidence I will try some other repairs using your site! Thank you again.
Hi Pauline!
There is unfortunately always a small amount of water in the hoses! If you installed the coupling correctly it should spin! You said that you’re smelling a rubber burning smell and that is probably the coupling overheating! Check again if all the pins on coupling are fitted correctly and check if the coupling is fitted all the way in!
OK I did exactly as your video showed. I wasn’t aware that I would be given a bath by water still in the hoses, LOL. Anyway I was really excited that I could get the machine back together without any extra parts. Started a small load. Yeah it agitates….but no spin. A humming and a rubber burning smell….but no spin. Any ideas?
Hi Pauline!
Yes, the process is the same on your Roper washer! You don’t have to lean back the machine!
I purchased the part and have received it. I have a 14 yr old Roper set froM Lowe’s. I had the impression that I had to tilt the washing machine backwards to do the work. Will this demonstration also work for my Roper. I am a widow and hate asking for help when I see repairs like this that I feel I can do. I have been a bit hesitant because of having to lean the machine back and I am the only one here to work on it. Please reply. This has been very helpful!