Washing machine repair

**Andy Mac** · 18th July 2008, 11:35 AM

Hello,
Thought I might share a repair I did on our washing machine over 5yrs ago, and yes Woodwork-General is the right place!

I just took the photo today because I pulled the agitator out to see where an oil slick is coming from, and yes its from the gearbox seal, but that's a different story.
It started by me leaving a large coach screw in the pocket of a pair of work pants, which found its way out during the wash cycle and smashed the leading edge of an agitator fin... of the then new washing machine!

. Yeah real popular!
Instead of sourcing a new part immediately I decided to cut and file a neat edge to the damaged area, and rebuild it. A slight crack remained up the fin. I carved a piece of old seasoned red cedar to fit, conforming to the fin profile but coming from underneath with a T section to locate it. I cleaned and abraded the mating plastic part before epoxying the piece into place, including coating the whole outside surface. Voila, it has lasted 5yrs without coming adrift, and the crack doesn't seemed to have extended any!
Do I think the repair caused the later seal problem? Not entirely sure, but the cedar is really light, so unlikely to cause unbalance, certainly no more than usual wash situation. The gearbox has a 5yr warranty so bad luck there. According to a repair shop its a gearbox exchange, no seal replacement will do the trick due to shaft wear?!
Anyway, we've had good use from one of the few washing machines with a wooden part!

Cheers,

**RufflyRustic** · 18th July 2008, 12:10 PM

A washing machine with a wooden component. How neat is that!!

Very ingeneous Andy! A great save considering it was new when it happened.

I have to say that it is always interesting opening the washing machine when a load of HWMNBO's clothes has been washed. I never know what tips he's going to leave for me to find. I've now got a box of engineer's chalk, but the best was a $50 note

cheers
Wendy

**damian** · 18th July 2008, 12:15 PM

There are means for repairing the shaft but the economics probably aren't there. The seal wears a lip in the shaft that prevents the new seal working for long. You can build up the shaft or sleeve it but the cost is probably prohibitive.

If you shop hard you can buy washing machines these days for loose change so repairing them at all is dubious. I got my bosch front loader for about $600, rrp was $1k. That was several years ago.

**bitingmidge** · 18th July 2008, 02:54 PM

A repair after my own heart Andy!

I've used bits of wood in lots of places a more sensible person would weld, although I suspect I may have moulded a new bit in this case out of grp.

Cheers,

P

**Blu_Rock** · 2nd August 2008, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by Andy Mac

Hello,
According to a repair shop its a gearbox exchange, no seal replacement will do the trick due to shaft wear?!

Andy, there is a cheap shaft repair option available. In the past, I have used Speedy Sleeves to repair shafts that have grooves worn in them. Speedy Sleeves are thin-walled stainless steel sleeves that have the same internal diameter as the shaft you are repairing and, once the shaft is cleaned, you press the sleeve onto the shaft. The sleeve does slightly increase the tension on the lip seal but this is not usually a problem. You local bearing shop should be able to get them in if not in stock.

**mic-d** · 2nd August 2008, 08:47 AM

qantas has a job for you...

Cheers
Michael

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