Hi - Can anyone give any advice or description of how to replace a drum spider in the above machine?

Will I need new seals also? What if the shaft has gotten damaged by the broken Drum Spider?

Does this job need huge physical strength - I am a girl......

patmore@turkeyvillarental.com, October 2008

Hi Dannyboy,

Many thanks for the answers - I do a lot of DIY so am reasonable ok with fixing most things - have just never had to take a drum off before and someone said on a forum that it needs 2 men to lift the drum out of the machine. Having just had a shoulder op I am worried I may not be strong enought to remove bearings which may get stuck etc. I did call a local repair service but they said parts would be £80 and then labour about £100. I was ok with that as it was a £400+ machine but he said Nah he doesn't want to do it. Too much labour for him to bother.

I want to have a go but keep getting told I wont be able to get the drum out myself. I have changed motors, pumps, repaired electrics, repaired a TV, rewired a flat and had it passed, so quite practical but like to have manuals etc. Dont seem to be able to find any books in the library on how to repair washing machines but did Find "How to keep goats" and also "How to build Chimneys" and "Drystone wall building"

Anon, October 2008

Power off, remove covers. Disconnect drive belt, remove drive pulley. Remove heater, thermostat and pressure switch. Check if drum splits at front, rear or the middle. If at front or middle, drum will prob. need removal from machine. This involves dismantling the suspension and damping system and removal of door seal and concrete weights. Undo the drum fixing system - either a clamping ring or a series of peripheral bolts and split the drum.If the drum splits at the rear, removal from machine probably not required. Remove the clamping system and pull off the rear plate. Seal and bearings will come away with the plate. Seal needs to be dug out with a suitable lever and the old bearings hammered out with a punch from opposing sides of the backplate. Remove broken spider and replace. Refitting is, as they say, a reversal of the above process.
Thats it in its briefest form. You do need to have significant spanner skills. If youre the type of gal who works on their car, it would be no problem. If you're a novice, dont even go there, get a professional to do it, but its going to have to be a judgement call taking into account the high labour costs (at least £120) and the condition and value of the machine.
Repair and service your own washing machine. Go to www.2ndwave.co.uk/manual.html

dannyboy, October 2008