Washing machine experts - dmpoole?

Jez

Jez

Jez

Caporegime
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
33,075
Hi, today my washing machine stopped rotating, the cycles would go through but no motor, you could hear the relay click on and off, but nothing.

Opened it up, the belt is ok, everything looks in place (although quite rusty for some reason!)

Anyway, long and short of it is that by ******* about spinning the drum/motor myself and turning it off at the mains for ages, it seems to have started working again! (Hurrah! :confused: )

I note however that the motor has blue flashes coming out of it when it engages, now the thing is i havent ever seen a washing machine motor go without the casing on, so i dont know if this is buggered or whether it is normal. Basically when the motor is running blue light is emitted into the casing (not visible from the front or with casing on)

Is this safe or will my house burn down in a fiery mess?
 
A constant blue light, or a spark?

Brushed motors do tend to spark on startup, but it will be for a split second, no length of time.
 
Its a constant flicker of blue light while the motor is running. I note now (i have it running a cycle as we speak) that the motor is making crackly noises, a bit like a sparkler, when it is running. It is silent when it is not running. Again these arent audible with the casing on and above the drum noise, so it could in theory have been doing this for ages.

Model is a Bosch WFG 2020.
 
Carbon brushes carry the electrical current from the part of the motor that is static to the central part that spins. They are made of graphite and are designed to gradually wear out. They are spring loaded to, ensure constant contact, with a wire to both limit movement and to maintain good contact.
When they wear to their limit they dont make a good contact and sparks appear with a crackling noise.
Five minute job to replace (for me anyway), parts easily available from an online spares shop for about £30 inc postage.
 
Thats the brushes mate dead easy to replace, got a local fixit shop? they should be able to get the brushes and fit them for you if you dont feel up to it. taking the motor off should be fairly simple too.

My old machine was 19 years old, over the years i had replaced nearly everything!
 
Right, taken the motor off which is totally covered in black crap (the carbon i assume!).

Any pointers for removing the metal bit attached to the wire above the brushes so i can pull the brushes out?
 
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Any tips for removing the brushes guys? Need to get these replaced asap and i cannot see for the life of me how to remove them from the plastic holders :(
 
Ok, update;

I removed the brushes, they have about 1CM of carbon on them (as in, the carbon blob as seen in those links above, is about 1cm long)

I replaced the brushes and re-attached the motor "to see" and its now working with no sparks or crackles :confused:

How long do i have left with 1cm of brush left, and do either of you have any idea why it started messing up, yet is now working with the brush re-seated?
 
I'll jump on the bandwagon here. My washing machine has just stopped working. It's one of those digital ones and when I set it and press start, it just beeps and flashes that the door is open (but it's not)
I'm guessing it's a sensor somewhere but haven't got a clue where to start.
 
eidolon said:
I'll jump on the bandwagon here. My washing machine has just stopped working. It's one of those digital ones and when I set it and press start, it just beeps and flashes that the door is open (but it's not)
I'm guessing it's a sensor somewhere but haven't got a clue where to start.
Click to expand...

Oi, join the queue :D I want to know how long i have before 1CM brushes will finally die? I'm assuming soon if its stopped once already.

Your issue sounds like a bit of a nightmare though mate :( Mechanical things i can handle and understand, digital stuff like that could be anything!
 
dunno about yours but mine seems to cycle through the programmes when I first turn it on, At first I just turned it off for a while and it would work (cold boot?) Now I find that soaking the excess water out of the overflow compartment in the powder tray seems to get it going first time, Weird huh?
 
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1CM of C/B's will last as long as the limiting wire will allow. Not long TBH but should last a wash or two but you really do need a new pair.

Incidently, were they sitting in a black plastic carrier held down by two screws or in a recessed holder where you have to bend the shoulders back to get them out ?
 
Hi,

6) the brushes are located one at each side of the motor within white plastic rectangular housings
7) slide off the black wire from the brass-coloured connector at the top of the brush
8) push the brass connector forwards (away from where the wire was connected) and then up and back towards you to release the brush from the four retaining clips and withdraw it from the housing, making a note of which way round the angled end of the brush goes


I used those instructions :) Worked perfectly. I will order a set and keep them in the cupboard until it dies again. I really appreciate all your advice mate, youve saved me tons of bother. I never realised these machines were so simple tbh! :)

By the way:
http://www.espares.co.uk/part/washi...56/0/0/1019979/washing-machine-carbon-br.html

Are those going to be crap, or will they suffice? The reviews (other than 1 or two perhaps hamfisted people) seem ok for them..
 
They should be ok but the cheapo brushes are often made from a slightly harder carbon that can take a while to bed in thus causing more sparking.

The advice is no trouble, I've had tons of help on these forums, nice to put a little back :)
 
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