Washing machine problem

[Merlin5]

I think I'm going to have to buy a new machine. But before shelling £400 I'd like to try and fix mine if possible. It's a very old Hotpoint.

It stops during the rinse cycle. And it doesn't do the super fast final spin cycle afterwards either. I had to wring my clothes by hand the other night. I've managed to get it all working before after messing around a lot with the dial on different rinse/spin cycles, but it's really not having it anymore.

I don't know if there's some blockage? All I see at the back of it is the hot and cold inlet hoses and the outlet hose. Should I disconnect something? If it's some internal circuitry then I'm probably out of my depth.

 

[fastwunz]

Does it not come up with an error code?

Machines often stop when there is an blockage in the drainage and associated filters.

the first thing I would do is clear out any blockages - then try again

 

[MagicBoy]

My 90s Whirlpool (a friends old machine that they donated when I moved 12 years ago!) started intermittently doing the same thing a few months ago. Checked the usual stuff, pump was fine - would usually work 50% of the time once the rinse started. Turned out there's no parts availability for it apart from seals nowadays. Then it developed an electrical fault last month and tripped out the consumer unit whenever started.

So, finally spent the cash on a new machine. It's way quieter.

 

[Merlin5]

Mine has quite often tripped the fuse box. I can't remember at what point of the cycle, perhaps the final spin because it used to really shake the whole thing. I do think I'll need a new machine tbh.

Does it not come up with an error code?

Machines often stop when there is an blockage in the drainage and associated filters.

the first thing I would do is clear out any blockages - then try again

Haha, error codes. I'm not even sure my Hotpoint was made in the 21st century to have such luxuries built in.
Where and how do I check for blockages?

Also, can someone advise me on a new machine. I've got my eye on this Samsung.
https://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-w...-energy-rating-1400rpm-spin-graphite/p3201614

Ideally, I wanted a black machine to match my kitchen units and the Samsung is Graphite. But maybe Samsung will be the most reliable?

Would another Hotpoint, or Hoover, or Beko be any good or stay away from them?
https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/st/freestanding-black-washing-machines?rangeattribute=1~179~400

 

[Terminal_Boy]

Apart from the colour, figure out if you need more than a basic machine.

I’ve had very good experiences with Beko appliances - got a 15 year old Beko dishwasher that’s moved 1000 km South with us and is still going strong.

Got a year old condenser tumble dryer from Beko as well which runs like a champ.

 

[Merlin5]

Apart from the colour, figure out if you need more than a basic machine.

I’ve had very good experiences with Beko appliances - got a 15 year old Beko dishwasher that’s moved 1000 km South with us and is still going strong.

Got a year old condenser tumble dryer from Beko as well which runs like a champ.

Interesting. I got the impression that everyone would say stay away from Beko. I'd always heard they were a bit dodgy, and Indesit as well.

 

[Thebug]

Old hotpoints used to eat motor bushes, check them first its a nice cheap fix, if they are worn it will stop the drum turning and spinning properly when loaded, secondly does it empty between cycles?

 

[Merlin5]

Old hotpoints used to eat motor bushes, check them first its a nice cheap fix, if they are worn it will stop the drum turning and spinning properly when loaded, secondly does it empty between cycles?

Yes, I think it's emptying properly, but because it's not doing the final spin, it's leaving the clothes more drenched, hence me needing to wring them out to get rid of the excess water.
Where do I check motor bushes? If they're worn, would it stop the rinse cycle completely as is happening?

 

[Thebug]

Yes, I think it's emptying properly, but because it's not doing the final spin, it's leaving the clothes more drenched, hence me needing to wring them out to get rid of the excess water.
Where do I check motor bushes? If they're worn, would it stop the rinse cycle completely as is happening?

Yes its easy enough to check them to rule them out, also take the outlet hose off at the pump and make sure its not full of soap

Heres how to check bushes, make sure plug is out and should be able to check without removing the motor

https://youtu.be/HELgV4KOsT0

 

[Merlin5]

Yes its easy enough to check them to rule them out, also take the outlet hose off at the pump and make sure its not full of soap

Heres how to check bushes, make sure plug is out and should be able to check without removing the motor

https://youtu.be/HELgV4KOsT0

Thanks for the link. I took the top and back off it today. By the way, I looked it up and the machine is from the mid 1990s!

Anyway, after struggling to release the carbon brushes until I realised I have to depress a holding clip, I got them free. Photos below of them and the connectors.

Both brush connector plastic casings look a bit burnt. As does one side of the white plastic on one of the brushes. I'm guessing the brushes burnt the connectors as opposed to the connectors being the problem. What do you think, is there enough carbon on these that it should work? The drive belt is intact and turns the drum when I manually rotate the belt, so that's ok. The drum is not turning at all though anymore during rinse cycle but fortunately water does still get pumped out. And because the drum isn't turning anymore, I guess that would account for no final spin cycle being activated. So I guess new brushes would fix it?

Also, there's a photo of the outlet hose connected to some other bits. Would I need to just unclip the outlet hose on the left?

 

[Merlin5]

I just ordered a new pair of brushes for £21.98 from espares, next day delivery. I hope that sorts the problems!

 

[darael]

Where does the plug with the burnt end lead to? That would concern me and I'd want to get to the bottom of that before tying to fix the rest of the machine.

 

[jpaul]

assume that is the connector to the blackened brush sheath.

what does the commutator look like ? I'd clean the cummutator with ipa & a toothbrush too.

should be a big capacitor too somewhere how does that look. ?

 

[Merlin5]

Yes, the plugs with burnt end have metal spade connectors that connect to the gold contacts on the brush sheaths once the brush sheaths are pushed back into the slots on the motor.

I'm assuming the brush got very heated and caused the plastic on the clip to blacken. I'm hoping that's the case rather than an issue with the connector. Having watched some videos, it seems all old brushes look burnt when being replaced. However, mine is not as worn away as I was expecting. But, one brush falls out the sheath and the other brush doesn't fall out, so maybe that's why there's a problem with them.

I screwed the lid and back covers back on last night just for tidiness and will remove again tomorrow when I get the brushes. Not sure where the commutator is, I'm guessing in the motor, but it was tricky seeing much inside the motor without removing it.

In my 3rd photo, I think the capacitor is that silver cylinder at the bottom right under the 4 black feed hoses.

 

[Merlin5]

Where does the plug with the burnt end lead to? That would concern me and I'd want to get to the bottom of that before tying to fix the rest of the machine.

I believe it's part of the wiring loom connected to a white rectangular block plug that plugs into the motor. Or it might not be connected to that plug, I'll have to look tomorrow.

 

[darael]

Yes, the plugs with burnt end have metal spade connectors that connect to the gold contacts on the brush sheaths once the brush sheaths are pushed back into the slots on the motor.

I'm assuming the brush got very heated and caused the plastic on the clip to blacken. I'm hoping that's the case rather than an issue with the connector. Having watched some videos, it seems all old brushes look burnt when being replaced. However, mine is not as worn away as I was expecting. But, one brush falls out the sheath and the other brush doesn't fall out, so maybe that's why there's a problem with them.

I screwed the lid and back covers back on last night just for tidiness and will remove again tomorrow when I get the brushes. Not sure where the commutator is, I'm guessing in the motor, but it was tricky seeing much inside the motor without removing it.

In my 3rd photo, I think the capacitor is that silver cylinder at the bottom right under the 4 black feed hoses.

If you remove the motor and look where the brushes go, you will see the commutator - it is probably dark, but it should be a nice shiny copper. You'll know it's the commutator when you see loads of segments which go round as you turn the motor.

You should try and clean the commutator with a fine sandpaper until it is clean and you can see the copper. Finally use compressed air to clean any carbon dust from both the motor and between the commutator segments. If you don't have access to compressed air, visit a fuel station and use their compressed air for inflating tyres. You could always ask a friendly garage if you could borrow their air compressor for a few minutes.

 

[Merlin5]

That's a good idea about using a tyre air inflator, 50p a pop rather than £6 a can for compressed air. In this video, is the armature he inspects at 1:11 the same as a commutator?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HELgV4KOsT0&t=1m11s


I can undo the bolts to remove the motor, but there's a white plastic lever/latch thing with a thin wire attached which might prove tricky to take off in order to get the motor off, but I'll give it a go.
You can see it top left in this photo. https://i.postimg.cc/jjFX2ZBh/Motor.jpg


Also, just below it, maybe that silver cylinder is the capacitor, or perhaps there's more than one capacitor?

 

[Grimley]

I used to sell that style Hotpoint Washers many moons ago, I'm surprised its lasted that long. It must be almost 25 years old. IIRC it was made in the UK by Hotpoint themselves instead of some faraway land by Merloni or Whirlpool in this day & age. I'm also surprised you can get spares for them too. I'm glad that its still repairable after all this time & Thanks to the good old EU (bless 'em! ) *new appliances at some point in the future will be easier to repair as spares for machines have to be available for a certain period of time after manufacture in order to avoid a lot of them going to landfill because spares aren't made anymore or are too expensive*

*disclaimer-I read that somewhere on my phones google newsfeed so don't shoot the messenger*

 

[Merlin5]

I used to sell that style Hotpoint Washers many moons ago, I'm surprised its lasted that long. It must be almost 25 years old. IIRC it was made in the UK by Hotpoint themselves instead of some faraway land by Merloni or Whirlpool in this day & age. I'm also surprised you can get spares for them too. I'm glad that its still repairable after all this time & Thanks to the good old EU (bless 'em! ) *new appliances at some point in the future will be easier to repair as spares for machines have to be available for a certain period of time after manufacture in order to avoid a lot of them going to landfill because spares aren't made anymore or are too expensive*

*disclaimer-I read that somewhere on my phones google newsfeed so don't shoot the messenger*

It seems Whirlpool and Hotpoint are one and the same today. You're correct though, all made in the UK and yes, must be around 1995. I had an engineer out a few years ago to fix the dryer part of it, but apart from that, it's been a champion.
https://postimg.cc/jwTBmbfz
https://postimg.cc/dkSDn4kc

I can't see who makes the motor, would it be G.E.C?

 

[Grimley]

No idea. Only person on here who might know is @SexyGreyFox . @OldCoals might know too but I'm not certain.