Possible malfunctions of the washing machine motor and how to eliminate them

Electric motor from a washing machine
The rotation of the drum of any washing machine is ensured by an electric motor. In older units, the conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy is carried out using belt drives that are attached to the drum and cause it to rotate.

Modern models use other types of engines. But regardless of design, they can break. The article will tell you what possible malfunctions of the electric motor of a washing machine are and how to eliminate them.

Types of engines

Before troubleshooting a washing machine motor, you need to determine the type of unit.

For this purpose, three modern types of engines are produced, their features are presented in the table:

The washing machine does not spin

One of the useful functions of the machine is spinning. After all, in the process of alternating rotation of the drum, water is knocked out of the laundry, and we take the clothes out of the machine almost dry. The spin mode means that after rinsing, water stops flowing into the drum, rotation occurs first in one direction, then in the other. Spinning is completed by rotating the drum at high speeds in one direction. If the machine does not spin the laundry, then there is a failure in the nodes involved in the process: programmer, drive or winding switching relay.

When testing you should:

• turn off the machine from the network;
• remove the belt;
• turn off the motor;
• start the engine from the external network through the electrical circuit. Terminals 3 and 4, as well as 5 and 6, are responsible for the modes.

Important!

When starting the engine, there may be a jerk and the motor will begin to rotate. We recommend being extremely careful, as its rpm can exceed 10,000.

Major breakdowns of the commutator motor

Before determining a malfunction of the electric motor of washing machines, you should carefully inspect the components. But first you need to start the engine and see whether it will work or not.

To start the engine, you need to connect the stator and rotor windings in series, and then connect an alternating current source with a voltage of 220 Volts to the remaining connectors. If the engine starts to rotate, then everything is fine. At this time, you can determine how silently it works and identify sparkling brushes.

The main causes of failure of electric motors of commutator-type washing machines are:

• Worn brushes. If the washing machine is more than 10 years old, the brushes will be very worn, as indicated by strong sparks from the engine. When the brushes wear out, they will become small in size, this can be seen immediately. The whole part is long enough, without cracks or chips. A worn element should be replaced. It is better to choose original brushes for replacement, which will increase the service life of the engine after repair. This is not a complicated process, you can do it yourself;
• Breaks in stator and rotor windings. The best option to eliminate the problem is to replace the rotor or stator. The cost of rewinding a motor may be higher than the cost of a new element. This is due not only to rewinding, but also to the need to center the unit in order to eliminate its runout;
• Malfunction of the collector lamellas due to wear or short circuit in the windings. It is easy to diagnose the wear of the lamellas, as well as the brushes. In this case, you need to inspect the manifold after removing the rotor from the engine. The motor brushes begin to spark due to peeling of the lamellas, breakage of the supply contact, and the presence of burrs. Peeling of the lamellas occurs when the rotor jams or an interturn short circuit occurs. This leads to overheating of the unit. If the contact breaks at the junction with the lamella, it is quite difficult to return the wires.
• Bearing wear. If, after checking, runout or increased vibration of the housing during operation of the device is visible, the bearing should be replaced. The most unpleasant thing is when the armature touches the stator. In this case, you will need to change the armature, or replace the stator and armature at the same time.

Closing sensor on the “vertical”

On top-loading washing machines, problems with starting are often caused by a loading hatch blocker. This is a limit switch that prevents the control board from starting the wash when the drum is open. Also, on some models, this device is also responsible for collecting water into the tank.

If the limit switch is broken, the module does not receive an enabling signal and the machine does not start. To correct the situation, it is necessary to remove the “blocking”. To do this, we check the device for faults.

The switch is located under the top panel of the washing machine. The blocker is activated by a special pin, which is located on the loading hatch cover. If the drum is closed, then the protection is triggered. If there is no start, you need to check:

• is there any mechanical damage to the sensor device;
• are the levers and other mechanisms of the “locker” in good working order;
• Is the contact group of the switch stuck?

When the switch is activated, but the collection of water into the drum does not begin and the engine is “silent”, then there is a breakdown of the “blocker”. This means you need to remove the device and check its functionality. We proceed like this:

• disconnect the washing machine from the power supply;
• release the wiring from the switch terminals;
• We connect a multimeter to the blocker and measure the indicators.

If the malfunction is confirmed, you should dismantle the old device and install a new one. It is strongly not recommended to repair the switch by closing the contact group with a jumper. Such manipulations violate the conditions for safe operation of the washing machine and can lead to spontaneous combustion.

Asynchronous motor malfunctions

There are several causes of malfunctions and their diagnosis for an asynchronous motor, which are combined in the table:

Malfunctions of the electric motor of the Indesit washing machine

Malfunction of the electric motor of the washing machine Zanussi fe 804

How to replace brushes in a washing machine

Before you start replacing the brushes, it's worth watching the video.

Even a reliable and durable Ardo washing machine requires regular inspection and replacement of worn parts. After 5 years of operation, it may be necessary to replace the motor brushes, which may lose full contact.

If a malfunction is detected in the electric motor of an Ardo 1000 washing machine associated with replacing the motor brushes, you must purchase the following set of tools and accessories:

• New brushes.
• Multimeter.
• Screwdrivers.
• An ordinary vacuum cleaner.

Instructions for replacing motor brushes:

• The washing machine is de-energized;
• This frees up space near the rear wall of the unit for ease of work;
• The back wall is removed after unscrewing the screws holding it;

To determine the placement of the electric motor in a washing machine, you need to locate the drum pulley, and then the motor and the drive belt that connects them. The belt is removed after prying it off with a screwdriver and turning the pulley.

• Before removing the engine from the car, disconnect the power connector from it and unscrew the screws;
• The motor is removed;
• The engine is wiped or vacuumed, which may become covered with graphite dust, interfering with further procedures;
• The engine is tested for leaks and short circuits to the frame. The most convenient way to do this is with a multimeter;
• Remove power from the contacts of the brush holders by pressing on them;
• The contacts are pulled out of the motor housing;
• Brush wear is determined by the size of the graphic area: if its size is less than 5 mm, replacement must be done;
• The new brush is ground into the commutator by placing sandpaper on it and turning it a few turns;
• The same procedure is repeated with the second brush;
• The engine is vacuumed again;
• The motor is completely assembled and installed in the Ardo washing machine;

At this stage, a drive belt is not needed. The machine simply starts in washing mode. This must be done so that the brushes rub well into the engine commutator.

• The drive belt is put on the engine pulley, and then on the drum pulley;
• The washing machine is completely assembled;
• The back wall is installed and secured.

In the same way, faults in the electric motors of tl washing machines are eliminated.

Break and short circuit of stator and rotor windings

When the engine power decreases, a short circuit may have occurred between the turns of the winding. In this case, the machine drum may stop rotating or rotate slowly.

When the engine stopped, most likely there was a break in the stator windings. This can happen when the motor housing heats up too much, which is caused by a short circuit in the motor windings. When the engine heats up to a temperature above 90ºС, a special protective thermostat is activated.

Tip: The optimal temperature for operating the electric motor should not exceed 80ºC.

To check for an open circuit in the windings, you can use a tester in ohmmeter mode connected to adjacent lamellas. In different positions of the shaft between the lamellas, the resistance of adjacent elements should be the same - from 0.1 to 0.4 Ohm.

A short circuit in the motor winding may occur if the insulation is damaged. In this case, you will need to change the entire motor, or create the winding again, but this is very difficult. A short circuit in the engine can also cause other problems.

How are different types of motors pulled out?

The complexity of diagnosing inverter motors was discussed above. It was meant that it is, of course, possible to remove the engine and inspect it visually, but if repairs are suddenly needed, it can only be done at a service center. Previously, such engines were found only in ultra-new LG and Samsung models, but now they are increasingly being installed in cars of other brands. Let's get to this type of motor.

• Disconnect the machine from communications.

  

• Remove the back wall.
• We remove all the wiring by disconnecting the chips.
• Lock the pulley in a stationary position and unscrew the bolt according to src=»https://mashmaster.ru/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/how-to-remove-inverter-motor-3-point.jpg» class=»aligncenter» width ="1366″ height="732″[/img]
• Get rid of the rotor assembly.
• Remove the stator assembly by removing the fasteners around the perimeter of the assembly.

  

• Remove the stator.
• Disconnect the stator wiring.

If burnt parts are found during inspection, contact professional technicians. If it is necessary to change the motor winding, it is easier to buy a new motor and install it.

Brushed motors are very common. Almost all cars of budget brands (Kandy, Indesit, Ariston) are equipped with this type of motor.

We dismantle the collector engine:

• remove the back panel and inspect the space under the tank;

  

• disconnect the wiring contacts, having previously fixed the position of the terminals in the photo or drawing;

  

• remove the fasteners and remove the motor from the housing.

Important! To make it easier to dismantle the motor, after unscrewing the bolts, move it towards the heating element, then the motor will easily come out of the grooves and end up in your hands.

What to do to make your machine last longer

To avoid all kinds of damage, it is important to use the washing machine carefully. For proper operation you must:

For proper operation you must:

Strictly follow the instructions. Give the washing machine a rest. It is recommended to take breaks during continuous washing. So, the machine will last longer. After unloading clean laundry, the hatch should be left slightly open, which will prevent the appearance of mold and unpleasant odors. It is also necessary from time to time to wipe the cuff, wash the dispenser tray and run the machine in cleaning mode

It is important to prevent scale using special cleaning products. In order not to damage the machine, it is recommended to use special washing powders and gels.

Therefore, before purchasing cleaning products, you should familiarize yourself with the composition indicated on the bottle.

If you follow all these simple rules, your equipment will last a long time.