Replacing brushes in a washing machine with your own hands: step-by-step instructions

Malfunctions in washing machines most often occur unexpectedly, forcing their owners to urgently seek help from specialists. However, there are breakdowns that initially seem to warn of problems that have arisen in the operation of the washing machine. Initially, when washing, the machine begins to make a characteristic crackling sound, but still continues to work.

The loudest noise is heard when the machine is in spin mode, when the drum rotates most quickly. Sometimes, along with a sound that is unusual for the normal operation of the device, an unpleasant odor even appears. There comes a time when the washing machine drum stops rotating altogether.

If the drum stop was preceded by such warnings, then you can be sure that the cause of such trouble was a malfunction of the electric motor brushes. These important engine parts cannot be restored. They will definitely have to be changed.

Motor brushes

The main purpose

Brushes are one of the main special parts in an automatic machine responsible for contact. During their operation, electric brushes transfer energy from an external circuit to the motor of the structure.

Thus, the drum rotates, and due to this the machine itself works.

All brushes for washing machines are equipped with steel springs and a copper contact, but there are also different elements, for example, a pressure part.

Kinds

Electric motor brushes come in three types:

1. 
   Carbon-graphite;

2. Copper-graphite;
3. Electrographitized.

According to reviews and opinions of experts, it is recommended to buy special (original) parts from such manufacturers as:

• Bosch
• Whirlpool
• Zanussi
• Beko

Interchangeability

There are cases when electric brushes from one manufacturer can fit machines of completely different brands. Here's an example:

Carbon brush Indesit L C00194594 is suitable for most automatic washing machines, such as Indesit, as well as washing machines from Bosch, Samsung or Zanussi.

Universal brushes are cheaper than the original ones, but the price also affects the quality and characteristics - the brushes may not fit in size, may be of poor quality and wear out quickly.

Of course, it is better to buy original parts so as not to end up with more serious money in the future.

Based on surveys conducted among washing machine owners and service center employees, it was revealed that the main problems and breakdowns among washing machines are models from the manufacturers Indesit and Ariston.

33% of washing machines were sent for repair due to a large number of different types of problems.

Service price

When you call a specialist to your home to repair an LG washing machine model F8068LD, which has a drum load of 5 kg, and there is no replacement brush, the cost of repair can be 2800 rubles (if available - 1900 rubles). The price for repairing automatic machines of the Hotpoint Ariston, Brandt, BEKO, Whirlpool brands will be the same.

For an Indesit brand machine model IWUB 4085 with a drum load of 4 kg and energy consumption class A, the price of dismantling work will cost 2,400 rubles (if you have your own part - from 1,500 rubles). The dismantling of Ariston brand washing machines will cost the same amount.

For Atlant, Electrolux, Samsung, Bosh cars, repairs will cost 1800 rubles .

When do brushes need to be replaced and what is their “life”?

In most cases, problems with a washing machine arise due to problems in the electric motor, which the owner is not able to fix on his own. Problems with brushes are also possible, because they are consumables, which, unlike the engine, can be repaired with your own hands without contacting a household appliance repair service.

The estimated lifespan of the brushes with fairly frequent use of the washing machine is 5 years. There is a chance that the machine will last you much longer if you use it less often - then its service life is up to 10 years.

Brushes for washing machines are made of fragile, soft material, so they are more likely to wear out, but they are much easier to replace than the motor of the automatic machine itself. In many cases, as practice has shown, electric brushes break quite less often than, for example, another “important” part of the unit.

Several signs of brush failure:

• 
  Stopping the washing machine not related to problems with electricity and voltage;

• The appearance of various types of noise, such as knocking or crackling, during operation of the washing machine;
• Poor spinning of laundry, which can indicate a problem with a decrease in engine power;
• An unpleasant smell, similar to burning rubber or heated plastic, in a word - burning;
• Program crash. Can be determined by the error code on the electronic display.

If you experience one of the above symptoms, you should urgently change the brushes in the unit’s motor.

If you want to prevent problems of this nature in the future, we recommend that you read the washing instructions and follow them.

Tips for using the machine

1) do not overload the drum with things to capacity - it is better to distribute the washing load evenly;

2) do not run the washing machine more than 3 times in a row;

3) divide the laundry into several loads, perhaps on different days.

Photo: our master does the work (using the example of Zanussi)

We have a Zanussi washing machine with faulty current collectors. 1. Remove the top cover. 2. Remove the back panel.

4. Turn off and dismantle the engine.

7. Install new brushes.

8. Reinstall the engine.

Help with choosing brushes for washing machines

To avoid problems of this kind in the future, you need to handle the device correctly and carefully.

If you are 100% sure that the problem in the machine is brewing due to the brushes, then you should immediately replace them with new ones. You may not know what brushes you need. Specialists in special stores will help you with this; you just need to know the model of your washing machine, or just bring a damaged brush.

We do not recommend purchasing structural elements that have already been used before you. It is much easier and much safer to buy a new part than to pay for immediate new repairs to your washing machine.

Some tips for choosing brushes:

• It is best to buy original brushes for your electric motor from one manufacturer. Naturally, you can use universal parts, but this may lead to more serious problems with your household appliances in the future.
• An equally important fact is that if one electric brush (out of two) is damaged, then you will have to change both of them. The brushes must be completely identical in condition.
• We recommend checking parts in a timely manner for hidden defects.

Changing brushes is actually not difficult, so most owners of automatic machines try to repair them with their own hands.

Life time

The service life of these elements depends on the following factors:

• Correct use of the device,
• How often is washing done?
• Build quality,
• Machine drum load.

Washing machine motor brushes usually last quite a long time. Their service life is more than 5 years, and in some cases more than 10 years. It should be noted that replacement is performed infrequently. Much more often something more fundamental breaks down, which leads to the purchase of a new washing machine.

Despite the high wear and tear, they are worn out or broken during the operation of the machine very rarely.

Replacing a brush for a washing machine with your own hands

Brushes are a part that is considered consumable due to wear and tear, so it needs to be replaced in a timely manner. In a large number of washing machines of different models and brands, it is enough to remove only the back panel to replace the brushes, but there are also models that require complete disassembly.

There are also designs in which it is impossible to get close to the motor even after complete disassembly, so you need to take your machine to a service center, where they will disassemble the engine and replace the electric brushes. Prepare your tools in advance before disassembling the washing machine and installing new brushes.

Separating the motor from the drum

The main task is to disconnect the motor from the drum. You need to disconnect the machine from the network, disconnect the contacts and start working on the motor. First make sure that the problem is in the brushes; their wear can be easily detected.

Brushes must be replaced if the length of the used rods on old brushes is from 1.5 to 2 centimeters.

Replacement is due to uneven wear of the rods. It may also be that the rods will wear out faster, so replacement will need to be done after a few weeks.

Distribute all your work in stages in advance, and write it down, or sketch it, or maybe take a picture. This will help you assemble your design correctly, without missing anything, and without mixing up the parts.

We photograph the sequence of work

Before replacing the brushes, first remember their location and in which direction the bevel is located. If they are installed incorrectly, the motor may spark.

You can remove the brushes using screwdrivers, then inspect the motor commutator.

If various types of defects are detected, such as scratches or just dust, they need to be eliminated.

Scratches can be removed with fine-grained sandpaper, and dust can be cleaned with a brush. After this, you can install new electric brushes (preferably original ones), attaching them with self-tapping screws.

If you recorded the progress of your work, then reassembling it will not be difficult for you. After installing the brushes, put the motor in place, securing it, install the electrical wires and cover it with the back panel.

Testing

Once you have installed the brushes and motor, you need to test them to ensure they are working properly and allow the new brushes to settle into place. You can test in the following ways:

1. – turn on the machine in spin mode;
2. – set and run the fastest washing program.

We recommend that you do not overload the drum with laundry during the first 10-15 washes, since the new brushes of the washing machine should take root in their new place.

Check and change the brushes in the motor in a timely manner and do not forget that your checks should be regular. Lubricate parts and carry out structural maintenance.

If you follow these rules and use the washing machine according to the instructions, then your unit will serve you long and reliably. And if you don't do this, you will cause serious damage to your car, and it will be very difficult to fix them.

How to disassemble the SMA and remove the top cover?

Most breakdowns require removal of the top cover. To dismantle it, you need to twist 2 self-tapping screws located on the back of the device. Then the lid is moved to the side and lifted.

Further algorithm of actions:

1. Remove the back wall by unscrewing the fasteners and removing the panel from the latches.
2. Remove the top panel. To perform this step, remove the powder tray, unscrew the fasteners located underneath it, and disconnect the control panel. When disconnecting the module from the wires, you must be careful.
3. Remove the drain filter, which is hidden behind a small door located at the bottom of the device.
4. Remove the hatch. Together with it, the UBL and the cuff are removed, which is fixed with a clamp.
5. Unscrew the pressure switch.
6. Screw in the bolts holding the counterweights.
7. Remove the belt, remove the motor and heating element located in the lower part of the MCA.
8. Dismantle the tank by removing it from the shock absorbers.
9. Twist the pump.

If it is necessary to disassemble the tank, it is unscrewed into two halves, gaining access to the drum, crosspiece and bearings. Read more here.

Disassembling the case

Before starting disassembly work, you should turn off the power to the equipment. To get to the motor, you need to remove the back cover of the machine. As a rule, it is held in place by several fasteners, which can be unscrewed using an ordinary screwdriver.

Next, proceed according to this scheme, repeatedly tested by masters:

• Remove the drive belt by pulling it towards you while rotating the pulley. If you do everything correctly, the belt will come off without difficulty. Put the belt aside and at the same time inspect its condition (it may need to be replaced).
• Disconnect the wiring from the engine to remove it. To remove the wires easily, pull the connector toward you.
• Typically the motor is mounted inside the housing with screws or bolts. Unscrew them to remove the part.

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.

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.

What signs indicate the need for repairs?

If your washing machine suddenly breaks down, the reason may lie in a broken motor. Modern manufacturers, in order to reduce the cost of products, produce motors in the form of prefabricated units that are almost impossible to repair independently. The only thing you can do with your own hands is to replace the brushes, which are considered consumables.

Car engine failure

You can visually determine whether it is time to replace the brushes by several obvious signs:

• when the drum rotates, extraneous noise occurs, a slight grinding or squeaking sound;
• there is a loss of power from the electric motor - this is especially noticeable during the spin cycle - the motor begins to “chop”, the sound of its operation differs from normal;
• during washing there is an unpleasant smell of burning, burnt plastic;
• When switching to spin mode, the washing machine stops and an error code is displayed on the display.

If at least one of the above symptoms has begun to be observed recently, this may mean that the motor brushes need to be replaced.