Washing machine not spinning properly

[fliptheswitch]

Morning all,

Quick question...

My washing machine is not spinning properly, sounds like it's struggling.
It fills up, struggles to spin and practically stays still. It does spin round when it's on the spinning cycle, but not when it needs to wash.

Any ideas before I have to call someone out?

Thanks :-)

[DTCwordfan]

A trip to Comet perhaps......

pull out the plug, leave for two minutes, reset the wash and try again - could be a gremlin in the program....

[fliptheswitch]

Er... thanks, DT :D Tried that and, surprise, surprise, it's had no effect at all.

Think I'm going to need to get on the phone. Damn.

Thanks :-)

[Old_Geezer]

From someone with no expertise, I'd guess a slipping belt maybe ? Unsure how easy it would be to check, and tighten.

[mjwman]

Having experienced this over the years I would say that this is a classic symptom of the motor brushes being worn out.

Fixing is cheap and easy and no call out needed
Brushes are about £8 from eSpares and they also have "how to" video.

You need only to be a little competent mechanically.
Usually you need to remove the top or tip it over and get to the motor from below. The motor is held on with 3 bolts like a car alternator. Take it out and the brushes are held in by spring clips.

The job should take no more than 30 -45 mins.

I have done my Bosch recently when it did as you described. First time in over 10 years. Previously our Hotponts needed them more often.

Give it a go and be pleased with yourself when it works again!

[ChuckFickens]

It might be the brushes, but more often shows a problem the other way round, it will tumble the clothes during a wash but won't spin.

that said I would still check them.

[fliptheswitch]

Excuse the delay, been a tad busy.
Thanks for the replies, very helpful indeed.

I'll have a look on espares tomorrow night, and get the brushes (even though I have no idea what I'm looking for!) and will get my Dad to come and help me. He's good at stuff like that.
Chuck, nah, it's the other way round... it spins fine when it's drying (it's a washer dryer) but not when it's washing.

Thanks again. Much appreciated :-)

[supapapa]

We had the same problem a few days ago, it was too many clothes in the machine.

[annie0000]

got the same problem flip - repair man said on the phone that there is a very small chance it is the brushes but greater chance that it is MCA or Tach or something, in other words probably not worth fixing. :o(

[fliptheswitch]

Hmm. Thanks supa, but I've tried that. Tried it with just one garment, and it was still the same.
Annie, nightmare. I was going to get an extended warranty for it not so long ago, just in case, but never got round to it. Damn and blast.

Ta, people :-)

[cathfromsaron]

yep brushes! not that expensive to replace!

[annie0000]

mine is 9 years old and does at least 7 washes a week so not that annoyed really, we've definitely had our money's worth.

[fliptheswitch]

Mine is about two years old... but is on, pretty much, every day.

[annie0000]

what make is it flip?

[fliptheswitch]

Indesit. I'm not sure of the model number.
I did phone Indesit and the lad I spoke to said I could get their extended warranty, but would have to wait 28 days before calling them out for a repair. Not sure I can cope with 28 days of the launderette!
I'll get my Dad to have a look at the brushes, tomorrow. See where we go from there!

[annie0000]

yup, is it throwing up an error code or anything? if so, try a google - according to our guy, it is the agitation that isn't working right rather than the spin/motor. It is ceratinly bloomin agitating!!!

[fliptheswitch]

Lol! Nah, no error message... although the lights do start flashing in an erratic way. Thanks, Annie :-)

[Everhelpful]

Same thing happened to me,cleaned the Filter and everything worked fine.