What's making this awful noise? Zanussi Electrolux ZWF14170W

[Neee35]

Bearings are gone

[phillipmerrick12]

Average life expectancy of a washer is 6 years based on 8 loads per week. The bearings are designed to outlive the lifetime of the machine itself and so the manufacturer should repair them free of charge, admittedly it is a ball ache to get them to do it (I was told by an engineer). The usual reason for bearing failures is over loading the machine, if the machine holds 5kg then the bearings are only designed to hold 5kg, everyone overloads their machines. for 20 washes a week, it's done well.

[theultimatekoopa2]

@phillipmerrick12 Ours is a 6 kg machine, but we've already bought a new machine which is arriving on Monday. Basically it's an 8 kg machine that goes up to 1200 rpm. If you're familiar with model numbers, you'll probably know that this current machine is 1400 rpm, because of the 14 in the model number (the equivalent 1200 rpm model would be ZWF12170W obviously). What I would like to know, if you also know, is what "series" the new one will be, i.e. Jetsystem? Flexi-dose? New model is ZWN6120L.

[phillipmerrick12]

@theultimatekoopa2 I think it is either the Flexi-dose range or the Easy Iron range. Mine is Zanussi Jetsytem ZWF16581W. 16=1600rpm, 5=number of option buttons/ settings, 8= 7kg load (now idea why, but my theory is that it's capable of doing an 8kg load, my mums takes 5kg(6) meaning best reults with 5kg but can take 6kg) and 1=number of dials.

[theultimatekoopa2]

@phillipmerrick12 The one we have is 6120L as I said. And it's a Flexi-dose. It's also 8 kg, and therefore a "Large Capacity" range.

[phillipmerrick12]

@theultimatekoopa2 Mine is 7kg (was going to get 8kg, but 8kg isn't needed). What motor does it have (Inverter or a traditional motor?). Some models have had the spin sequence changed so it gradually increases the first speed to around 500rpm. What does your do? Are the tumbles dual speed or normal?

[theultimatekoopa2]

@phillipmerrick12 I think it's an inverter, I'm not sure. As for the spin, it gradually increases to 400-500 rpm.

[phillipmerrick12]

@theultimatekoopa2 The inverter motor is quiet (you don't get the normal whinning noise other motors give). Are you happy with the machine?

[theultimatekoopa2]

@phillipmerrick12 Well it washes the clothes. It's actually quite noisy. When the drum rotates it makes pretty much the same noise as most Zanussi's but it's a lot louder. It's also quite bad at rattling, even at only 600 rpm, and minimal drum movement... but maybe our floor isn't perfectly flat... but overall I'm OK with it.

[whichwasher2007]

sounds like bearings are going, they are not fully gone yet, but on there way out and need replaceing, if you personally carnt replace them or someone carnt do them for cheap, then it might be time to think about getting a new machine, new bearings are £30 though can get copy ones for alot less on ebay. but will take all day to replace them

[theultimatekoopa2]

@whichwasher2007 If the bearings decided to completely go, during a spin, what's likely to happen? Would the drum just stop spinning, or would it end up falling on the floor or something? We bought the machine in about December 2007. Is 4 years pretty average, or too short, or even too long?

[whichwasher2007]

@theultimatekoopa2 if bearings go compleatly it could just stop the drum from turning compleatly. your is the early stages, the next stage they will get even louder, just look at my recent videos of hotpoint WITH BROKEN BEARINGS.

4 years old. depends on how many loads a week you do. if your only doing 3 or 4 load a week that's pretty bad, if your doing 8-12 loads a week then that's about average, average expectancy nowadays is only 3 years.

[theultimatekoopa2]

@whichwasher2007 Honestly, I think we do far too much :D Sometimes, we can do as much as 8 loads in a single day. I'd say on average, we probably do at least 20 per week. We're probably almost if not actually overworking it, so if that's the case, then it's surprising it's lasted this long, based on what you said about 3 years being the average, and given the fact we probably wash twice or more than the average household.

[theultimatekoopa2]

@whichwasher2007 So, if we start a cycle, and the drum doesn't turn, then it's time for a new machine? If it's in the middle of spinning, and they decide to go, will the drum slow down normally, as if it was turned off, or something, or would it very rapidly slow down to a stop in less than a second? Or would something else happen?