Help!! My washing machine is goin berserk?!!?

Question

can anyone tell me what might be wrong with my washing machine? it makes a REALLY loud knocking noise wen it spins, sounds deafening! i cant afford a new one, so any ideas on what it might be so i can try and fix it, had a look inside and the belt is ok, and i greased it a bit but its still doing it. Thanks for any help xx

Answer 1

This can happen if you wash a single heavy item in the machine. Something like a blanket or a large bath mat. The item can roll up into a ball and get on one side of the drum causing the spin cycle to be off balance and cause a tremendous noise. If it is bad enough it will activate a switch and stop the machines spin cycle. If this is the case, simply remove the item, and put it back into the machine with the weight more evenly distributed around the drum.

If the problem occurs with loads of many many small items, like a large load with mostly underwear and washcloths and hand towels read on...

Your machine is still out of balance but for a different reason. It is almost certainly out of level. Since you looked underneath the washer I will assume you have some courage and some ability to act on it so here goes. You will have to level the machine and in order to do that you have to know which way will help and which way won't. If you have a level and know how to use it then get it and go to work. If not you can buy an inexpensive on at a home improvement store for a couple of dollars. Put the level across the machine either on top of the control panel or right in front of it. Adjust the rear levelers on each corner until the bubble is perfect centered. The put the level on one side of the top and adjust the front leveler on that side until the bubble is centered. Repeat for the other side. Now repeat the procedure from the beginning making fine adjustments as necessary. Keep this up until you can move the level around the top of the machine and the bubble is centered everywhere you put the level. Don't forget to check across the top front. Now run a big load of laundry and see if things aren't better.

If it still knocks you will need to check the level again. If the level is still OK, you will have to have someone look at the machine.

Good luck

Answer 2

You are overloading it and you have a worn "snubber".

When there is a heavy load in the machine and it gets unbalanced inside the drum during spinning the drum tries to rock and slide. That weight being badly distributed makes the machine jump off the ground on one side. There is a friction part of the washer that is attached to the top of the tub that slides and rubs to keep that from happening. (the snubber). Quick cure is to put less in the machine and to open the lid and redistribute the load inside if it starts to do that.

Best solution is to replace the snubber. Pivot the machine top up and look at the top of the tub in there. You will see a heavy spring that is pressing a piece that looks like a small hockey puck onto the tub top. It typically has two screws holding it in place. Take it out and bring it in to a general appliance repair place like Sears or the one for your brand or go on the internet to www.repairclinic.com to get a replacement snubber. Put in in there and replace the screws and it should be good again.

Answer 3

The machine is off balance. There is nothing wrong with it mechanically. If it happens every time to run it, then it needs to be leveled. There are adjustable"feet" on the bottom. Use a level (tool with the bubble in the center) and level the machine to the floor. If it only happens with some loads and not others then the clothes in the machine are off balance, redistribute the weight when you hear it start happening. This will usually occur during the spin cycle. But the good news is, there's no need for a new washer. Good luck.
ps..you can probably find better instructions online for leveling the machine to the floor!

Answer 4

Could be one of two things. It could be that you're under loading it and putting in large objects like towels. if you put 2 large towels in, they get wet and stick to one side of the machine, making it knock. If you're going to wash towels, do 1 large one and fill the rest of the machine up with clothes so that it's full and won't knock.

The other possibility is that your concrete block is broken. Is there dust or plaster underneath the machine? If so, looks like it's broken, it's not replaceable and you'll have to buy a new machine. I always take out those 5 year warranties on my machines because I find they always go wrong!

Answer 5

My machine has done that in the past.. Once it was because I had put too many towels in to be washed.. The other time I called someone out and the pump had gone, cost me about £50 to be repaired (about 95 dollars if you are in the US.)

Answer 6

The bearings have gone, it's probably been getting louder and louder every time you've used it but you hadn't noticed. Depends on the make but mine wasn't worth repairing because the bearings were about £100+ then the labour to fix it.

Answer 7

The bearings may have gone in the machine or maybe its become unlevel - try levelling the feet on the machine xxxx

Answer 8

Well, short of a repair man- who is also expensive- it is worth considering limiting the size of each wash. I bet smaller loads make less noise?

Answer 9

The tub may be off balance. A heavy load may have moved the tub off balance. Try pulling at the sides of the tub and centering it.

Answer 10

, Inside you have a big lump of concrete,not a lie,a bolt
runs through this and a nut tightens block down for balance,
sometimes this nut comes loose and want tightening with
ring or box spanner this has happened twice with my machines.
you have to remove top of washer.