Repair of washing machines do-it-yourself rubber band replacement
In detail: repair of washing machines do-it-yourself rubber band replacement from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.
Suspicions that the cuff for the washing machine has become unusable arise if water leaks from under the door of an operating unit. If the cause of the leak is really in violation of the integrity of the rubber gasket, do not be very upset about this.
If desired, the tightness of the tank can be restored independently.
The main purpose of the rubber part installed on the hatch of an automatic washing machine is to seal the loading tank during operation of the machine. Such a layer does not allow even a drop of water to seep out.
The location of the cuff and its appearance depends entirely on the model of the machine. If the loading is frontal, the rubber layer connects the tank to the front wall of the unit and has a round shape.
In models with a vertical way of loading linen, the part aligns the tub with the top wall and looks like a rectangle.
Previously, seals were made from highly flexible rubber. In modern models, cuffs are almost always installed from a similar artificial material - silicone.
It does not lose its elastic properties over a wide temperature range and does not "dun" over time.
The cuffs of different models differ in size and shape. If there are additional functions in the washing machine, for example, drying and water spray, the part may have additional holes.
There are not many reasons why the cuff stops performing its functions. At the same time, most of it manifests itself when the rules for using household appliances are not followed.
The main ones are the following:
Video (click to play).
mechanical damage by coarse objects;
strong vibration of the drum during spinning;
exposure to aggressive agents;
the appearance of mold on rubber;
careless loading of dirty or removing already washed things;
natural wear and tear.
Object damage occurs when rough items such as sneakers, outerwear with hard snakes, etc. are often washed in the machine.
Products made of metal (nails, keys) and plastic that have got into the drum due to inattention of users can also cause the formation of significant defects on the rubber.
It is common for the drum of a washing machine to vibrate violently if the machine is not installed correctly. Accordingly, the cuff attached to it suffers.
The use of bleaching agents often and at high concentrations causes the rubber to coarse. And the loss of elasticity, as you know, is fraught with the imminent appearance of defects.
Acids and alkalis used to clean the machine work in the same way. But, again, if it is wrong to use them.
For example, some users find that the higher the concentration of the product, the more effective cleaning is. At the same time, they do not take into account the aggressive influence on the parts available for processing.
Mold are microscopic fungi that live in colonies. Having settled on soft rubber, the mycelium of these tiny creatures is able to germinate deeply.
With a strong lesion, dark gray spots emitting an unpleasant odor cannot be removed by anything. In this situation, only replacing the cuff with a new one will save.
The washing machine does not last forever. Even if handled with great care, parts will gradually wear out.
The rubber seal is no exception. He is constantly experiencing friction from a rotating drum and laundry, temperature changes, and the effects of detergents. All these factors make rubber brittle and brittle over time.
First, you have to check the condition of the cuff.To thoroughly inspect the seal for damage, it must be almost completely removed from the machine. To do this, it is enough to remove the clamp holding the part of the cuff that is attached to the front wall.
After inspection, a decision can be made to replace the rubber band with a new one or to repair the existing one. Consider a step-by-step instruction on how to change the cuff..
The fastening of the clamp to the front wall is carried out in different ways for different models. It all depends on the material of manufacture of the part.
with latches;
spring tension;
fastening with a screw.
The first method is used for plastic clamps, the rest for metal. In any case, you will need a flathead screwdriver to remove the part.
Then they act depending on the fastening: the screw is unscrewed, the spring is pulled back and loosened, and the plastic clamp is pulled towards itself in the place where the latches are joined. After that, using the same screwdriver, it will not be difficult to remove the clamp.
However, not all so simple. Some companies produce such models of washing units in which the dismantling of the "rubber band" requires the obligatory removal of the front wall.
It is quite difficult to perform this manipulation on your own, but if you wish, you can. The main thing is to act very carefully to avoid damage to the wires and contacts connected to the blocking located on the wall.
The first thing that must be done in order is to disconnect the device from the power supply and make sure that there is no water in the drum and sump. Only after these steps can you proceed directly to removing the front panel.
To get to the screw holding the wall at the top, remove the powder receptacle. For this purpose, the tray is pulled out until it stops, the lock key is pressed inside and removed from the machine.
Now you need to open and disconnect the hatch located at the bottom of the front wall of the machine. To do this, using a screwdriver, unscrew the fixing screw of the basement panel, move it to the right until it clicks, and move it towards itself.
Next, open the hatch door and remove the clamp securing the cuff to the front panel. This is done by prying the tightening spring with a pinned screwdriver and pulling it together with a clamp from the groove of the rubber seal.
After the edge of the cuff is pulled out of the recess in a circle, the rubber band is “drowned” inside the body and the hatch door is latched.
All of the above steps open up access to the bottom and top screws. They are unscrewed, after which the panel is shifted a few centimeters forward and carefully separated from the case.
Holding the front wall in weight, disconnect the plastic fasteners of the wires from it, and then the contacts for blocking the hatch.
Now the front panel of the machine can be safely set aside, remove the clamp and start examining the cuff by pulling its front part towards you.
After removing the front clamp (how to do it, it was discussed above), the rubber seal is completely removed.
Proceed as follows:
The front part of the rubber seal, which is held on the machine body, is gently pulled out due to its own tension.
Find a cue. It is located on the cuff itself.
Use a marker to mark the response mark on the tank.
Remove the second clamp in the same way as the first.
After the work done, the cuff can be easily removed from the machine. The part just needs to be well pulled towards you.
At this stage, you will have to carefully examine the removed elastic band from all sides, paying special attention to the places on the folds.
If, after examination, cuts, holes, cracks and other damage are found on the cuff, it is advisable to replace the part with a new one.
When choosing a new part, it should be borne in mind that you cannot purchase a "rubber band" from other models of washing machines, even if outwardly they have significant similarities.
Only a cuff designed for a particular brand of unit can be 100% suitable.Analogues can only be found by a master and only in a desperate situation.
When the cuff needs to be replaced, which is clearly evidenced by cracks and other damage, you can safely start installing a new "rubber band".
The preparatory step before installing a new cuff is to thoroughly clean the rim of the tank. Usually, dirt and detergent residues accumulate in this place.
It is better to clean the edge with a sponge, moistening it abundantly in a soapy solution. In this case, it is not necessary to rinse off the remaining foam and wipe the part dry. The soap will serve as a kind of lubricant and will help to cope with the installation faster.
Putting a new seal on the tank is not easy. The material is difficult to stretch strongly, besides, it "resists", stubbornly refusing to get into place.
The first step is to apply the cuff to the top edge of the tank so that the mounting marks match. Next, sliding on the rubber with the thumbs of both hands, pull the sealant over the edge.
At the next stage, soap grease comes to the rescue. In the lower part, the cuff is stretched and it is rather difficult to put it in place. Therefore, here the seal is forced onto the tank. After these manipulations, the "elastic" is tightly held on the edge.
The last point is to check that the part is installed correctly. If the cuff does not fit tightly to metal in some places, leaks will occur during machine operation.
The installation methods for the inner clamps differ depending on the fastening. If the tension is spring, then the installation is carried out using a screwdriver.
The tool is inserted into the hatch lock hole and a spring is put on it. Thus, the mount is free to stretch and the clamp can be easily put on the right place.
In the presence of a clamp with a screw, the task is somewhat simplified. The tension is almost completely unscrewed, and the clamp is placed on the seat. To strengthen the part, all that remains is to screw the screw back.
If the washing machine has a wire clamp without tensioners, use round-nose pliers as an auxiliary tool. They carefully tighten the metal ends, and the resulting knot is hidden in the recess available for this on the cuff.
The easiest way is to put on a plastic clamp. It is secured with special latches. After the work done, the cuff is pulled over the edge of the front panel of the machine and is also fixed with a clamp.
Finally, check the seal for leaks. To do this, start the fastest wash program. If no leaks are observed during operation of the unit, the cuff is installed correctly.
Sometimes situations arise when the "elastic" located on the hatch of the washing machine has broken, and it is not yet possible to replace the cuff.
For example, at the moment it is impossible to find a part suitable for the existing model of the machine, or it has been ordered, and you need to wait for delivery for a long time.
There are circumstances when it is now impossible to allocate money from the family budget for the purchase of a new part. In such situations, repairing the cuff, that is, gluing the damaged area, will help out.
Please note that gluing the patch is a temporary measure. Therefore, you need to try to replace the worn seal with a new one as soon as possible.
First of all, you need to inspect the leaky cuff and determine the cause of the damage. This is the only way to find out whether it is advisable to repair the seal, or there is no point in doing so. To do this, you will have to remove the cuff from the machine as described above.
If the cut, puncture or abrasion is small, then it definitely makes sense to repair. And when the damage is large or there are several of them, it is better not to rush with gluing.
After determining the reason for the repair, you should select the material for the patch. It must be strong and elastic at the same time. Some masters recommend using condoms or medical rubber gloves for this purpose.
A great option - special patches designed to repair swimming air mattresses. You can find them in sports stores.
The adhesive to be used must have excellent adhesive properties. In this case, the substance should remain elastic after complete drying. This is exactly how the products intended for the repair of shoes and rubber products behave.
Gluing a rubber seal is a matter that does not require special knowledge and skills. However, so that the result does not disappoint, it is better to follow the instructions carefully.
We offer the first repair method - gluing... It is performed according to the following scheme:
Preparing a patch... Sections of the selected material are folded in several layers and glued together. The size of the patch should be 1.5-2 times larger than the defect itself.
Degrease the damaged area and the area around it... To do this, use alcohol, acetone, white spirit, etc. Wait until the degreasing agent is completely dry.
Glue is applied to the cuff and patchth.
Lubricated surfaces are pressed against each other either immediately or after a few minutes - it depends on the instructions on the glue tube.
The cuff is fixed in its natural position with suitable items. So the part is left for a day.
After the glue is completely dry, the seal can be reinstalled.
There is and the second method, which is considered more reliable. It combines stitching and gluing... The technique is performed as follows:
Thick synthetic thread stitches the damage. In this case, a football seam is used.
After that, everything is abundantly impregnated with silicone sealant for rubber and plastic.
Further, as in the previous method, the cuff is left in its natural position for a day, after which it is installed back into the machine body.
After the repairs made, it is imperative to check the quality of work. To do this, load the drum with linen and start washing on the shortest program.
At the end of the cycle, inspect the bonding site for repeated breaks.
Watching the video will help you better understand some of the nuances of replacing the cuff of the washing unit on different models.
Replacing the cuff in a top-loading machine:
Replacing the rubber cover on the front loading washer dryer model: