How do you know when it's time to replace the belt on your washing machine? Sooner or later, the service life of any household appliance expires, sometimes even faster than the warranty; as a result, it becomes unusable and is sent to the workshop. Washing machines are no exception. But, nevertheless, there are some breakdowns that you can fix yourself, for example, replacing the belt on a washing machine.
How can you tell if the problem is with the belt? There are a number of signs:
- The drum does not rotate during washing, which may lead to damage to the motor or control module;
- The drum does not rotate completely.
In the first case, most likely, the belt broke or simply flew off. You need to either buy a new one or replace the current one. It is possible for the belt to slip due to severe wear. When starting the repair, do not forget to make sure that the flying belt does not touch the nearby wiring and sensors.
Carry out a basic check by spinning the washer drum. If the rotation is too easy, rest assured that you have correctly identified the problem - the belt has come off. If the drum still rotates, but not at full speed, the belt is worn out and must be replaced.
Further actions will become clear only after disassembling the machine. In the meantime, you can watch the video instructions:
Why does the belt come off?
You can understand that the malfunction of the device lies in the state of the drive by noises that are unusual for the mechanism, by the display of an error code on the SMA display with self-diagnosis. You can easily feel a belt breaking or coming off if you turn the shell by hand - by easy rotation and absence of noise.
Other external signs: the drum does not rotate when the program is turned on and the engine is running, which is detected when it is fully loaded, and when it is half loaded it spins. The first reason for this behavior of the device is expected: excessive stretching of the PR due to long operation or poor quality of the material from which it is made. A reason to think about replacing the belt in a washing machine may be circumstances that can only be seen after dismantling the rear panel of the SMA, these are:
- loosening of the motor, pulley, deformation of drive mechanism parts;
- play in a worn bearing;
- weak belt tension, loss of elasticity due to infrequent use of equipment;
- failure to balance the drum cross;
- loss of shape by a plastic tank - happens during intensive washing in top-loading machines.
Incorrect placement of laundry or excessive amounts of items in the drum lead to imbalance and vibrations, as a result of which the drive is subjected to extreme loads and is damaged. In case of natural stretching of the belt, it is possible to regulate its pressure on the pulley by moving the engine from the axis of the working part of the machine. If the power reserve is exhausted, a new one is installed.
How to replace or put on a belt on a washing machine
Absolutely all causes of malfunction involve tightening or replacing components. The torn part must be replaced. It is better to install a new strap if the old one is worn out and slipping. You can determine the problem by spinning the drum. If the part rotates easily, then the element is not positioned correctly. Before you finally change the unusable belt on your washing machine, you should choose the right one.
Selecting a replacement belt
The part is selected according to the old marking - 4 letters and 1 number. When purchasing you need to take into account:
- rigidity and elasticity. They are designated by the letters EP, EL, MAEL, E. Elastic products are suitable for modern models, and rigid ones are suitable for outdated ones and require adjustment of the tank to the engine;
- belt length. The short one may break during operation, and the long one may fly off;
- profile. The J-marking indicates the wedge spacing is 2.34mm, and the H-profile is 1.6mm. Please note that the H-profile strap is not suitable for an engine with a J-profile;
- number of wedges. The size is not critical, but a narrow strap with a small number of wedges falls off more often than a wide one with a large number of notches;
- part code. For outdated Bosch washing machines you will need a 1192 J3 belt, for narrow Samsung machines a 1270 J3 belt is suitable, for medium and wide ones - 1270 J5;
- material. Rubber belts are durable and have a low elongation coefficient. Polyurethane ones are easier to install, but wear out faster.
When to replace
Any suspicion of a malfunction must be checked to prevent further damage to the technical condition of the machine. To do this, remove the back wall of the housing and inspect all drive parts. It is necessary to replace the belt on the washing machine if the following defects are detected:
- extreme elongation of the PR, when it is not possible to adjust its tension;
- cord delamination, thread breakage;
- complete destruction of the belt.
Replacement is recommended in all cases of failure of the drive mechanism elements: bearing unit, drum shaft, pulley. A break in the PR during the washing process can lead to broken wires and damage to electronic sensors by fragments of a rubber product (RU). Therefore, there is no need to delay the repair of drive parts.
When the drum pulley burst
“Trouble doesn’t come alone”: there are times when a belt falls off due to a cracked pulley, which is made of brittle materials. And the belt will not rotate the damaged part. The pulley will simply have to be replaced, and at the same time the belt.
Also, the reasons that entail the purchase of a new belt are wear of the bearings plus systematic overload of the washing machine, imbalance of the laundry in the drum. Worn bearings are the main reason for increased vibration of the spinning unit and drives, sometimes to critical levels. In this case, the belt stretches, flies off or breaks.
Reloading the drum with clothes automatically leads to increased vibration - then everything follows the same old scenario.
If you use the washing machine too rarely, its belt will dry out over time and may break due to excessive fragility.
Otherwise, if used too actively and for a long time, deformation of the plastic tank may occur. This applies to vertical washing machines. The longer the machine lasts, the more its tank is exposed to impacts, which can lead to disruption of its geometry and, as a consequence, the relative position of the remaining parts of the washing machine. The drum pulley, together with the belt, moves relative to a single vertical plane with the engine pulley. In this case, the belt turns out and flies off under the force of tension.
The problem can be temporarily fixed by adjusting the motor offset, but the easiest way is to invest in a new washer.
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How to change
To troubleshoot a washing machine, open its body and determine the type of belt. Taking the old rubber goods with them, they go to the store to choose a new PR. After this, all that remains is to put on the belt: in washing machines with an asynchronous motor, a rubber wedge ring is used, and in machines with a commutator motor, a poly-ved rubber ring is used.
Disassembling equipment
First, the washing machine is disconnected from the power supply, the water is turned off, and the inlet and drain hoses are disconnected. For ease of operation, it is better to move the device to a free area. Further actions:
- Unscrew the bolts securing the rear wall.
- Remove the released panel.
- Inspect the condition of the drive unit parts and the wires and sensors located nearby.
If the old PR is still intact, it is removed by pulling it towards you by turning the pulley. Other detected elements with defects are taken into account to clarify their condition.
Choice to replace
It is made according to the marking applied to the belt, which encodes information about elasticity or rigidity, length and profile, and the number of wedges on it.
Rubber is the best material for making PR.
There are also polyurethane tapes - they are easier to install, but they wear out faster. Both are manufactured in two types.
Wedge type
The cross-section of such a belt has the shape of a truncated triangle or trapezoid. Its area is the same along the entire length of the ring, which gives it greater strength. It is not easy to put a rigid PR on the pulleys of an asynchronous motor and drum, but it will serve for a long time.
The marking is applied on the outer surface of the tape. Belts for foreign machines are produced with a section of 3L, for domestic ones - A and Z. A special feature of the installation of V-belts is the need for strong tension to prevent slipping. The recommended deflection of the tape in the middle part is 5 mm.
Poly V-type
It is also called rivulet, and the cross-section looks like saw teeth arranged in a row. The flat profile provides belt flexibility with moderate load transfer. The number of streams in the section is 3-9.
In terms of strength, the poly-wedge PR is inferior to the wedge one, but it is also easier to put on. The exception is narrow SMAs with a commutator motor - they require strong tension.
How to tighten a belt
If the drive is in good technical condition, then a single case of the drive coming off the pulleys can be considered accidental. In this case, the rubber ring returns to its original place and is tensioned to the desired deflection. Installation of a broken belt or a new one is done in the same way:
- Place the ring on the electric motor pulley.
- Place the other end of the PR in the groove of the washing chamber drive wheel and hold it with your finger.
- Turn the driven pulley (on the drum) by hand, continuing to lay the belt in the stream until the belt is completely placed in it.
It is easier to install the PR on SMAs, which have an adjusting unit for tensioning the drive. In this case, the belt must be put on both pulleys at the shortest distance between their axes, and then tightened with the adjusting screw to the desired belt deflection.
When the drive repair is completed, the drum is turned by hand: its movement should be tight. The back panel is returned to its place and secured. After this, you will need to install the SMA, connect it to communications, and run it in test mode using the express wash program.
Replacement didn't help
If the rubber band falls off the pulley regularly, even after replacement, this may indicate some problems with the operation of the SMA. If the belt falls off more than twice in six months, you need to be alert and diagnose the washing machine. An element can fly off multiple times due to:
- wear. The drive belt is subject to natural stretch. If, upon inspection of its surface, traces of wear were found, cracks or the length of the elastic band increased greatly, it means that the belt has completely used up its resource and it is time to replace it;
- drum play. Here, replacing the rubber band will not solve the problem, but the way out of the situation will be even easier - just tighten the pulley fixing screw. In some cases, wheel replacement may be necessary;
- insufficient fixation of the engine. The Ariston washing machine motor is well secured, however, due to vibrations during operation of the equipment, the motor may become loose. The bolts securing it unscrew, which causes the belt drive to break. To solve the problem, you need to tighten the motor fasteners;
- deformation of the shaft or pulley. This can happen after an unsuccessful repair. Unfortunately, there are “masters” who manage to change some parts and damage others. If the pulley was really bent, you can try to carefully straighten the part, but it is better to install a new wheel;
- crosspiece damage. It's rare, but users still encounter this problem. The defect can be either a manufacturing defect or caused by strong vibrations of the machine during operation. The crosspiece will have to be changed, otherwise you can “hold out” until the drum is unbalanced, which, in turn, will lead to more expensive repairs;
- bearing failure. Broken bearings can cause a “distortion” in the system, which sometimes causes the belt to fall off the pulley. There is a solution to the problem - change the bearings and seal.
The belt may periodically fly off due to improper installation - if the elastic is not fixed in the grooves.
Perhaps regular decline is observed as a result of installing an elastic band that differs from the factory one. It is important to select a replacement drive belt that is suitable for a specific Ariston SMA model. Purchasing a similar part will prevent the elastic from falling off again.
As you can see, even a “newbie” can change the belt with his own hands; the main thing is to be patient and follow the recommendations. It is important to follow safety rules and purchase a replacement rubber band that is suitable for your particular washing machine model. If the belt falls frequently, a more thorough diagnosis of the SMA should be performed to identify other problems in the drive system.
Interesting:
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- How to change the belt on a Vestel washing machine?
- How to tighten the belt in a Samsung washing machine?
- How to change the belt in a Bosch washing machine?
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How to extend the life of your washing machine belt
PR is a consumable item. If the SMA is used incorrectly, it does not exhaust its resource. To avoid having to replace it, you need to follow 3 rules:
- Eliminate the occurrence of increased vibrations. To do this, you need to install the device correctly and avoid overloading and imbalance of the drum.
- Respond promptly to the appearance of other sounds during washing. Determine the origin of noise and eliminate the causes.
- Remember that equipment should work, not stand idle. But you shouldn’t overdo it: intensive use shortens the life of the belt.
When choosing a replacement, you need to pay attention to the material from which the part is made: black color indicates rubber - it is more durable and lasts up to 10 years. The light tone is polyurethane, it lasts for 3-8 years.
You can replace a belt that has become unusable yourself, but you should not allow the part to wear out prematurely. Violations of the operating mode are reflected in other components of the machine.
Replacing the drive belt in an Ariston washing machine
Repairing Ariston washing machines yourself does not always lead to success. But simple breakdowns, for example, in the form of replacing the drive belt, can be eliminated on your own, knowing where to start and how to directly replace the drive belt. This will allow you to save on the expensive work of a qualified craftsman.
You can find out prices for repairing an Ariston washing machine with a guarantee for the work performed and spare parts from the equipment manufacturer on our website or by phone.
The main mistakes when repairing Ariston yourself can be avoided by initially knowing about them.
Do-it-yourself repair of an Ariston car is not so simple. But some parts, for example, the drive belt, can be changed on your own. Although here you can make a number of mistakes that will entail another repair. When replacing the drive belt, it is unacceptable to install a belt with a marking different from the analogue one. This can lead to either another belt break or permanent “flying off” of the drum pulley, and normal operation of the machine as a whole will not be guaranteed. After installing the belt, be sure to rotate the drum of the washing unit, immediately before closing the back cover. This will ensure that the belt is installed correctly.
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We repair the washing machine with our own hands - we change the drive belt.
Not every home craftsman knows where to start independently repairing Ariston washing machines when replacing the drive belt. After all, through the body of the car you cannot see what happened to the belt. If it has “flew” from the pulley, then the repair procedures will consist solely of installing the belt in its original place. If the belt breaks, you will have to replace it, otherwise the machine will not work. So, the first thing to do is to determine what happened to the drive belt. To do this, you need to remove the back cover of the machine, after first unscrewing several screws on the back wall of the Ariston washing unit. After the cover is removed, you can already understand exactly what is wrong with the belt. If the belt “flies off”, then it is pulled onto the pulley; if the belt is torn, then you cannot do without purchasing a similar belt in the appropriate stores. The main thing is to buy a belt that will fully match the length, number and shape of the runners on the belt. Otherwise, the purchase will be in vain; the belt simply won’t fit. It is worth remembering that any drive belt has its own marking, where the first four numbers indicate the length of the belt, the next letter indicates the shape of the tracks, and the last number indicates the number of tracks. Once a suitable belt has been purchased, all that remains is to install it correctly in a certain sequence. How to do it? The belt is first put on the engine pulley, and only then the drum pulley. If the belt is installed correctly, the machine will start working well again and the belt will not “fly off”. To make sure that the drive belt is installed correctly, you can idle the machine drum. If the belt is installed well, then there will be no distortions when the drum rotates - you can assemble the machine into one whole by screwing the back wall.
