Gland washing machine - how to lubricate and how to replace?

To date, the use of an automatic washing machine is quite a familiar thing. But, like any technique, it sometimes fails. One of the most difficult breakdowns in a washing machine is the “development” of the gland and bearing and their replacement. Despite the fact that this type of repair is quite difficult, it can be done by many domestic craftsmen.

If you decide to get to the bearing and the gland yourself, this article is sure to be useful to you.

What is an epiploon and where is it located?

The oil seal is a part that serves as a seal between the two halves of the mechanism. One of these parts is fixed permanently, and the other is movable. Most often, the gland is made of rubber. Thus, it makes the connection not only tight, but also tight.

As you already understood, the gland is also present in the washing machine. Where is he located? Let's take an example of a “washer” with a front-loading type of laundry. The drum of such units is located on a special bracket, in the middle of which there is a semi-axle made of steel. On a half shaft through bearings the drum and a tank of the washing machine fastens. Here in this place and need to look for the gland. It is located not on the shaft itself, but on a special bronze bushing. This "couple" ensures the normal operation of the unit and protects the bearing from water ingress. Such protection is very important, because with the ingress of moisture, the bearing quickly collapses and becomes rusty.

Why the gland fails

As you already understood, the gland is an intermediary between the drum and the shaft on which it is fixed. During rotation, the shaft is in contact with the inside of the gland at all times. From the resulting friction, the part wears out pretty quickly. To prevent this from happening, the gland will certainly need to be well lubricated.

However great the lubricant was, it was gradually washed out by the action of soapy water seeping in the wash. The epiploon dries up and starts to pass water to the bearing which also becomes useless.

Replacing the gland

If during the rotation of the drum of the washing machine you hear the rattle and the "crunch of sand", then it's time to replace the bearings. The epiploon thus also should be replaced.

In most models of washing machines to perform such repairs, the unit will have to be dismantled almost completely.

Important:

Attention! If you are not sure that you will be able to correctly reproduce the assembly process or do it for the first time, take pictures of each step or draw connection diagrams.

• First you have to remove the top panel, and then remove the back and front walls of the washing machine.
• Now you need to carefully remove the counterweights( they are heavy) and disconnect the damping springs.
• Carefully disconnect all electronic and mechanical control units. Try to remember where the wire leads, so as not to get confused during assembly.
• So we got to the tank. Remove it and "split" into two halves.
• After you have completed all the above steps, you can see the place where the bearings are located, and, accordingly, the gland.

Before replacing them, carefully inspect the spider and shaft. If the washing machine worked for a long time in emergency mode, chips or cracks could appear on these parts. In this case, even a new gland will not hold water and repairs will be useless.

If everything is in order - remove the bearings. They just need to knock out with a hammer and a blunt chisel. This should be done very carefully so as not to damage the tank. Most often, together with the bearing falls out and the gland. If this does not happen, the oil seal must be carefully removed with a flat screwdriver. Using the same screwdriver, carefully clean the bearing positions. It is necessary to remove all the dirt and debris from the broken parts.

Before fitting new bearings, the mounting points must be carefully lubricated with Litol or another suitable substance.

Now all actions are performed in the reverse order. We install a new gland and bearings, carefully pressing them in the direction from where you took them. Do not forget to carefully lubricate the parts. Now you need to collect the tank and put it in place.

How to lubricate the oil seal?

If you decide to replace the oil seal and bearings yourself, you should pay close attention to such a process as lubrication. For this, it is best to use special lubricants recommended by the manufacturer.

First of all, lubricant is applied to the outside of the gland. There is a fairly even thin layer. Then go to the inside. There is no need to save the lubricant, because it is in this part that the greatest friction will be observed.

As a special lubricant for the gland can be quite expensive, many masters use "Solidol", "Litol", "Azmol" and other options used in car repairs. Better not to do this. Although this lubricant is much cheaper, the savings here are rather doubtful. The fact is that "non-core" substances soften the rubber from which the gland is made. As a result, it collapses much faster and in a year or two you will have to replace it again.

Choosing the “Right” Grease

There are several criteria that can influence the choice of a good lubricant for the gland. To meet all requirements, it must be:

• heat resistant - due to the friction of the shaft and the gland, it is heated, the lubricant must not lose its qualities with increasing temperature;
• moisture resistant - water periodically gets onto the oil seal together with detergent dissolved in it;
• non-aggressive - the correct lubricant should not react with the rubber from which the gland is made;
• is thick - the correct consistency of the substance must be such that it does not flow out during operation.

It is best to use a special silicone grease for work. Titanium is also suitable. They meet all the necessary requirements. It is best to purchase them at a specialized outlet, such as where they sell spare parts for washing machines. If the "silicone" is not on sale, an experienced seller will tell you how to replace it.