Washing machine wobbling

[wilsarnie]

On the spin cycle my washing machine goes absolutely crazy and wobbles about all over the place. It makes such a racket as it knocks into the wooden panels either side of it.

I remember hearing somewhere that there's a weight inside the machine and it needs to be absolutely in the middle for the machine not to wobble.

Am I right? Can I move the weight myself without calling out the proffessionals? Or is there another way to stop it wobbling (that I can do myself?)

[whiffey]

Mine's the same. It's less of a problem with lighter loads.

I lean or sit on it during the final hard spin, very therapeutic.

[wilsarnie]

theraputic? is that what they call it nowadays??!

[buildersmate]

In the first instance establish whether it does it on spin but with nothing in the machine. If it does, the drum has become unbalanced and or the the damping system is capput (technical term). If OK, the washing inside the machine is not spreading itself around the drum adequately, and the load on one side is unbalancing the thing on spincycle. Or the dampers are going kapput and can't withstand a little bit of offcentre loading. I've never heard of shifting the weight around.

[qapmoc]

Is this a brand new machine or an old one that used to be OK but is now wobbly. If it is an old machine then as suggested above but If it is a new machine maybe the transist locking bolts have not been removed?

[qapmoc]

Sorry TRANSIT

[wilsarnie]

It is not brand brand new as we inherited it from the old owners when we moved in in August, but it does look pretty new.

Absolutely NO idea where I got the weight thing from! I'll try the spin cycle with an empty load.

If it still does it will I have to call a plumber/washing machine person to fix the inbalanced drum, or the 'kapput' damping system? ie - Is it fixable, or would I have to buy a new washer?

[xrayspecs]

You may find that the drum has become disconected from the frame that holds it. You'll need to get the back off the machine and have a look. if there's a bolt loose you can tighten it up. They normally have three bolts securing the drum assembly to the sub frame. The sub frame will also be weighted with what look like breeze blocks. Over time the bolts work loose and can be retighened.

[wilsarnie]

That's where I got the weights from! I knew there must be some in there somewhere!

Thanks for all your suggestions peeps

Wilsarnie

[Clanad]

Additionally, (assuming some similarity to U.S. machines) it's important that the machine (is it a vertical or horizontal model?) itself be level. This is adjusted by feet on the bottom. Some have auto-levelers but most are adjusted with screw in or out legs in front. One needs a good carpenters bubble level to determine when it's level...

[wilsarnie]

Legs? Am sure it doesn't have legs or feet or shoes or socks or anything like that. Am pretty sure it just sits flat to the floor. And by vertical or horizontal do you mean top-loader or front-loader? (sorry, am not terribly au fait with different types of machine!). If you do, then it's a front loader...

[qapmoc]

What Clanad means is that on most machines, underneath somewhere (where you won't see them if you are chasing the machine around the kitchen) will be some short feet on screws which can be adjusted up and down to get the machine level and stable.

[qapmoc]

Just a thought here, is the machine sitting on a concrete or wooden floor, cos if its a wooden floor this itself can become loose and unstable and make the machine bounce around.

[wilsarnie]

Hmm, that's an interesting thought - it's actually on a wooden floor...

[elviscilla]

sounds like your machine is not level, look underneath. there are four screws - one at each corner of the machine, these screws can be turned either way to level out the machine - they have rubber pads on the end so they dont mark the flooring - make sure the machine is empty or you wont be able to lift as too heavy (personal tip from bad experience)!! - call them stabilisers