[capelyddol]

This has me perplexed. Machine ran fine for five years, then one day while attempting to spin there was a smell of rubber burning and smoke. Although the machine had sounded like it was spinning, the clothes were still wet. Investigation revealed the belt was burnt through, by its shape obviously from friction with the motor pulley. The drum and agitator appeared to move freely so I fitted a new belt and the machine ran like new (used for one wash daily) for a fortnight. Yesterday, while washing on the 'light' cycle it began to spin and once again there was a smell of burning rubber and smoke. The machine failed again to spin the clothes. Investigation revealed a belt similarly burnt through to the first one, damage once again due to motor pulley friction. Everything appears to be fine. The belt lines up properly, the tensioner spring is good. I've run the machine with the front off and watched what happens but all appears in order. I've now fitted yet another belt, but feel it's only a matter of time before this one burns through as well. Anyone suffered this problem, or can throw any light on it?

[ApplianceJunk]

Hi,

Tub bearings maybe going bad.

[capelyddol]

Observation leads me to believe it is unlikely to be the bearings, as the spin cycle appears to progress normally most times. I've run the machine with the front off observing the mechanism during spin and on all occasions but one it performed fine. On the one occasion, the drum failed to begin turning causing belt slip on the motor pulley. I stopped it at once and checked the drum was free to move by grasping the top and rotating it. It moved fine. Restarting, the drum revolved as normal and the spin cycle completed without further slippage. My suspicion is either the idler pulley is not tensioning the belt sufficiently, though the spring appears in good condition, or there is something occasionally binding in the transmission, causing the drum to stiffen and the belt to slip. I suppose it could still be the bearings, but the machine has not become unduly noisy and, in fact, when the original old belt was first replaced, it became much quieter.

On the other hand, maybe I'm just grasping at straws.