What sealant should I use to seal a washing machine drum?

Removing old bearings and installing new ones requires cutting the washing machine's plastic tub. After repairs, the cut parts must be reassembled and securely fastened. Is there a sealant for gluing a washing machine tub, or will I have to make do with household items? And how do I glue the tub back together?

Which adhesive sealant should I use?

It's important to keep in mind that the sealant used to bond the tank must be resistant to water, pressure and temperature changes, and vibration. Several different adhesives and sealants are suitable for this purpose, so there's plenty to choose from.

1. Permatex 81730. The average price is $1.75. It's transparent and very viscous in texture. Its primary purpose is to bond car windows and headlights. This makes it resistant to high temperatures and water. The adhesive's temperature range is -62 to 232 degrees Celsius.
2. F5 polyurethane adhesive. A 310 ml can costs about $7. This high price is due to its exceptional sealing properties. After bonding a tank with this sealant, you'll need to re-cut it.
3. ABRO 11AB-R. The adhesive costs approximately $3.50. It withstands any extreme conditions and is therefore unaffected by high temperatures and aggressive chemicals.
4. Kraftul. The substance's high elasticity is due to its intended use: it's used to bond joints in electric motors. It can withstand temperatures up to 200 degrees Celsius, and one tube, costing $2, is enough to bond four washing machines.
5. AVS AVK-131. Another super-sealant solution that will make disassembling the tank impossible and will require re-cutting. This sealant can withstand temperatures up to 2,500 degrees Celsius.

Please note! This adhesive is sold in mini-packs containing only 6 ml. To properly bond the tank, you'll need at least two. The price per pack is around $1.30.

Requirements for connecting the tank halves

Once the new bearings are in place, the two halves of the tank need to be reassembled. The repairman may be wondering how to bond the two halves together so they won't cause any problems later. It's recommended to use either glue or a heavy-duty sealant.

Before gluing the tank together, you need to connect the halves with nuts and screws. To do this, you need to drill holes along the entire seam of the plastic tank. A sealant mixture is needed to fill the gaps that form between the joints. When selecting an adhesive, it is necessary to consider how the element works:

• the tank is constantly exposed to strong mechanical stress, so it is necessary that the adhesive substance can withstand the load;
• he often has to be exposed to fairly high temperatures (over 90 degrees), and then sudden cooling, and so on regularly;
• The unit is not only constantly in contact with water, but sometimes also in contact with water under pressure.

If the sealant is permeable to water, a leak will inevitably occur, and then, to avoid damage to major components of the washing machine, it will be necessary to disassemble and reassemble the tank from scratch.

Gluing correctly

Before cutting, it's important to prepare the part for subsequent gluing. To do this, before sawing the tank, drill approximately 30-40 holes around the perimeter of the joint. During assembly, the halves of the tank should be aligned so that the holes in the halves match. Next, the joint of each half is treated with alcohol, and then adhesive is applied around the perimeter. Then, tighten the bolts as quickly as possible while the sealant is still wet. Complete drying takes 120 minutes.

Screwing in the bolts is necessary to ensure the joint doesn't weaken and leak over time. The process for bolting the tank together is as follows:

• a washer is placed on the bolt;
• it fits into place;
• the second washer is put on;
• the nut is tightened.

Once the holes in the tank are drilled, accurately calculate the number of bolts, nuts, and washers needed. Experts say that narrow-brim washers are preferable for this type of repair.

   

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