The Indesit washing machine does not spin the drum.
I don't want to speak ill of the Indesit brand, but their washing machines can sometimes cause a lot of trouble for users. In particular, the drum often stops spinning out of the blue. Sometimes, it gets even worse: the drum jams so hard it's difficult to even turn by hand, let alone get it spinning. This article explains the causes of this problem and how to fix it.
What are the causes of the malfunction?
It's not easy to list the reasons why an Indesit washing machine won't spin. It will depend not only on the brand but also on the model and components installed. However, based on the opinions of most experts, a list of common faults can be compiled as follows:
- the drum is jammed due to a foreign object in the tank;
- There were problems with the drive belt and the drum pulley of the washing machine (usually with both);
- the engine coil has failed;
- the carbon brushes were worn down to bare metal;
- the slats have worn out due to long-term engine operation;
- The semiconductor elements of the control module have failed.
Clearly, this list is incomplete, as even a relatively simple washing machine like an Indesit consists of a large number of components, assemblies, individual parts, and electrical and electronic circuits, any failure of which could cause the drum to stop spinning. Considering that some models behave differently when they malfunction, and it's easy for a non-professional to confuse cause and effect, perhaps it's better to entrust the diagnostics to a professional?
Of course, everyone has to make their own decision here, but if you're reading this article, you're obviously not looking for the easy way out, so let's figure out how to independently diagnose and reliably determine why your Indesit washing machine's drum isn't spinning.
The list of causes will expand significantly if we consider cases where the drum of an Indesit washing machine spins erratically. We won't expand on this topic here and will cover situations where the drum spins erratically in a separate article.
Belt or pulley?
If you're experiencing a problem with your Indesit washing machine's drum not spinning, you should know that the drive belt has most likely broken or slipped. At first glance, this isn't a serious problem—you might as well open the back panel and pull it back onto the small and large pulleys, but no such luck. If the belt on your Indesit washing machine keeps slipping, it's a symptom of a much more serious problem: a broken drum pulley. What should you do to check these possibilities?
- We turn off the washing machine and remove it from the niche in which it is installed.
- We remove the service hatch or the rear wall (depending on the model).
- Once we open the service hatch, it will immediately be clear what happened to the belt.
- If the belt is in place, then we continue to look for a breakdown elsewhere; if the belt has come off, then we first inspect the drum pulley (large wheel).
- If the wheel is completely intact and there are no signs of damage, then you can safely put the belt back on and reconnect the washing machine. However, if the slightest damage is found on the pulley, it will need to be replaced. Otherwise, the belt will constantly fall off.
- Next, inspect the small pulley mounted on the motor shaft. If you detect even the slightest deformation, you should also know that the pulley must be replaced, as it is the cause of the problem.
It's easy to say it needs to be replaced, but how do you do it, and is it even possible to do it yourself? Let's start with the large component—the drum pulley. To remove it from the drum shaft, you need to unscrew the bolt located exactly in the middle of the pulley. How do you do this?
- We block the rotation of the pulley using a wooden block.
If the pulley is already damaged, there's no point in saving it, since we're replacing it anyway. The bolt and threads are a different matter. They need to be preserved intact.
- Lubricate the bolt with WD-40 liquid and wait 30-40 minutes.
- We take a ratchet with a head of the appropriate size and try to unscrew the bolt. There is no need to apply extra force when doing this; the main thing in such a matter is not to damage the threaded bolt, or even the thread itself.
- Once you've managed to gently pry the bolt loose, the rest is simple: unscrew it and remove the old pulley, and install a new one in its place. Only then can you install the belt.
In this situation, remember that after replacing the pulley, it is always better to change the belt as well; this will ensure that your Indesit washing machine will continue to function properly.
Something got into the tank
Experts write, talk, and film extensively about what happens when foreign objects get into the drum of a washing machine, and how costly repairs this can lead to. Nevertheless, users stubbornly continue to stuff items into the drum of their washing machines without checking their pockets. As a result, paper clips, thumbtacks, pins, screws, ballpoint pen caps, buttons, and much more can be found at the bottom of the drum.
And everything would be fine if these foreign objects simply lay at the bottom of the tank, but the fact is that they can cause the drum to jam, which in turn can damage the flimsy wall of the plastic tank.
Important! If the drum is jammed due to an object getting stuck in it, do not attempt to spin the drum or start a wash cycle. Remove the foreign object immediately.
You can remove an item that accidentally gets into the tank either through the drain pipe hole or through the heating element hole. Some Indesit washing machine models have a heating element located at the back. If this is the case, simply remove the back panel, disconnect the wires from the heating element, and remove it from the drum after unscrewing the mounting nut. The opening for the heating element is large enough to remove anything from the drum.
If your Indesit washing machine has a front heating element, removing the front panel is more difficult, but you know for sure that the cause of the breakdown is a foreign object in the drum. You can do the following:
- lay the washing machine on its side;
- remove the drain pipe from the tank through the bottom;
- Catch any object that has fallen into the tank through the drain hole.
There is a problem with the engine
As you know, the motor in an Indesit washing machine drives the drive mechanism, which is what causes the drum to rotate. It's logical to assume that if the motor isn't working or isn't working properly, the drum won't rotate either—and that's another possible reason why your Indesit washing machine's drum won't spin.
In a commutator motor, the brushes may wear out, the winding may short-circuit, or problems may arise with the lamellas. You can read about how to check each engine component for faults, as well as how to eliminate these faults, in the publication The drum in the washing machine does not spin. Samsung.
Control module thyristor
Perhaps the most common cause of an Indesit washing machine's drum stopping spinning is a malfunctioning control board. This issue can only be accurately identified by a professional who will accurately test all suspect semiconductor components and draw the appropriate conclusions.
Why doesn't the drum of an Indesit washing machine spin if the control module is broken? The cause is usually burned-out control triacs, which are responsible for controlling the motor. But this is just one of many possible conclusions a technician can draw after a thorough inspection of your "home helper." Therefore, if the main suspicion falls on the electronics, do not hesitate to call a specialist. You shouldn't try to repair it yourself, as you could permanently damage the control module.
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How to change brushes?
Read here: Replacing washing machine motor brushes
What's the problem? The drum doesn't spin during the wash cycle, but it works fine during the spin cycle.
I turn on the washing machine, and everything seems fine. The drum spins twice and then stops. Then it barely moves forward at all. This happens all the time. The machine is new. What's the problem?