Disassembling the washing machine hatch

The handle is a weak point in many washing machines; it can stop working at the most inopportune moment. Replacing the faulty part requires disassembling the washing machine door. Let's figure out how to do this correctly.

What to do if the lock is locked?

An extremely unpleasant situation, it most often occurs when the owner attempts to open the washing machine to remove laundry from the drum. The handle then makes a loud clicking sound and breaks off, making it impossible to open the door. What should be done in this case?

In reality, things aren't as bad as they might seem. You can open the washing machine drum with a regular spoon. Here's how:

• select the appropriate cutlery, on each machine the locking element may be located at a different distance;
• determine the center of the hatch;
• insert the handle of a spoon into the gap between the door and the body of the washing machine;
• Find the required part and press down on the spoon.

The locking mechanism will engage, and the door will open. If you don't succeed the first time, repeat the procedure a few more times, varying the vertical position—that is, try to feel the element slightly lower or higher.

Important! Before opening the washing machine, wait a few moments for the handle lock to release. The handle can only be opened after a certain amount of time has passed since the wash cycle.

Some washing machines are more advanced in this regard; the designers have provided an emergency release lever, which is located at the bottom of the housing, near the drain filter.

Disassembly instructions

Once you've opened the door, you need to begin disassembling it. The old handle is discarded; it can't be repaired; you'll need to buy a new one. To avoid making the wrong choice, write down the washing machine's serial number and model. What should you do?

1. Disconnect the machine from the power supply.
2. Turn off the water supply valves.
3. Remove the door from the special hinge; to do this, you need to unscrew the two mounting bolts.
4. Place the door on a horizontal surface and begin disassembling the hatch.
5. Unscrew the screws located around the entire inner perimeter of the sash, do not lose them.
6. Remove the top of the hatch and the glass (be careful with the latches).
7. On the inside there is a metal rod, it needs to be removed and the remaining elements of the lock can be taken out: the spring, the plastic part, the latch, the pin connecting the mechanism.

After complete disassembly, all that remains is to install the new handle in reverse order. Even if only one element is broken, each one must be replaced. Otherwise, there's a risk that one of the parts won't fit the new handle, which will lead to further malfunction. To install the new handle, follow these steps:

• install a new spring;
• place the new retainer on the side of the spring, holding it with a screwdriver, you need to install the retaining pin, but not all the way;
• Place the plastic handle on the retainer and push the pin until it stops.

That's all there is to it; all that's left to do is reassemble the door in reverse order, and the repair is complete. Anyone who reads this article can handle it. In the future, please refrain from opening the washing machine handle abruptly. If you're unsure of your ability to handle the repair, contact a service center or call a technician to your home.

   

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