Removing the Candy washing machine pulley

Removing the drum wheel from a Candy washing machine is necessary when accessing the bearing assembly. Finding the drum wheel is easy—simply remove the back panel of the washing machine. How do you carefully remove this metal part? Let's explore the details.

Is it difficult to get rid of a pulley?

Accessing the pulley itself is easy. To do this, you first need to remove the top cover of the washing machine housing, then the back panel. The fasteners can be removed with a standard screwdriver.

The pulley is a metal wheel. It's bolted to the drum hub and connected to the washing machine's motor via a drive belt. How difficult is it to remove the part itself?

If the head of the bolt securing the pulley is intact and not stripped, then removing the drum wheel will not be difficult.

To unscrew the pulley, you will need:

• select a key of the appropriate size;
• place the tool on the bolt head;
• secure the pulley with a wooden block (to prevent the wheel from spinning);
• Using the key, start unscrewing the bolt counterclockwise.

Often, on washing machines that have been in use for several years, the pulley bolt threads become completely rusted. In this situation, there's a high risk of stripping the head. Technicians try to unscrew the corroded retainer with a wrench, but end up ripping off the head. This makes the task several times more difficult.

Dealing with a damaged bolt is much more difficult. The wrench will have nothing to grip, and the tool will slip. Before attempting to remove a rusty head, treat it with cleaner. WD-40 and leave for 15-20 minutes. Then wipe the cap and try to remove the retainer.

If the pulley bolt head is already stripped, a wrench won't help. Use a chisel and hammer. You'll need to make a small notch on the head of the locking pin. A 1-1.5 mm indentation will be sufficient.

Then insert a chisel into the notch and, using a hammer, try to get the bolt moving. It's best to turn the head counterclockwise, but it's not essential. The important thing is that the star moves completely.

You can use a hand grinder. It will make it easier to make a notch on the head. Then, remove the bolt using a chisel and hammer.

The screw was removed, but the pulley remained in place.

In some cases, removal is complicated by the pulley being heavily welded to the bushing. In these cases, even after removing the bolt, the drum wheel cannot be pulled off. Removing the component will require some effort. WD-40, a universal cleaner, will help remove scale and corrosion. This is the first step.

• Treat the joint with WD-40 aerosol.
• Wait 10-15 minutes, wipe the treated area with a cloth.
• Ask someone to hold the drum, and grab the pulley with both hands and start swinging it from side to side.
• After each attempt to rock the wheel, re-treat the joint area with WD-40 cleaner.

If the pulley is stuck in place and can't be pulled off by hand, you'll have to knock the wheel out. Avoid using metal objects, as they can damage the assembly by breaking the shaft. Any long wooden block, such as a shovel handle, will do the job. Sharpen one end.

Next, place the pointed end in the center of the pulley. Then take a hammer. The blows on the block should be strong and precise. Over time, the drum wheel will come off the hub. Keep in mind that this process can take 20-30 minutes.

   

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