How to remove the back panel of a Zanussi washing machine?

If you're repairing a Zanussi machine yourself and need to inspect the pulley, replace the drive belt, or check the motor brushes, removing the back panel is essential. On other brands, the back panel is easily removed by simply unscrewing a few screws. However, removing the back panel on a Zanussi washing machine is much more difficult.

First the lid

The difficulty is that the Zanussi washing machine's design doesn't include a back panel at all. There are no side panels either—the machine is made up of two halves. Therefore, you'll need to almost completely disassemble the machine and remove the back half. Start by turning off the water supply and disconnecting the machine from the power grid, sewer system, and water supply.

Important! Since you'll need to disconnect the drain and water supply hoses, you can take advantage of the situation and immediately flush and clear them of any blockages.

Next, remove the top cover. Use an 8mm socket wrench. Move the machine to a convenient location, reach behind it, and unscrew the bolts holding the top cover in place using the tabs. Slide the panel toward you and try to open it upward. If the cover doesn't budge, gently tap it on the edges until it pops off the plastic clips.

Removing the back half of the case

The Zanussi machine consists of two large parts: the back wall and two back halves of the right and left walls of the body, respectively, and the front wall, fastened to the two front halves of the side panels. By removing the rear panel, you gain access to many of the appliance's internal components: the heating element and temperature sensor, pressure switch, counterweight, drive belt, struts, motor, etc. All Zanussi models are designed using this principle and also feature a detachable tank, the parts of which are connected with long screws. To remove the rear panel, you need to:

• find plastic plugs on the side walls;
• pull them off with an awl;
• unscrew the screws located under the plugs.

Now let's look at the top of the washing machine. Almost immediately, a large metal plate catches your eye, providing rigidity to the entire structure. Along its edges, we locate the screws that hold the back panel in place and unscrew them. It's best to store all fasteners separately, perhaps on a plate, to avoid losing them.

The only remaining component preventing panel removal is a plastic bracket. It holds the inlet valve and its connections. There's no need to remove the valve or its components—remove the bracket completely, first prying up the plastic clips with a flat-head screwdriver. On some Zanussi models, the bracket consists of two parts connected by a screw. In this case, you must first unscrew the screw and then release the clips. Rock the back panel from side to side and pull it toward you—it will slide back.

   

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