How to change the handle on a washing machine?

Sometimes, during the course of using a washing machine, the handle needs to be replaced. This breakdown most often occurs due to careless handling of the appliance. This is an unpleasant situation, but it can be fixed by simply installing a new part. If you do it yourself according to the instructions, replacing a washing machine handle will cost next to nothing. Calling a technician will be much more expensive, with the average price for the job being $15.

Is the handle complex?

The design of a washing machine door handle is quite simple. There's no electrical or electronic components inside; it's a mechanical part. So, unlike other washing machine problems, replacing the handle is quite easy for a DIYer. The element consists of a spring, a metal hook, a pin and a plastic pedal.

Warning! In most cases, the pin or pedal breaks, or the spring pops out.

The door handle works as follows. On the inside of the hatch housing, there are special grooves into which a metal pin is inserted. A spring-loaded plastic pedal is mounted on the pin. These are connected to a hook that directly opens and closes the hatch. When the pedal is pressed, it moves the hook, opening the hatch.

We remove and open the door

To replace the handle on a washing machine yourself, you need to completely remove the door. This is fairly simple, but for better understanding, we'll still describe the procedure. Here's the order in which you should proceed:

• unscrew the bolts that secure the door;
• carefully remove the hatch and place it with the inside facing up;
• unscrew the remaining fasteners, this is necessary to get to the mechanism;
• carefully separate the door in half (you need to do this with a thin screwdriver and very carefully, otherwise you can easily damage the latch);
• remove the outer and glass parts.

Be especially careful when handling the door glass, as it's heavy. Some inexpensive washing machine models may have sharp edges that can easily injure you. Once the door is disassembled, you can begin replacing the handle.

We replace the broken element

After removing the door, inspect the faulty component itself. Carefully pry up the pin with a screwdriver and remove it. Disassemble the remaining mechanism and locate the broken element. Purchase a new replacement part and then install it in its proper place.

To ensure a smooth handle replacement, take a photo of the component locations before disassembling. This will help you reassemble the mechanism precisely. How do I install the new part?

1. First, install the spring, then the latch.
2. While holding the locking element, install the pin in place, but not all the way, because you still need to install the handle itself.
3. Once all the component parts are assembled, a pin is pushed through them.
4. After this, very carefully connect the door halves, inserting glass between them.
5. Once the parts are connected, the lock will be securely fixed inside.
6. All that remains is to fasten the door with bolts and put it in place.

The most critical step is joining the hatch halves. This requires careful attention to ensure the locking mechanism doesn't fall apart. If the parts shift, reassembly will have to be started over.

   

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