Owners of washing machines with a direct drive mechanism do not have to worry about the belt falling off, since such models simply do not have one. But if the washing machine is equipped with a commutator or asynchronous motor, and the drum pulley rotates using a drive belt, then this material will benefit you.
What is a belt?
This is one of the important components of a washing machine because it transmits torque to the drum. Without it, the washing process will be impossible.
The belt lasts for many years if it is made of high-quality material and all requirements for operating the machine are met. A large number of belt drive failures occur due to the drum being overloaded with things. In this situation, the belt flies off the pulley or breaks.
The element is a connecting element from the electric motor to the drum. After power is supplied, the motor picks up speed and turns the drum through a belt.
But what often happens is that the belt in the washing machine comes off. Let’s try to figure it out together about why this happens and what should be done.
Main reasons
Most often the problem occurs in the following cases:
- Natural wear of the element has occurred.This happens due to prolonged use of the device. The belt is stretched and does not transmit rotation correctly. This is accompanied by a characteristic whistle at idle, poor spin performance, and machine stops if the belt finally breaks or falls off.
- The drum pulley is loosely secured. Assemblies and assemblies that are in motion are subject to heavy loads, and their fastenings weaken. When the pulley begins to “walk” in different directions, the strap will definitely break off, break completely, or simply get jammed.
- Loose motor mounts. Due to vibration during washing, they may lose strength. The tension will become insufficient, and this will be another reason why the belt comes off. In order to finally verify what happened, you will have to unscrew the back panel of the machine, check the belt and the elements located near it. If necessary, the fastenings are tightened, the belt is installed and tightened, and the machine is checked for functionality.
- The shaft and pulley are deformed. A belt coming off causes the pulley to bend, which will require its replacement. Otherwise, there is a possibility of damage to equally important components of the washing machine. The same situation can happen with the shaft. In a word, a malfunction of one of the nodes will lead to problems.
- The bearing is worn out. This can warp the drum, and the result will be a flying belt. To determine the exact cause, you will have to invite an experienced technician.
- Incorrect belt tension. Replacing the belt is not difficult, but certain skills are required so that it does not fall off in the future. In this case, it is necessary to perform the tension correctly, otherwise the problem will periodically recur.
- Damage to the drum crosspiece. In this case, there is an imbalance, which will result in the drive element coming off.
- Rare cases of operation. It may seem strange, but this can be one of the reasons when the rubber product dries out, cracks and comes off or breaks completely.
As you can see, there are plenty of conditions for the belt to break or come off. Without special skills, it will be difficult to find the problem. If you want to solve the problem radically, invite a technician who will quickly and competently fix everything.
How is the breakdown detected?
It is difficult for the user to understand what happened to his home assistant - when the drive belt comes off, the unit stops working. The element is located behind the body panels of the washing machine, and it is not possible to immediately understand that the problem is hidden in it. But this can be done if you understand the characteristic signs.
Often, the washing machine signals an incident using the built-in self-diagnosis system. With the help of such a system, the machine responds to a failure without any problems, stops working, sends an error code to the screen, depending on the model and brand of the product. You will only have to decipher the data of the signal seen on the screen using a special table.
It happens that the machine does not give a code, but there is already a breakdown. In such a situation, it is possible to understand that the belt has come off and needs to be put back in place, using indirect signs:
- the washing program is activated, the motor is operational, but the drum does not rotate;
- the motor hums evenly, begins to "fall silent" with equal time pauses;
- the software works, the engine hums without stopping, then the electronics freeze;
- The drum can be easily rotated by hand; rotation does not create even minimal noise.
Installation procedure
The process is easy, even an inexperienced user can handle it:
- First of all, the machine is disconnected from the power supply.
- To conduct an inspection and determine the malfunction, you will have to remove the back cover of the washing machine by unscrewing the mounting bolts.
- When the drive belt comes off, you should simply install it in its intended place. To begin with, the element is put on the shaft, then it is pulled onto the pulley. Initially - to a certain part of the circle, then the pulley is carefully rotated so that the belt falls into place completely and is completely placed in the groove. To make sure everything is done correctly, the pulley is turned by hand.
- When a belt stretches or breaks, a new analogue is purchased. This can be done at a service center or a dealership that specializes in washing machines and their accessories.
- All that remains is to close the machine panel and screw in the bolts.
Is there any point in doing your own repairs?
If you have not done such repairs with household appliances before, it is recommended to invite a specialist who will fix the problem and provide a guarantee for the further operation of the machine.
Any user can preliminarily inspect the washing machine and try to diagnose a breakdown. Having discovered a problem, you will have to decide whether to seek help or try to cope with the problem on your own.
Contacting a workshop has its own advantages:
- a warranty period is determined for the work;
- replacement of components, if such a need arises, will be carried out with identical analogues;
- The experience of the masters will be beyond any doubt.
Preventive measures - a way to extend the operating period
Fulfilling certain requirements while using the machine will have a beneficial effect on the operation of various components, prolonging the operation of the entire device. Each machine comes with an accompanying instruction manual, which describes the rules of use and recommendations for preventive measures. Many simply do not pay attention to this, removing the documents and forgetting about their existence. And if you follow all the tips and handle the equipment carefully, the machine will thank you with trouble-free operation.
