On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 19:31:41 +0100, Peter
wrote:

I am getting a lot of noise and rough feel from manually rotating the
drum on a Hoover Ecologic A3950 washing machine. On spin cycle its
like a jet takeoff!

I figure it is the drum bearings and being a practical chap I wonder
if anyone can tell me, before I start, if bearing replacement is a
straightforward task? I have a pretty thorough tool box but will I
need any specialist Hoover tools?

I can't speak re that model Peter but I did do a bearing change on our
AEG Lavamat a while ago.

The symptoms were as yours.

From memory ..

I removed the back panel (well, power and hoses first of course) and
lid (to make it easier to see stuff).

Dropped the motor and removed the belt.

There was a large bolt in the middle of the drum pulley that came out
ok but the pulley itself took my 3 legged puller to remove (or at
least get moving).

Removed the large cast iron, 3 legged 'spider' from the drum then
shaft (leaving the drum in the machine) again using the bearing
puller.

AEG offer a complete replacement 'spider' (spider, bearings and seal)
for about £120 but I sourced the bearings from a local bearing
supplier (£10 / pair, may of been cheaper fom the domestic parts shop)
and the seal from a local domestic parts shop (about £12).

To get the bearings out of the 'spider' I heated the lot up with a hot
air gun then used a hammer and blunt chisel to knock the old bearings
out (side at a time).

After a cleanup I pressed the new bearings in with my hydraulic bench
press (I could have warmed the spider and tapped the outer ring of the
bearing in with a large socket or similar).

As per the Haynes book of lies I "reassembled in reverse order" and
it's been fine / quiet ever since (well, till the motor went LR to
earth started tripping the RCD .. fixed by giving the motor a good
blow out with my mates air line and a £5 pair of brushes (while I was
there .. first pair in 14 years g).

All the best ..

T i m