Changing the washing machine door cuff: how to remove and replace the seal, how to change the seal
During prolonged use of the washing machine, situations associated with damage to one or another node may necessarily arise. Therefore, you should not be surprised that as the most frequent breakdown may be the failure of the cuff in this machine. The most typical breakdown can be a tear in the sealing rubber that is installed on the hatch of the machine. In this article we will consider how to perform the replacement of the washing machine hatch cuff with your own hands.
The reasons why the cuff can get damaged
To ensure that the process of replacing the sealing rubber does not become a regular event for you, it is necessary in a timely manner to identify the causes of its damage.
Wear and tear during operation is not canceled, but often the cuffs of Indesit washing machines suffer due to the negligence and carelessness of the consumer.
The sealing element, as well as others, has a certain strength, but under the influence of factors of a negative nature, its service life is reduced.
Determine the cause of damage is simple. it is necessary to carefully inspect the cuff, after which it remains to choose the most likely problem that contributed to the failure of the rubber door:
- friction against solid elements of things, clothes and shoes,
- foreign objects,
- fungus and mould growth that affect the quality of the cuffs,
- Careless loading and unloading of the drum, causing serious mechanical damage.
Aggressive detergents, frequent use of device, strong vibrations during spinning, hot water. all these factors have a destructive effect on drum seals.
To maximize cuff life and postpone replacement, clean and dry the sealing element, carefully inspect s of items before washing, do not increase the allowable amount of detergent.
It is ideal to regularly inspect the cuff for blemishes.
Repair with your own hands
Some people do not want to seek help from professionals and try to repair the damaged part themselves.
What will be needed
First, you need to prepare all the tools and materials that will be useful in carrying out the work.
A piece of thin rubber
People who plan to repair an old rubber band should pick up a new patch to attach to the cuff. When choosing a material, the size of the damage on the surface is taken into account. It is necessary to choose such a piece of rubberized material so that it completely covers the damaged area.
Solvent
After prolonged use of clothes washing devices, traces of mold can appear inside the drum. It is difficult to get rid of moldy plaque. To quickly remove dirt accumulated under the old cuff, use a solvent. Even very old dirt is instantly eroded by the use of this liquid. Use the solvent must be careful not to damage the washing machine.
Superglue
Superglue is considered indispensable when working with rubber products. This adhesive will help not only to glue the cuff, but also to fix it to other surfaces. When replacing a rubber band, superglue is used to attach it to the body of the washing machine.
Specialists advise to use Vinyl Cement superglue, which has high strength and resistance to high humidity.
Soft cloth or absorbent cotton
Cotton or a regular cloth will be needed for the pretreatment of the surface to which the new patch will be attached. It is necessary to treat the area under the rubber with special liquids for decontamination. This is done to ensure that the rubberized material will adhere more securely and will not come off for a long time.
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Sequence of actions
In order to properly attach the patch to the damaged cuff, it is necessary to read the sequence of actions.
Remove the clamps that hold it in place
First, a person needs to get rid of the fasteners that hold the cuff. To do this, he will have to unscrew the two small clamps, located on the front wall and near the drum by himself. First unscrew the fasteners located on the wall. After that, you can unscrew the second clamp and carefully pull out the damaged part.
Finding the problem area
Taking out the rubberized gasket, examine it in detail and look for the damaged area. To quickly find the problem area, carefully straighten out all the folds of the cuff. Sometimes it is not easy to find the tear visually, and you have to look for it by touch. To do this, run your hand over the surface of the rubber to find irregularities that may be damaged.
Thoroughly degrease the area and the patch
The damaged sealant must be degreased, so that the patch will stick to it better. The degreasing liquid is applied so that the treated area extends two centimeters beyond the tear. The sealant is held in place until the solvent dries completely.
How to glue the patch
To attach the patch to the cuff, a thin layer of superglue is applied to the damaged area. After that, the straightened rubber patch is applied to the treated surface. It is pressed to the surface for 5-10 minutes, until it seizes with superglue.
How to replace the cuff of the washing machine with your own hands in 5 steps
The washing machine has a sealing rubber, which prevents water from leaking out of the hatch. It is positioned along the contour of the opening for loading the laundry. This sealant is called a cuff. To be sure to avoid water leakage, the cuff must be in one piece without damage. The rubber bands can be damaged by foreign objects, as well as by items of clothing made of metal. In addition to these factors, to make the cuff not suitable for operation may be and other reasons.
How to remove the sealing rubber from the drum?
To replace the seal, it must first be dismantled, and this, in turn, will require a certain degree of disassembly of the machine. A practical guide is as follows.
- You need to start by removing the top cover, which is held by several screws.
- Removing the laundry detergent tray. Behind it there are the fasteners, which also need to be unscrewed.
- At this stage we can already perform the dismantling of the control panel, which is fixed with plastic latches. They are easy to pry open with a Phillips head screwdriver. The latches should be pressed carefully, because they can easily break.
- You should not make any sudden movements when removing the panel, since there are wires attached to it. It is not necessary to disconnect them. the panel with the wires can be placed on top of the machine body.
- Using a flat screwdriver hook the hatch cover, which hides a trash filter. This part is located at the bottom of the panel.
- After removing the cover it is necessary to put aside the hose for emergency drainage and unscrew the fasteners of the decorative panel. It is also held by latches that must be carefully pinched and then the panel can be removed.
- Open the hatch door and use a flat screwdriver to pry up the spring on the collar clamp. Pull the spring to the side and remove the clamp.
- Insert the clamp inside the drum and move on to the locking system. It is held by two bolts, after unscrewing which the part can be pushed into the machine body.
- The front wall is held by several other fasteners, the unscrewing of which will make it possible to remove it completely. With the hatch cover still in place.
- The nozzle of the cuff is connected to the hose, which must be removed.
- On the seal there is an inner clamp, which is removed in the same way as the outer clamp. pick up the spring with a screwdriver and pull it toward you.
- Now you can take care of the gasket itself. Its disassembly requires some effort as it is firmly seated in the grooves. Here you can not be afraid to use brute force, because the old seal will still be thrown away.
How to Remove the Rubber from the Washing Machine Drum: Instructions for Beginners
The sealing strip, also known as the elastic band, is important for the washing machine. It protects the internal mechanism from moisture and acts as a sealant. If the gum wears out, there’s a risk of leakage, up to and including flooding. Replacement of the seal in the washing machine can be carried out independently without engaging a specialist.
Cuff replacement is most often due to tears or cracks in the cuff that allow water to enter during washing. As a result of such damage, the owner of the machine will see water leaks under the hatch, and upon examining the cuff itself, will notice cracks or tears, which may have different sizes. Causes of such a situation can be such factors:
- Natural wear and tear on the seal. In the operation of the machine the cuff constantly succumbs to the friction of the drum and the laundry. It heats up when washing, and then cools. In addition, it is affected by detergents. Over the years this leads to brittleness and brittleness of the rubber.
- Poor quality detergent. Exposed to cheap detergent and detergents of questionable quality the rubber of the cuff begins to deteriorate, so saving on detergent leads to the cost of replacing the seal.
- Excessive dosage of detergents. If too much powder or liquid is used, the structure of the sealing rubber may also become damaged, and the cuff may have to be replaced.
- Clothing parts that can damage the seal. Metal and plastic fittings can be such elements. In addition, screws, nails, and other objects can get into the machine from clothing s and cause cuff tears.
Replacement cuff hatch washing machine. Video
Over time, if you don’t clean the sealing collar, mold can build up on it. That’s why you need to have your washing machine cleaned periodically. How to do it, you can see in the following video.
Wear and tear and time
After each wash, the useful life of machine parts decreases. The sealing rubber becomes deformed, stretched or dried out (depending on the material and how often the appliance has been used), it becomes less airtight and small cracks and then large holes appear.
Mechanical damage during washing
- In case of sloppy loading or unloading of things;
- Due to sharp objects in s. Even a coin or a piece of paper can become holes when you rotate the drum, so check your clothes carefully by unzipping your s while still “on dry land.”
- from rubbing against hard objects or parts: in some models of Indesit and Ariston the drum touches the cuff and rubs against it.
Powder quality
The most common cause of sealer rupture is cheap or low-quality laundry detergent. Aggressive chemicals in the inexpensive powder deteriorate the cuff material, making it “squeezed”, porous and therefore brittle.
Mildew and dirt
Fungus and mold appear due to poor ventilation and care of the machine. Causes. installation in a highly humid place, incorrectly connected drain into the sewer, constantly closed door (because of which after washing the moisture does not evaporate). Fungus manifests itself by dark stains, they are complemented by an unpleasant smell from the machine.
Unbend the side after any wash and see how much moisture and sometimes debris remains in the gaps. Ideally, after each use, wipe the drum with a soft cloth.
Instructions for repairing cuff holes with your own hands
Important! This is a temporary repair option: the patch we will install will not last long because of frequent contact with water. Only new and original parts are durable!
For starters
To repair the collar and patch the hole, first unplug the washing machine and turn off the water supply.
- flat-tipped screwdriver;
- a piece of thin rubber band (larger than the hole formed on the drum);
- scissors;
- surface degreaser (alcohol or gasoline will do);
- Adhesive suitable for rubber (“Moment” is excellent);
- a cotton pad or a piece of absorbent cotton.
Disassembly: remove the clamps
First remove the front clamp. It can be attached to the front wall in three ways:
If the coupler is attached to the screw, unscrew it and pick up the clamp with a screwdriver. With plastic clamps on a spring, you need to hold the spring at one end, pull it back and loosen. Then pull the clamp toward you and remove it with a screwdriver.
To remove the second rubber tie, unscrew the front panel of the machine. Once you see the clamp, unscrew the screw that holds it, undermine the spring with a screwdriver and tighten.
It happens that the rubber band comes off or comes off the housing connectors, then you need to check the spring and fastener, that’s most likely the problem.
Looking for the hole
You have the cuff in hand, now you need to find the “hole”. Carefully examine the rubber for a hole.
If the hole or cut is impressive, there is no point in repairing it. it’s easier to buy a new one. To get the right one and not to make a wrong choice, take the old rubber band and use it as a base to find an analogue or an identical model.
Putting the patch on
- Prepare the material for sealing. Stack it in several layers, gluing them together. The patch must be 1,5-2 cm longer and wider than the hole from each side.
- Degrease the place of gluing: moisten a absorbent cotton or cloth with alcohol or any other impregnation, then carefully wipe the area with a hole.
- Apply adhesive to rubber band and patch. Glue them: “dock” them together, press them together and hold them a little longer to allow the glue to set better. We recommend that you read the instructions on the package, as there are nuances.
- Leave the seal in its natural position for 24 hours. sometimes it is enough to spread it out on the floor.
Installation: Putting it back in place
Properly place the inner clamp. If it is screwed, put it on the cuff and screw it down. The spring version stretch over the entire area of the opening, the plastic version on the latches. insert into the grooves and click. Take the front clamp and do the same with it.
Check for leaks
Run a quick wash to check the sealed part. If there is no more water leakage you are doing fine.
Find the cause of the breakage
To fix the problem with your own hands, the first thing to do is to find out what the cause of failure is. Most often the malfunction is due to wear of the part or mechanical damage.
- As a result of long service life, the cuff rubber has worn out.
- Caustic, corrosive chemicals were used in the wash, which could also damage the cuffs.
- Hard or sharp foreign objects (all kinds of metal items, plastics, badges, keys, etc.) caught in the door.
- Frequent washing of unsuitable items in the machine (e.g., hard-soled shoes, heavy outerwear, thick hats).
- Use of substandard detergent or excessive amounts of detergent. Powder of improper quality can often cause destruction of the rubber element.
