Replacing the belt in the washing machine

The belt in the washing machine is an important link that is involved in the rotation of the drum. The belt is put on the washing machine motor and on the pulley. The pulley, in turn, is bolted to the drum. When the engine starts to rotate, the pulley begins to rotate through the belt and, accordingly, the drum of the washing machine itself. This design is quite primitive and is used everywhere in different units and industries.

If you suddenly have a belt in a washing machine that has fallen off, then the drum will stop rotating and it will be impossible to wash on such a unit, a little repair will be required here. You will learn why such a malfunction can happen and what you can do yourself to fix it.

Why does the belt on the washing machine fly off

Usually, if everything is in order, then the belt works as it should and does not require intervention. But if he flew off you for the first time, then you should not worry too much, because this is so far an isolated case and may be caused by an imbalance caused during washing or spinning a large amount of laundry. You just need to put the belt back on and continue using the washing machine.

In order to put on the belt, you will need to remove the back wall of the washer.Below you can read how to change the belt in the washing machine, you will need to do the same work, only with the old belt.

If the belt keeps falling off and this is systematic, then it is already necessary to understand the reasons, which may be as follows:

• Worn belt - the first and most obvious reason for the constant rally of the belt is its wear. Most likely, the belt has stretched and simply slides off the pulley during operation. If the belt is stretched, then it can also slip during operation, making a characteristic "whistling". It may happen that the belt is completely torn or damaged. In any case, you need to remove the back wall of the machine and inspect the belt itself.
• Pulley fastening broken - a situation occurs when the pulley could unwind, because of which the belt flies off it. Check its fastening and tighten if necessary.
• Loose engine - the engine mount is loose and because of this, the belt is not tight enough and flies off. Check if the motor is well fixed.
• Deformed pulley or shaft - perhaps the problem arises due to the fact that the pulley is bent and has an irregular shape, the same can happen with the shaft itself. This can happen if the belt flew off the first time and bent the pulley. If the washing machine is new, then a factory defect is possible, in which case it is better to immediately give the machine under warranty. If the pulley or shaft is deformed or damaged, then they need to be replaced.
• Broken or loose cross - the shaft is attached to the tank with the help of a cross, which could burst or weaken, due to which the imbalance was disturbed. In this case, it must be replaced or the fastening bolts must be tightened.
• Pulley or belt installed incorrectly - if you have recently repaired these parts, then most likely you made a mistake in the assembly and installed them incorrectly. You should call a washing machine repairman who will solve this problem.
• Wrong belt or pulley installed - if you recently changed a pulley or belt, then you may not have bought them from your washing machine, and they did not fit.
• Bearing wear - if the bearings in your washing machine are worn out, then the rotation of the drum is skewed and the belt can fly off.This error is also accompanied rattling of the washing machine during the spin cycle.

How to change the belt on a washing machine

If you need to change the belt on the washing machine due to wear or breakage, then follow the instructions that will help you do this without any problems.

• First of all, turn the washing machine so that you have easy access to its back wall.
• Next, unscrew the bolts that secure the back cover and remove it, moving it to the side.
• Behind it you will see a belt that should be worn on the pulley and the engine. If it has fallen off, torn or worn, then remove it and put it away. In order to remove the belt, you need to pull it towards you and at the same time rotate the pulley.
• Get a new belt and put it on the motor shaft first.
• Next, pull the belt over the pulley while rotating the latter. (same as putting on a chain on a bike).
• Check that the belt sits evenly in the grooves, correct its edges.
• Now screw the back cover back on and run the washer for test wash.

As you can see, this repair is very simple, and anyone can perform it, even without special knowledge and training. Below you can watch a video that clearly demonstrates the process of replacing the belt in a washing machine. Also, on our website we have posted for you reviews with error codes for washing machines, their decoding and troubleshooting methods, for example, "Indesit washing machine errors".