FriGEMore tub bearing woes

[partscounterman]

A fella brought me a FriGEMore set that he got for free from a "friend". I soon discovered that the "friend" gave the set away as the washer has a bad rear bearing. I gave the guy a quote on replacing the rear bearing. He went with it as its still a pretty good deal.

So I set to work replacing the bearing. I found the instructions at Applianceaid.com to be very helpful until I get to the end. If you read those instructions, they don't even mention the hell on earth you have pulling the drum shaft out of the bearing. I've been yanking and pounding on that thing and it won't budge. What type of low grade nuclear weapon do I need to get that freakin' shaft free? I suppose I could take it to a machine shop, but thats kinda cheating. Any ideas?

 

[golittlesport]

check out this thread on THS...maybe it will help.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/laundry/msg1213593214110.html

 

[appnut]

Richie, I think you're the only Fridgemore owner with good look (as richie's little Bobby Bear runs and ducks for cover).

 

[golittlesport]

Hi Bob..."with good look"???? Are you saying I am a handsome Frigemore owner? Gosh...thanks.

 

[partscounterman]

I cheated!

After trying to pound the tub shaft out of the rear bearing assembly, I realized I had f%#@ed the thing up worse. I took it over to a machine shop here in Kahului. The guy there said he could not help me, but that there was a washing machine guy in the building next to Napa auto parts. I told him that I'm that "washing machine guy" and I needed help.
Next stop was Seki's Machine Works in Wailuku. They were magicians and got the tub free and fixed the damage my pounding had caused. It seem that this bad bearing was let go too long, resulting in much corrosion.
The moral of the story is-If you even suspect your tub bearing is going bad, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT RIGHT AWAY! Waiting til it gets worse will only add to the headaches later. Other than these problems, the rest of the dissassembly was pretty darn easy! I would overall say that these are pretty cool machines!

 

[kenmore1978]

bearing

What all this says to me is that they need to re-design the seal and bearings.