Miele W1903 drum will not budge

[askemmy]

Update

Received my refund today for the non-working Miele washer, the seller feels very badly. Also have called a local appliance repair guy. He said he would get back to me if he was interested in working on my washer, he does not like working on Miele. bertrum, I tried to figure out where to put the screwdriver between the pulley wheel and cross piece, but I was afraid I would damage something if I did it incorrectly. I will report back if anything changes. Thanks again!

 

[launderess]

Miele

Unlike many American appliance makers Miele keeps much of it's service information proprietary up to an including parts. One can order parts from Miele and do the work yourself, but the only "factory trained" Miele techs are those they train and or have worked for them previously.

This turns off many local servicemen as they have to go though Miele to get parts and or perhaps other information required for the repair. Mind you in Europe you can often walk into any decent parts supply store and often get what is needed, but for North America that isn't possible.

Even Miele techs often have limits. Many new/younger ones haven't worked on or seen older machines and not really want to be bothered. I've had a few strongly hint that I should get shot of my older W1070 and buy a newer Miele washer.

 

[askemmy]

You are exactly correct!That's pretty much what the appliance repairman said to me. I did tell him he had til next December to work on it and get it going, since this is a ski cabin and we are leaving for the season sometime in the next 2 weeks.

 

[laundromat]

When I got my Miele at a local used appliance store in their dump pile, I emailed Miele and asked them to help me diagnose my problem. Their imediate email response to me was to give them 24 hrs to get back with me. Then, 72 hours later with no response, I called their toll free numer and spoke with AL.He appologised to me because their computor system went and took a dump. Due to that, they were willing to repair it for FREE!!!! Mine was filling,pausing an then taking a dump pumping out the water and reading F51 which is an electronic control fault.The mother board ( a $750 part!!!) My tub (honey comb) turned freely either left or right. What I would do first is to remove the back plate and the belt. Then go and try and see if the tub turns w/out the belt on.If not, the berrings need replcement. If it turns freely,the motor is frozen up.I would attempt to force it to turn beings it could have some dirt or dust causing the freeze.Mine is the BIG "Touch-Tronic" and heats the wash water to 110F and has a 1700 rpm final spin.It aslo came with the drawer.Good luck!

 

[askemmy]

Thanks, I already have the belt off. Still will not budge. However, as I wait for the local repairman to get back to me I have thought about trying to lubricate the nut in the back hoping it might help free up the drum. Do you think WD40 would help? After letting it soak, I can try to get it to move. As I look and think about this washer, I was thinking of cutting open the back of the cabinet to get at the bearings but am afraid it might weaken the structure and strength of the cabinet especially during the spin cycle. Anyone have any thoughts about this back ended approach. I know I am not strong enough to pull the drum out the correct way.I will wait to hear from the repairman before I do anything foolish to my machine. Boy you got very lucky with Miele doing your repair for free. Was your machine still under warranty? Mine is not.