Neptune washer vibrating violently on the spin cycle

[norgechef]

I just posted a few days about an issue with the door lock that I have resolved thanks to a member here, but now it seems I have another issue which is again my fault.

I washed a queen sized comforter today and the spin cycle became very loud and vibrated everything on top of the washer, and before this I did 2 loads of whites which were fine and didn't get unbalanced at all.

Now when the washer ramps up to the full 800 rpm spin it shakes everything on top until they vibrate off and it literally sounds like a machine gun or a helicopter, but it's not related to the bearings, the noise is not like a get engine or train which is the usual sound when bearings go bad, it seems there is something wrong with the suspension now.

I thought it sounded bad enough on the 800 rpm spin but when I select the ''faster spin'' option it sounds like its literally going to shake itself apart. When it does a spin with no clothes it spins normally though...What could be the issue?

 

[henene4]

Loose components...

Not an expert on Neptunes, but if something like this happens most likely something got loose.
Is it just the comforter that causes this behavior or every load since then?

 

[norgechef]

Every load since

Seems to get louder...I'll have to take the back panel off in a few days and have a look.

 

[imperial70]

You did check to make sure the machine is level and each of the feet are firmly planted on the floor? That is the machine isn't rocking on one of the legs when it hits the 800 RPM spin speed. I believe there is a recent (within the last few months) thread on this topic.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Sounds like a suspension issue to me

Once you know the machine is level. I would look to see if one of the shocks is leaking or froze up. I have seen this in a friend's Laundromat where a machine had a suspension failure @1000 RPM and it knocked the front panel loose and bent the side cabinet. A good indicator of this would be if the drum is tilted or not level in the door boot as was the case in this SQ.
WK78

 

[yogitunes]

check the suspension parts as well as the balance ring.....

just to be correct...according to my brochures and literature from inside the machine....these spin at 1000 rpm....not 800....

max extract option just increases the time, and also increases to the higher speed if using permpress, or gentle/handwash cycles...

 

[norgechef]

How do I check the suspension?

All I see is suspension rods or struts, these appear to slide up and down very easily just by moving the basket up and down, other than that everything looks to be normal. The liquid filled balance ring still has its liquid as well, it just shakes like crazy. I might even be able to stand the shaking if it wasn't for the noise it makes, and yes it is level.

Even before it started doing this though, it made a bit of a muffled thumping sound when getting up to full speed on the spin cycle, but this would go away when it reached about 400-500 rpm (just a random guess), it still does this now but unless the load is unbalanced it will go away within a minute or two, the noise is a little strange nonetheless. It's a noise that I don't think I would have been too impressed with if I had just bought the machine brand new and it did this, so I don't know if this noise is normal or not.

 

[yogitunes]

you might want to try a load with the front off, keep the door on and closed as normal, you don't need the screws in place, it will run fine for a test like this....and also keep the top up, and maybe the back panel off...and try to observe if anything is out of place or loose, like wiring....you will be surprised at how much bouncing goes on inside....but your looking for something excessive....

depends too on what you may be washing at that moment.....things like sheets can ball up, or items get trapped into the pockets and throw the balance off....sometimes the machine will back off to compensate...

keep us posted....we'll get you back on track....

those struts pull out of those suspension post.....its possible, the springs inside could be worn or broken......just keep an eye for loose play or favoring to one side rather than staying even....

 

[frigilux]

Same thing was happening with my Frigidaire, but I took out the bowling ball and now it works just fine!

I'm so glad there are plenty of other people at AW who can actually be helpful in these situations. Good luck and may your Neptune soon be spinning smoothly!