Hi Toggleswitch
On this machine the failure was because there is a two piece backing plate - a diecast frame which is a bearing carrier frames the back of the outer drum, and a stainless steel panel which covers inside the frame. The centre of the panel is a hole the shaft passes through. There is a round rubber seal between the frame and the panel. This is pretty normal construction but instead of bolts or rivets holding them together (normal) this machine has moulded in lugs which are part of the frame but poke through the plate and after assembly are pressed to form "rivets" which hold the plate in place. Trouble is, it is a diecast piece which means it is prone to corrosion from detergent residue. The lugs have corroded and the two pieces partly separated, allowing water to leak out around the bearing carrier, wet the rear bearing and it gave up. I repaired it by drilling out the lugs and using stainless steel bolts to reassemble. So the outer bearing went first, the inner seal and bearing were OK which is reverse to usual in other machines.
The spare parts machine has already had the stainless steel bolts fitted to the backing plate assembly, but now its spider is cactus so it's not worth fixing.
The bearings were originally unsealed ones made in Poland, I replaced them with sealed Japanese bearings so they should last.
I suspect the corrosion is due to using cold water washing so the detergent hasn't dissolved properly. There is a huge residue in the bottom of the drum. Aussies generally wash in cold water but the main brands of Front Loader detergent here aren't really suitable for cold water.
Spiraclean - Is this the same as a Servis? if so it is an Antonio Merloni, not the same as Indesit. There are two Merloni washing machine companies, one changed its name to Indesit and owns Hotpoint, the other, Antonio Merloni, owns Servis and Asko.
Thanks to both.
chris.
