Whirlpool duet possible balance issues?

[washerdude]

Our Whirlpool Duet WFW72HEDW0 which we had for 2 weeks now. We noticed that when it goes into the spin cycle, the tub starts moving around everywhere like its off balance and makes a thumping sound though it does not hit the sides of the cabinet. Also our laundry room is upstaires and when your downstaires you can hear the thumping. It lasts for 2 seconds or less and then the tub magically centers again. I also noticed this during the first test cycle when there were no clothes when we installed it. Is this normal? I posted a link to a video though thats a samsung washer, ours dosen't shake or make that much noise. Typically this happens during when it first begins and when it is very slowly ramping up to speed.

 

[henene4]

Balancing ring

I guess, during these 2 seconds, the balancing rings around the tub distribute their contents so the tub is than balanced again. The noise is probably caused by the liquid and/or the steel balls in these ringd.

 

[logixx]

Some shaking seems normal with this design. The same "wobble -> steady"  thing happens here at about 3:30 min.

 

 

[pulsator]

Nothing to worry about, it's just the steel balancing balls distributing themselves. Once they've distributed, the machine stabilizes.

 

[mark_wpduet]

YES!!! Mine has always done that

And it's still going strong almost 10 yrs! KNOCK ON WOOD!

 

[logixx]

Your ten-year old Duet also wobbles when empty? Must be the softer suspension that is used on the US units. Mine doen't move at all when empty.

 

 

[richnz]

They look like suspa RD18 FL dampers

I tried some on a Miele machine once. No good.
They are designed to allow some movement (at low speeds) but for faseter movements apply proper damping.

Friction dampers from SUSPA

Friction dampers from SUSPA for damping impacts and vibrations.

www.suspa.com

 

[tolivac]

Good videos on how the WP Duet machines work.That is one BIG direct Drive drum motor-makes me think of the Technics DD TT motors.Like how the cat was pushed away from the back of the machine while in full speed spin-guess cat wanted to see what was intregueing his master and making the weird noise.Later while the machine was stopped kitty got a look.