The Home Appliance thread

[diyguy]

Our 5 year old Samsung front load washing machine has started walking during the spin cycle. This has not happened before. I haven't checked the alignment and notice that the walking may have worn out the bottom shoes but it started because of my wife using an extra spin cycle due to the rains. She was trying to get some extra dampness out of the clothes due to the inability to dry the clothes outside.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by diyguy

. I haven't checked the alignment and notice that the walking may have worn out the bottom shoes but it started because of my wife using an extra spin cycle due to the rains.

Do not confuse correlation with causation!

I'm betting that the locknuts on the feet may have come loose, or that the feet may have worn. It just happens to have happened now, or maybe using a faster spin speed might have helped either of those along.

Check the condition of the feet. Get the spirit level and make sure the machine is level. do the locknuts up tight, and check the level again. Try machine

By the way, when it comes to checking behind/under things, a pocket or handbag mirror is very useful. I have kept one handy ever since my job included PC connections under desks. It's good for hifi too.

[diyguy]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Do not confuse correlation with causation!
I'm betting that the locknuts on the feet may have come loose, or that the feet may have worn.

thanks, I used the spirit level, tilted the machine and adjusted one of the lock nuts on the front. It seems steady and have just asked the missus to load it up. Hopefully it should be okay!

[diyguy]

Originally Posted by diyguy

Hopefully it should be okay!

Spoke too soon, the machine has shifted and I suppose will need to look at all the 4 lock nuts little better.
However the violent vibrations have stopped as the machine seems to have found a stable position for itself on the floor. It just ran a spin and it was not rocking from side to side like it was doing yesterday.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by diyguy

Spoke too soon, the machine has shifted and I suppose will need to look at all the 4 lock nuts little better.
However the violent vibrations have stopped as the machine seems to have found a stable position for itself on the floor. It just ran a spin and it was not rocking from side to side like it was doing yesterday.

At times an imbalanced load inside the machine may cause violent vibrations. Used to happen once in a while in our IFB. In LG WM, they have load balancing cycle before each spin which ensures practically zero vibrations during spin.

[Chetan_Rao]

It may be different mechanism for a front-load (the drum is balanced differently with weights and stuff), but my Samsung top-load developed the same problem a couple year ago, and the issue was narrowed down to the rubber end-bushes used with the suspension springs the drum hangs by. One of the four corner ones had stuck out of position hindering the suspension spring's (vertical) movement, causing it to bump violently against the outer body during rinse/spin cycles.

The technician said these bushes have been removed from newer models altogether as this is a recurring issue, and I've never had the problem since. I also use a move-able stand for my machine as my rented house's floor isn't the flattest surface in the world, and we don't have a permanent spot for the machine either.

[Sebring]

That's not true. Our two year old LG Direct Drive moves around in spin.

Originally Posted by Aroy

At times an imbalanced load inside the machine may cause violent vibrations. Used to happen once in a while in our IFB. In LG WM, they have load balancing cycle before each spin which ensures practically zero vibrations during spin.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by Sebring

That's not true. Our two year old LG Direct Drive moves around in spin.

In principle it is true! those machines at least attempt to balance the load. They may or may not succeed.

My test is to rinse and spin a large cotton bath towel. That is about impossible to balance --- but the machine should cope with it.

Are you another sufferer with a dancing LG machine? I thought I was the only one here that doesn't think that LG washing machines are wonderful. Mine is horrible.

[Jaguar]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Are you another sufferer with a dancing LG machine? I thought I was the only one here that doesn't think that LG washing machines are wonderful. Mine is horrible.

Mine dances around too. But other than the dancing part, I am happy with LG. I still get nightmares thinking about the IFB I had before.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

In principle it is true! those machines at least attempt to balance the load. They may or may not succeed.

My test is to rinse and spin a large cotton bath towel. That is about impossible to balance --- but the machine should cope with it.

Are you another sufferer with a dancing LG machine? I thought I was the only one here that doesn't think that LG washing machines are wonderful. Mine is horrible.

I do not think that deliberate load imbalance (created by one or two large pieces) is catered to, or is even possible to balance. What is possible and happens in my LG at least, is that load consisting of 10+ pieces is distributed evenly.

Another load that is practically impossible to balance is sneakers. We did wash them once in a while in our IFB, but had to pad the load with small towels and other kitchen rags. Even then the machine had a tendency to vibrate at higher RPM.

[diyguy]

With the rains in full swing in Chennai am looking for a clothes line that I can install in my service area to lower and lift so the clothes can be out of the way. We do have an indoor drying rack but the wet clothes are piling up.
I found something like http://www.theclotheslinestore.com.a...ceiling-airer/ but seems pricey. Is there anything in our market? Will continue my search but thought will ask.

[mvadg]

Originally Posted by diyguy

With the rains in full swing in Chennai am looking for a clothes line that I can install in my service area to lower and lift so the clothes can be out of the way. We do have an indoor drying rack but the wet clothes are piling up.
I found something like http://www.theclotheslinestore.com.a...ceiling-airer/ but seems pricey. Is there anything in our market? Will continue my search but thought will ask.

We've used 'PullnDry' - bulky contraption. You can google it. There are similar companies in every city (cost is approx 2000/- depends on the rod length etc).

Don't go for the cradle type (heavy, old type). Go for individual rods that are lowered and lifted individually (smoother, lighter).

[mvadg]

Question: How do I degrease a toaster, that clearly says - Do not open me up! ?? [Disposable toaster, is what they created]

It is an old Morphy Richards quartz tube toaster. The entire toaster section doesn't have a single screw! Metal sheets have been fitted together by sort of 'weaving' them together. I opened it up and cleaned it best I could and while fitting the pieces back (I did not open it up entirely), I had to twist some metal to lock them in place and one such fastener (if you can call it that), broke; so I'm not going to open it up ever again!

I want to dip the entire toaster in some solvent to remove the grease without damaging the plastic parts (metal is galvanized steel and either stainless steel or chrome plated steel) and the circuit board, springs, soldering and the like.

Any ideas on what could be the solvent here (dissolve grease, nontoxic, non-destructive to the parts)?

[Thad E Ginathom]

How did you get your toaster greasy?

You're supposed to butter the bread after toasting it, not before!

[mvadg]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

How did you get your toaster greasy?

You're supposed to butter the bread after toasting it, not before!

That may be so, but I love golden buttered toast - no other way to do it but put butter on the bread before toasting. I could use the grill on my MW but that expends too much energy (mine, turning it over and the MW which is so large).