Hoover WDM130 - Not filling, skips through program.

[Johnking]

Can anyone help me diagnose this?

0s: Programme selected: Cold water fill begins. No hot water drawn

30s: Water flow stops. Water level is not visible in the drum. Timer begins to make "ticka-ticka-ticka" noise. Small sounds come from within, possibly switches. Drum does not move.

3m: Prog dial moves round a bit. ticka-ticka stops.

Had a look at the circuit board, all joints and components look sound. Big suppressor capacitor looks OK.

Any advice gratefully received!

John

 

[Leccy758]

Does this happen on rinse/cold as well as hot wash programs.

 

[Johnking]

Interesting.

I put it on rinse and it filled, certainly more than before, and then proceded through the rinse and spin.

HOWEVER.

I is making some really scary noises. Whenever it starts the motor to spin or agitate, it makes a quick sharp, grinding screech, quite loud. And while spinning, a sort of crackling.

I'm guessing the fact that it proceeds on cold means the programme problem is to do with heating. But the noises suggest a mechanical problem. I remember hearing odd noises last week.

 

[Leccy758]

Check the motor brushes for wear, they could be arcing on the motor commutator.

 

[Johnking]

Will do... but would that also explain why the programme doesn't start and filling stops early?

 

[Leccy758]

With some models it does (always seems odd but it dont hurt to look in case)

 

[Johnking]

I took the motor off and inspected the brushes. They are worn down, of course (nearly 10y old) but both sides look OK, there is a good cm of carbon left and the springs are springy.

However when I ran a rinse cycle, there was lots of bright sparking on one side where the brush sits (couldn't see properly as it's inside the machine, but clearly coming from that region).

Given that they look OK, is it worth changing the brushes? What else would cause the sparking. I noted that the commutator is quite black where the brushes run against it.

Cheers

John

 

[Leccy758]

Its worth cleaning the commutator and the little gaps gently between each segment (I use a copper impregnated rubber for cleaning contacts on PCB's but make sure you clean any dust off).

The brushes can get stuck in the brush holders as well with carbon dust 10mm is about the time I recommend changing the brushes

 

[Johnking]

New brushes ordered. Is there anything a bit more "household" for cleaning the commutator??

 

[Leccy758]

Nylon scouring pads (clean and dry) gently held against the commutator while rotating the motor shaft .

Look for any grooves or damage to the edges of each segment, it should shine back up, clean the grooves afterwards carefully, I use a stanley knife blade with the end rounded off and blow out the dust.

 

[Johnking]

I forgot to reply to this at the time. Thanks to your advice I was able to completely repair the machine, it now spins much better too. Thank you.