The bearings in our washing machine failed a while back: sounding like a jet taking off in the spin cycle. It seemed like a simple fix, so I got a bearing and seal kit and got to work. But because I went with a cheaper kit instead of OEM, it didn't include a tool needed to properly seat the front seal, and found out the hard way that wasn't the greatest move. To top it off, the cheap kit came with (surprise!) cheap bearings. Anyway, I got it all together as well as I could, ran a test cycle, and filled the basement with white smoke. Not good. Also, because things weren't seated properly, I could either cinch everything down tight (which kept it from spinning properly) or loosen the bolt on the drive pulley which let it spin but made the belt fall off. I must have sounded a bit like the Dad in Christmas Story when he was fighting with his furnace...
Figured out that the front seal hadn't seated properly, so the tub was smooshed in tight to it, leading to the smoke and the rapid death of seal #1. This in turn led to moisture getting to the bearings which as I said before seemed kind of crap to begin with.
So, ordered a proper OEM seal kit and some bearings from a good bearing supply place. Got them installed yesterday and I *think* it's working properly now.
I think I must have had that damn machine apart a half dozen times in the past couple of weeks. And at least I now have the balls and races from four bearings instead of two to turn into a knife one of these days. But I have to say I think appliance repair is edging pretty close to plumbing on my list of things I really don't enjoy doing. Super satisfying to keep a machine working, but man oh man do I ever hate the process. Being 6'1" and working in in unfinished basement with beams at about 5'10" probably doesn't help much. :banghead:
Good job getting your dryer up and running again. :tu My washer's bearings were really rough, but yours looks like it blowed up real good!
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