The drum is jammed in a top-loading washing machine

It can be annoying and confusing when the drum of your top-loading washing machine jams, leaving you to wonder what went wrong. The first step in resolving any issue, whether it be a complete stop or a drum that isn’t spinning properly, is identifying the cause.

A jammed drum can be caused by a number of things, ranging from something as basic as an overloaded machine to more significant problems like a broken belt or motor trouble. By knowing what to look for, you can avoid time-consuming and possibly expensive repairs.

This post will explain the most frequent causes of jammed drums in top-loading washing machines and provide workable fixes to free up the drum.

Possible Causes What to Do
Foreign object stuck in the drum Check for small items like coins or buttons and remove them.
Malfunctioning drum bearings If the drum doesn"t rotate smoothly, contact a technician.
Broken drive belt If the drum isn"t moving, the belt might need replacement.
Locked door mechanism Ensure the door is properly closed and try restarting the machine.

Cause and consequences of breakdown

The opening of the flaps during washing is the most frequent cause of jams in top-loading washing machines’ drums. The washing machine with a vertical load actually has two metal sash on its drum, which need to be closed with a unique latch before washing. Although this latch is quite dependable, it can still loosen and wear out over time. If this happens, the flap may open during washing or spinning, causing the drum to become jammed.

Due to user error, the flaps may open even in an operational automatic washing machine with a vertical load. For instance, if a kid manages to reach your house helper and manually opens the flaps on the drum. It is true that the washing machine’s manufacturer included a special stopper in the design for just such an occasion, but it is also true that our kids are exceptionally gifted and have grown up conquering many challenges. It will be impossible to open the flaps and turn the drum back if you open them and then turn the drum so that the flaps are outside the barrier.

Children are not the only ones who can lead to this kind of unpleasant breakdown. The sash fixer will not close and these wings will open during washing if an adult has a full drum of linen and a flap of it fell between the parts of the latch, causing an issue for you.

Make sure the drum wings latch is in good working order when purchasing a new washing machine with vertical loading, as there might also be a factory marriage.

What effects results from the washing machine’s drum’s western wings being loaded vertically? Although this issue doesn’t appear serious at first, things could go very wrong for your washing machine. The truth is that everything that tosses will be sliced to pieces like knives if the drum wings open during the spin at a speed of 1000–1200 revolutions per minute. What malfunctions result from this?

  • The walls of the tank are damaged and the water begins to flow out of the car;
  • damage (bending) the drum sash are damaged;
  • The heating element bends and breaks.

It frequently occurs that the three breakdowns mentioned above occur right away when the washing machine’s roller of the drum with vertical loading opens during pressing. In this situation, repairs will be very costly, and you might even need to consider buying a new washing machine. The following are the repercussions of an apparently insignificant opening of the drum flaps during washing; exercise extreme caution and prevent this from occurring in the future; however, in the event that trouble has already occurred, we will seek a solution.

We repair without disassembling

The drum flap can tear the tank walls and shatter the heating element if it opens while washing quickly or, more specifically, when spinning. This happens when the edges of the flap break through the protective covering and start to revolve in a circle. This will continue until the user de-energizes the washing machine themselves after hearing a loud knock and grinding, or until the electronics on some washing machine models forcibly stop the washing process.

You must then attempt to move the drum back to its starting position.

The issue is that the lid will start to open inside the tank and cling to the walls if you attempt to manually spin the drum.

It’s possible that the tank has survived, so there’s no need to tug too hard. If you start spinning the drum violently, though, you will undoubtedly break it. The best course of action is to disassemble the washing machine, reach inside the drum flaps, close them, and then put the part back together.

Disassembly is a time-consuming and labor-intensive solution, but it is guaranteed. First, without disassembling the washing machine, let’s attempt to close it if the flaps are stuck together with the drum. Though there are few opportunities, it is still worthwhile to attempt given how difficult the disassembly is. We carry out the following:

  1. We find a thin steel wire. The requirements for it are simple, so that it is strong, elastic and fits well into the hole of the drum.
  2. Using pliers, bend the end of the wire (half a centimeter) into a hook.
  3. Carefully push the end of the wire with the hook into the hole.
  4. Next, we begin to operate with one hand holding the wire and the flashlight with the other. The task is to try to hook and close the flaps to open the possibility of rotating the drum.

The holes in the drum of certain vertical loading washing machine models are so tiny that it is challenging to pass anything through them. You can slightly enlarge one of the many holes and go through it to carry out the aforementioned operations if the washing machine is not covered by warranty.

A similar trick works about half the time with the right amount of patience and manual dexterity. You will need to disassemble the washing machine if the door does not cling to the wire or if you can hook it but are unable to hold it—the door still opens when the drum rotates.

Your top-loading washing machine’s drum may be jammed for a number of reasons, such as a foreign object lodged between the drum and the tub, a damaged drive belt, or bearing problems. It’s important to deal with the jam as soon as possible to prevent more damage, and knowing the potential causes will help you determine whether you can solve it yourself or if you need professional assistance.

It can be annoying if the drum of your top-loading washing machine becomes stuck, but you might be able to solve the issue on your own with a little troubleshooting. As this is a common cause of jamming, start by looking for any objects that might be caught between the drum and the tub.

If nothing appears to be stuck, there may be a problem with the drive belt, motor, or bearings of the machine. Over time, these components might deteriorate and need to be replaced. In this situation, it might be best to contact an expert, particularly if you’re not confident disassembling the machine.

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Ivan Petrov

Engineer by education. I enjoy understanding technical specifications, comparing different models and testing new products. My experience allows me to share useful information with you to help you choose the perfect washing machine for your home.

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