Why does the washing machine vibrate strongly during the spin cycle and how to deal with it?

When the washing machine is installed correctly, vibration during spinning is minimal. But sometimes washing equipment demonstrates “acrobatic” tricks that are completely unusual for it, which are accompanied by increased noise, and sometimes knocking and clanging. There may be several reasons for this. All of them indicate improper operation of the equipment and, if not eliminated, can lead to complete breakdown of the machine.

Causes

There are several manifestations of problems with the washing machine during the spin cycle. The most common option is shaking of the case, increased noise and strong vibration of the rear and side walls. Another one is bouncing during work, when one or more legs come off the floor. In this case, a gradual (over several washes) or sharp shift away from the installation site may occur.

The third type is when the drum rotates in the spin or wash mode, the sounds of metal rubbing against metal or clanging appear. In this case, the vibration may not be too great, however, such a “symptom” indicates that the washing machine urgently needs repair.

The reasons why all these problems arise may be as follows.

Wear or poor quality of the springs supporting the drum. In the first case, strong vibration appears over time, and its intensity can increase gradually, or it can increase sharply.In the second, problems begin to appear a few months after purchasing the equipment (found in cheap Chinese-assembled models).
Uneven distribution of laundry in the tub. If after uniform loading the vibration decreases or the machine does not shake at all, this is the reason.
Wear of shock absorbers. This can happen after several years of use. The specific period depends on the intensity of use of the equipment and the number of revolutions of the drum. When spinning, you will hear a creaking and knocking sound.
Incorrect installation. In this case, the car will jump or knock at the first serious load.
The counterweight is loose or cracked. Happens only with long-term use. Such a breakdown is indicated by increased noise - the machine rattles.
The bearings have collapsed (corroded). The first “symptoms” are a metallic grinding sound, then a strong vibration appears.

Washing machine transport bolts

Incorrect installation

Several options fall under this category:

transportation fasteners have not been removed;
the machine is standing on an uneven surface and has not been adjusted;
weak foundation on which the equipment is installed, for example a wooden floor;
the floor surface is slippery.

All these causes of machine malfunction can be eliminated yourself. You can remove the shipping bolts using a regular wrench (size 10 to 14) or pliers. They are on the back panel.

Advice

Removed shipping bolts should not be thrown away. They need to be placed in a bag with documentation. If there is a need for transportation - when moving or delivering to a service center - then the drum must be secured with these bolts.

An unprepared base for the machine causes imbalance of the mechanism, increased vibration and “jumping”. The ideal is a flat hard floor or a podium with a rubber mat under the car. If this condition is not met, the situation will have to be corrected.

You can approach the issue “thoroughly” and level the floor over the entire area of the bathroom or kitchen. But this task is labor-intensive and can be done using less expensive methods. First, you need to adjust the legs of the washing machine. This is done by twisting/screwing into the body. In this case, you need to focus on the building level placed on the body.

After adjustment, you can put rubber pads on the legs or put a rubber mat on them. This will improve the stability of the body. If the floor or podium is slippery, tiles, natural or artificial stone with a smooth surface are laid on it, this is a prerequisite. If the floor is weak, for example from old wooden boards, major work cannot be done without. Otherwise, washing may result in a flood and equipment breakdown.

Replacing parts

If the washing machine is level, but still shakes during the spin cycle, then this can only be eliminated by replacing parts. The best option is to call a technician from the service center. He has experience in both identifying breakdowns and repairing machines of various configurations.

But if you have experience working with equipment, you can do the replacement yourself. In this case, the following nuances must be taken into account.

If the problem is with one shock absorber, then you still need to change the pair.
When purchasing spare parts, find out whether they fit your model exactly.
A cracked counterweight must be replaced rather than trying to glue it together.

Replacing shock absorbers

To replace worn shock absorbers, you need to perform the following steps.

Remove the back or front wall (depending on the model).
Unscrew the lower shock absorber fastener.
Check the damper: compress and release it by hand. If the ride is easy, the shock absorbers need to be changed.
Disconnect the shock absorber from the tank by removing the mounting pin or unscrewing the bolt.
Look at the markings of the removed part and buy a similar one.
Perform all steps in reverse order.
Test the operation of the washing machine.

Advice

If a pin is used as a fastening element, it can be removed by pushing and simultaneously pressing the latch.

Why do so many problems appear during spinning?

During the spin cycle, the washing machine operates in the most intense mode. High drum speeds are a kind of stressful situation for equipment. This is the answer to the question why the slightest malfunction in the mechanism appears at this stage.

Sometimes housewives believe that if the machine vibrates during the spin cycle, then it is enough not to turn on this mode. But twisting wet clothes with your hands will not save the situation, and after a while the damage will still have to be repaired. Moreover, a worn part that is not replaced on time can cause even more serious damage. When you hear noises - grinding, creaking, knocking, or increased vibration - you need to immediately start fixing the problem.

How to increase the service life of the machine?

To ensure that problems with vibration of the washing machine do not arise at all, or at least appear as late as possible, you need to fulfill several simple conditions when washing:

Place things flat, not in a pile or in one lump.If placed correctly, the machine will distribute the laundry evenly throughout the drum, and this will avoid vibration.
Adhere to bookmark standards. Moreover, it is bad to wash both too large and too small a volume. If you have a small amount of items, be sure to press the half load button (½ icon).
Do not set the spin speed too high. For most items, drying at 800 rpm is sufficient.

Following these recommendations will extend the life of the electrical assistant - the washing machine - without sudden breakdowns.

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