Washing machine bearing seal. Odd size. *Warning boring thread!*

[Martin Hocking]

So I’ve been dismembering our washing machine today as it’s started to sound like an aircraft taking off. It’s not that old (and I’m too mean to even consider a new one until it’s dead!) so I thought it would be worth a look.

All pretty mundane stuff, the drum bearings are standard fare 6207 and 6206 rubber sealed jobbies. But the shaft seal is a bit of an odd one. It’s designation is SP45 80 11.5/13 which seems pretty specific to the washing machine.





I’m sure I should just order the seal from espares or whatever and get on with my life but they charge a premium for the privilege when I can’t see why a regular seal like 45 80 13 wouldn’t work.

The cynic in me reckons that it’s a way of making more money on spares, but I don’t think repairing white goods is that common at all these days anyway so surely not worth the effort of making the seals specially, so maybe I’m missing something,

The seal goes in this grubby hole here pushed to the lip for the bearing.


And seals on this largest bit of this.


And now I’ve written this I’ve officially spent more time thinking about this than it deserves!

 

[MetalMonkey]

3 quid from ali express. 7 quid from espares. 13 quid on amazon
I'm tight, but even that seems reasonable to me.

 

[RichardM]

Your favourite tool, just get the spares bought so it can get it back into service.
Smelly socks are waiting for you!

 

[Wedg1e]

Yep, I was told by a local bearing supplier 20-odd years ago that although you could easily get the bearings, the seals were specials made for the washer manufacturing industry and (at the time) very hard to source. Typically 0.5 or 1mm larger OD than the bearings.
Luckily times have changed and now you can get them from the likes of Ransom Spares or eSpares - with or without the bearings.

My Ariston was about 3 months out of warranty when the front bearing failed. On stripping it I found there was no grease in it. At all. Went to a local spares/repairs place who waffled and bulls***ted and said I'd need a whole new drum, be cheaper to buy a new washer etc.
The guy at the bearings place suggested that if I'd managed to get the seal out intact and the inner lips were still supple (oo-er missus) then I had nothing to lose by refitting it. So I did. I think it lasted another 17 years before the bearings failed again.

A couple of years back I had to buy a new fridge/freezer (some things I just can't fix ) - when the AO van turned up it was packed to the roof with used washing machines that they'd collected when delivering new ones... every single one was in better condition than mine and most likely had just stupid faults. The AO driver did actually say I could take my pick as they were off to be scrapped.
Too much waste these days.

 

[Martin Hocking]

Thanks for the input everyone.

I’ve ordered a new one from aliexpress and I’ll cross my fingers for it to turn up in good time.

I couldn’t find one on any of the spares sites that wasn’t 2 weeks plus delivery time so I figured there’s no sense in paying for the privilege.

There’s a white goods repair shop/ spares place in a town nearby so I’ll ring them tomorrow and see if they might have one on the shelf. I’d rather not be without a washing machine for too long as the kids seem get through an extraordinary amount of clothes!

I’ll get on and get the bearings ordered in the mean time.

Glad to hear of your success @Wedg1e I’d be tempted to reuse it but I have a feeling that the seal weeping was part of the reason why the bearing failed in the first place.

 

[Mark 5]

Thanks for the input everyone.

I’ve ordered a new one from aliexpress and I’ll cross my fingers for it to turn up in good time.

I couldn’t find one on any of the spares sites that wasn’t 2 weeks plus delivery time so I figured there’s no sense in paying for the privilege.

There’s a white goods repair shop/ spares place in a town nearby so I’ll ring them tomorrow and see if they might have one on the shelf. I’d rather not be without a washing machine for too long as the kids seem get through an extraordinary amount of clothes!

I’ll get on and get the bearings ordered in the mean time.

Glad to hear of your success @Wedg1e I’d be tempted to reuse it but I have a feeling that the seal weeping was part of the reason why the bearing failed in the first place.

Give it 12 days, sooner and you'll reasonably happy, it will turn up, that's my experience with Ali and your right, no point in paying extra for the same wait.

Don't they just.

 

[Brad93]

Can you show us a picture of what the inside looks like to see if it's a single lip or twin lip seal

 

[Martin Hocking]

Can you show us a picture of what the inside looks like to see if it's a single lip or twin lip seal

Yes of course Brad.



I’m not sure if either of these pictures show it very clearly.

There’s two distinct lips and a sort of flat section that makes contact too I think.

 

[Brad93]

Yes of course Brad.

View attachment 518502View attachment 518503

I’m not sure if either of these pictures show it very clearly.

There’s two distinct lips and a sort of flat section that makes contact too I think.

Yeah that doesn't look like a normal twin lip however I think a twin lip would suffice for the application.