puffernutter
Puffernutter
- Messages
- 1,838
- Location
- Wiltshire
It had been rattling for a while and whilst I was away this week it got so bad that my wife refused to use it. So this afternoon's job was to have a look and see what spares were needed.
I took the top off, then the back and finally worked out it was the front I needed! The drum had a single bearing at the back and then sat in a recess in the front and was supported by an idler wheel. It was this idler wheel that was making the noise.
I removed the wheel and pushed out the shaft it sat on. It was clear that the bearing inner/outer race had seized, so the whole lot was turning. That in turn (sorry for the pun) wore the shaft to the extent it was making a horrible noise!
The pictures below show the old shaft and the replacement I machined this afternoon.
Quite some difference!
Interestingly as a believer of measure it twice, cut once; I got close to the bearing diameter, tried it, found it to be just off, then took a very fine cut, tried it again and it was very loose! Cursing myself, I started again and the results were the same. I then measured the bearing inner diameter - the wear had resulted in that being worn as well with quite a ridge and unconsciously I was turning the bearing over between fits, that's what gave me the strange results! Another lesson learnt - check what you're fitting it to!
So I then needed a new idler as well. Looking at it, the bearing was moulded into the centre, so back in the lathe with it and turn away the outer ridge of plastic, off to the press and push out the bearing. In my "bitsa" box I had a bearing correct for the shaft and thickness, but a larger overall diameter. So a few second with a boring bar and we had a nice fit with that bearing and a bit of superglue later, all sorted.
Not difficult or rocket science, but a feeling of satisfaction!
Here's a picture of a CKD Tumble Dryer (see who's old enough to remember!)
A final word of warning. Before I re-assembled I cleaned it through - you can see the mess tumbling Clumber Spaniel bedding leaves, but to re-assemble the drum, I laid the machine its back. When it was all together, plugged in and turned on I was very surprised by the smell and smoke I was getting!! When on it's back some fur has fallen onto the heating element! A quick removal of that panel and a good clean through with strong air jet meant it was clean! It took about a further 60 minutes of tumbling empty before that smell fully dissipated!
Cheers
Peter
I took the top off, then the back and finally worked out it was the front I needed! The drum had a single bearing at the back and then sat in a recess in the front and was supported by an idler wheel. It was this idler wheel that was making the noise.
I removed the wheel and pushed out the shaft it sat on. It was clear that the bearing inner/outer race had seized, so the whole lot was turning. That in turn (sorry for the pun) wore the shaft to the extent it was making a horrible noise!
The pictures below show the old shaft and the replacement I machined this afternoon.
Quite some difference!
Interestingly as a believer of measure it twice, cut once; I got close to the bearing diameter, tried it, found it to be just off, then took a very fine cut, tried it again and it was very loose! Cursing myself, I started again and the results were the same. I then measured the bearing inner diameter - the wear had resulted in that being worn as well with quite a ridge and unconsciously I was turning the bearing over between fits, that's what gave me the strange results! Another lesson learnt - check what you're fitting it to!
So I then needed a new idler as well. Looking at it, the bearing was moulded into the centre, so back in the lathe with it and turn away the outer ridge of plastic, off to the press and push out the bearing. In my "bitsa" box I had a bearing correct for the shaft and thickness, but a larger overall diameter. So a few second with a boring bar and we had a nice fit with that bearing and a bit of superglue later, all sorted.
Not difficult or rocket science, but a feeling of satisfaction!
Here's a picture of a CKD Tumble Dryer (see who's old enough to remember!)
A final word of warning. Before I re-assembled I cleaned it through - you can see the mess tumbling Clumber Spaniel bedding leaves, but to re-assemble the drum, I laid the machine its back. When it was all together, plugged in and turned on I was very surprised by the smell and smoke I was getting!! When on it's back some fur has fallen onto the heating element! A quick removal of that panel and a good clean through with strong air jet meant it was clean! It took about a further 60 minutes of tumbling empty before that smell fully dissipated!
Cheers
Peter
