Thread Number: 60633
/ Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Miele Washing Machine Knocking Sounds |
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Post# 832866   7/19/2015 at 19:40 (3,175 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Lately Big Bertha has been making rather odd knocking sounds during spinning. Rather like the ones heard in the video below. Indeed there are several on YouTube showing the same complaint even with machines much newer than mine.
New shocks were installed barely three years ago and did pop open the front for a peek. The shocks aren't damaged or appear broken. Took off the top and tried bouncing the tub and it is firm and solid with nil play. Also tried the "hands test" by grasping the inside of drum, again everything is firm without excessive play. When the tub is empty and spun all is quiet. Am also noticing when full the tub has more bounce than it should; hitting bottom of machine and resting rather low. Only thing one can think of is that the tub weights have become loose. Thought it was one of the four suspension springs but they all seem fine. Spider appears to be intact as well. Thoughts? |
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Post# 832869 , Reply# 1   7/19/2015 at 20:43 (3,175 days old) by Stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK)   |   | |
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Post# 832870 , Reply# 2   7/19/2015 at 21:00 (3,175 days old) by whirlykenmore78 (Prior Lake MN (GMT-0500 CDT.))   |   | |
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Post# 832904 , Reply# 4   7/20/2015 at 06:56 (3,174 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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The one in the viedo sounds like slightly bad bearings, and by 5-8 minutes sounds like loose counter balance weights, broken spider, or maybe just bad shocks [ not likely ].
While Miele makes some very nice well made appliances I have never seen much evidence that they are especially long lived and certainly not a good buy when you consider initial cost and repair cost.
Typical experience, Last Monday I was repairing a 2009 KA DW for a customer, the KA needed a new drain pump, total cost to the customer $167. She asked me how much longer the DW might last, I said I don't know but the DW looks great and I would hope for 5-10 more years out of it. Her replay was well it has already done better than the Miele that was installed when we did the kitchen in 2003, she went on to say that the Miele was repaired twice in 6 years and the last time they came out the estimate was nearly $900 at which point the KA went in. She also went on to say the KA works at least as well as the Miele and sure holds a lot more, but did say the Miele was probably a little quieter. |
Post# 832905 , Reply# 5   7/20/2015 at 06:57 (3,174 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Keep those suggestions coming. *LOL*
Should have been more clear; unit shown in above video is not mine, just has the same sort of sounds. Indeed there are several up on Youtube and some seem never to have resolved the matter. Was hoping avoid calling in the repairman, but feel the problems need sorting before they possibly reach a critical and or terminal stage. You don't want to mess about too much with a 26-something year old washing machine. *LOL* Do have the Oko-Lavamat so am not out of sorts while waiting for service to arrive. Failing that there is also the Hoover TT. |
Post# 832928 , Reply# 6   7/20/2015 at 10:02 (3,174 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)   |   | |
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Post# 832938 , Reply# 8   7/20/2015 at 11:06 (3,174 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)   |   | |
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Post# 832943 , Reply# 9   7/20/2015 at 11:32 (3,174 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)   |   | |
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Launderess: You mentioned you've had both the front panel and top panel off while poking, prodding, bouncing and turning. Have you considered having both of those panels off while running a load so you can look and listen to try and pin-point where the noise is coming from?
This will help narrow things down.
Kevin
P.S... I just looked at the photo again and it looks like you may not be able to have the front panel off and operate the machine at the same time. Oops. |
Post# 832986 , Reply# 10   7/20/2015 at 18:22 (3,174 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Post# 832993 , Reply# 11   7/20/2015 at 19:05 (3,174 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Post# 833143 , Reply# 12   7/21/2015 at 14:46 (3,173 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)   |   | |
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it sounds like some other component has worked loose like the drain pump , or something on the baseplate. The shocks would transfer that eccentric vibration to the baseplate. When it spins down unpowered it doesn't sound like a bearing problem from the tub. I'd look for a loose plate some where while the machine is open and spinning-- NOT With your fingers in there !!! But a nice piece of drain hose can be used like a stethoscope to locate things exactly.
And that keeps fingers and ears out of machine parts, if a hose gets bound up in the works who cares.
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Post# 833180 , Reply# 13   7/21/2015 at 19:15 (3,173 days old) by iej (.... )   |   | |
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Also before you take anything apart, check there's nothing touching the machine case. Our Miele started to make a lot of noise and it turned out that a small cat toy was under the machine banging against the bottom ! |
Post# 838605 , Reply# 14   8/28/2015 at 18:23 (3,135 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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At least one hopes it is for the money given.
Miele came out several weeks ago to see what ails Big Bertha. After some rough handling of the drum (Bertha was not amused)tech pronounced the shocks in fine condition. Well they should be shouldn' they? I mean the things were only installed about three years ago. Next was a look under the bonnet so to speak and then came an announcement; the suspension spring or springs were stretched out and would have to be replaced. Anyone who knows anything about Miele appliances knows things are rarely simple and straight forwards. Turns out if one spring is going best to replace the lot (four),and they aren't cheap either. Worse the cast metal holders (attach to drum and springs connect) would have to be replaced as well. Oh and there were four plastic holders that go between the spring and metal washer cabinet and all. When all said and done my purse was lighter a few hundred but Bertha seems happy once again. At one point had considered it was the springs and doing the job oneself; am glad didn't go down that route. It took two grown men better part of three hours to fit the new springs in; moaning, cursing and groaning the entire time. *LOL* |
Post# 838627 , Reply# 15   8/29/2015 at 07:10 (3,134 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)   |   | |
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Servicemen get into the gritty. You know you're really getting your dollars worth!!
Luscious !!
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Post# 838631 , Reply# 16   8/29/2015 at 09:03 (3,134 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT)   |   | |
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Post# 838639 , Reply# 17   8/29/2015 at 11:36 (3,134 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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"good engineering includes good design, quality construction"..
Would say Miele laundry appliances of Big Bertha's generation and following (the 1900 series washers with matching dryers) were very well engineered including when it came to service and quality. But clearly Miele learned things as they went on. For instance these units are easily serviced from the front. Both 1000 series washers and their matching dryers can have all repair work done from the front and or perhaps by taking off the top. This makes sense as in Europe and often elsewhere the units are built in. However "ease" is a relative term. *LOL* Springs on this unit like shocks aren't easily replaced to a point, but then again you shouldn't have to do one or the other that often should you? In both instances I replaced parts that were original to the machine, so we're talking about things that are twenty or more years old. So while it may be a tight squeeze to get at some parts in theory you shouldn't be swapping them out that often. As the Miele chap was cleaning up and testing out the machine told him about my "find" a few weeks ago (set of Miele units sitting curbside) and how they probably were both really defective IMHO. His reply was "you'd be surprised"... Apparently now spares for even the 1900 series and matching dryers are no longer in stock from Miele. This means for want of one part a repair to make machine operable again cannot happen. Thus the thing is a goner. Now Miele will *NOT* install "used" parts. That is if you find spares off eBay or elsewhere that aren't NIB they won't install. You can do so yourself but that is a different kettle of fish. Miele tech told of a customer who really wanted to keep her T1500 series dryer, but the door latching mechanism went and they are NLA, so that was that. Now if I knew that person would have suggested she search European sources for said spares, but don't think MieleUSA goes that route. |
Post# 842282 , Reply# 18   9/22/2015 at 17:03 (3,110 days old) by CandyD10_14X (London, United Kingdom)   |   | |
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Hi, I have a Miele W562 Prestige Plus 6 from March 2000 and mine too does the 'clunka-clunka' sound when slowing down, sometimes it is really distinctive when spinning a heavy or unbalanced load and at times makes me believe the shock absorbers are on their way out.
I noticed mine however sounds like there is gravel or loose limescale around the inner tub as it tumbles anti-clockwise sometimes. Brandon. |
Post# 842529 , Reply# 19   9/23/2015 at 22:23 (3,109 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Pointed out the clunking noises to Miele tech as the machine was tested after the four suspension springs were replaced. His response was the standard "your machine is old" but added "this machine is going/dying". Tried to mention that perhaps the cast iron weights were perhaps lose but the man wasn't having any of it. Since the guy just spent the better part of nearly two hours fitting in four new suspension springs (not an easy task even for him and his helper) didn't want to press my luck. Shocks on mine were replaced about a year ago and were pronounced "fine" by serviceman.
Have the AEG Oko-Lavamat and that is getting more use. Bertha will see less use in future and soon as one can find something suitable she's likely to be swapped out. Depending upon what I find (have no idea where will put a third front loader), Bertha will be sidelined and only brought back for the odd use. Meanwhile am taking large/heavy loads such as thick blankets round to launderette for use in their SQ commercial units. |