I have scrounged a Fisher Paykel front loader that I thought only needed minor repair.

I used the machine and its only fault I could find at first was rattling shock absorbers.

These machines are (I believe) made by Haier, and they have an unusual feature.

The stainless steel drum attaches to a normal cast aluminium spider, but the spider is made an unusual way. Normally the spider is cast aluminium with the steel centre shaft integral to the casting - it is made as all one piece. This one has them as separate components that bolt together, and the bolts pass through the back wall of the drum, a circle of six stainless steel bolts. To stop the bolt heads eating the washing, there is a plastic "hubcap" that covers the bolt heads, when you look into the drum, you see this grey plastic hubcap. It is styled like it could be a spinning pulsator, but it is just a fixed hubcap.

Newer versions of this machine no longer have the inner ring of bolts and hubcap - F&P / Haier appear to have given up on the idea and gone back to a normal drum spider.

On this machine I saved from the scrapper, the hubcap was wonky so I ordered a new one, and a set of shock absorber mounts (they were rattling.) When the parts arrived, I took out the old hubcap and found weird dents in the stainless steel around the bolt heads. I thought the spider must be broken and causing the dents, so I fully dismantled the drum assembly to check.

The machine was easy to dis-assemble, which is good. I had to undo the six stainless bolts at the centre of the drum, and another six at the ends of the spider arms - three arms, two bolts at each end. First thing I noticed on disassembly was huge amounts of detergent residue or mineral deposits, and some flakes that appear to be spider material. But... the spider is sound, there are no cracks and though it is covered in residue, it seems to be OK. I have attached photos.

The dents in the drum were just bulges in the stainless steel where residue got between the spider and the drum, slowly swelling and expanding to create these small bulges. They also made small cracks near two bolt holes, around the bolt washers. I plan to reassemble with larger diameter stainless  steel washers to cover the cracks - these bolts are not to hold the drum to the spider (the outer six bolts do that), but are really there to hold the cast aluminium spider to the steel hub of the centre shaft. So I don't think the stainless steel layer here is structurally important.

My intention is to clean up the spider - how should I do that? (I'm really directing that question to anyone with real experience in repairing / reconditioning  front load washing machines.) I have thought of washing it / soaking it in vinegar to clean up the residue. I also have a pressure washer I could use. Any other suggestions that won't eat the aluminium? Does the spider look OK to reuse? I am fixing it up to give to a friend for nothing, so I don't wish to overspend on it.

Is it possible to coat the spider with anything to extend its life? I thought of spraying it with a clear coat epoxy or enamel paint? I would also suggest to my friend to do regular hot washes to clean out residue.

I don't have a photo of the front of the machine, I got straight into disassembly... but I will put a link to a similar machine.

Photos are: 1. Residue in outer plastic drum. 2. Stainless steel back wall of inner drum (basket.) 3. spider front face 4. spider rear face.

Since taking the photos, I have removed the bearing and seal - a hefty 6307 bearing, marked NSK Japan, so a good quality bearing in this Chinese-made washing machine. I have also tapped the dents in the drum back into shape.

Thanks for any advice.