I have a Hotpoint washing machine, WMFUG742PUK.
I put a load of washing in it the other day, and upon spin, it sounded like a bag of spanners - almost needed ear defenders!
I let it finish, and emptied it. I then checked the drum, and as suspected, the bearings at the back of the drum have fallen to bits, you can feel the drum shaft banging around in the bearing races.
I started to strip down the machine today, and upon removing the top, noticed that the drum is a bloody sealed unit!
You always used to be able to uncouple it with screws/bolts, to take the drum apart and get to the bearings. Now it's all one mould!
This is absolutely criminal - if I could get to the bearings, I could replace them for a tenner. But instead, I have to buy either a new "integrated drum unit" which is almost £300, or, at that price, avoid the hassle and just get a new machine dropped off.
I've never seen so much nonsense, what an absolute throwaway society.
I've looked at the drum unit, and I do quite fancy my chances of cutting along the seam with a fine saw blade, and drillling a load of small holes to insert locking nuts/bolts to hold it together. Perhaps with some grey VX oil cooler goo to seal it back up
Clearly a trick by the cock of a manufacturer to stop DIY / independent repairs and make you buy more of their products
