How to change the belt on an Ardo washing machine?

The drive belt, which is equipped with automatic machines with a commutator engine, tends to stretch. So, after several years of using the equipment, the elastic band may begin to fly off. It’s easy to notice that the strap is falling off - the unit simply won’t start washing because it won’t be able to spin the drum. You can independently replace the motor belt on an Ardo washing machine without turning to specialists for help. Let's figure out how to repair the washing machine in such a situation.

How does a belt defect manifest itself?

It is impossible to understand that the drive belt has fallen off simply by examining the machine - it is hidden behind the rear wall of the case. Therefore, to confirm your guess, you need to use a screwdriver. Modern Ardo washing machines can notify the user about the problem. Thanks to the built-in self-diagnosis system, the machine determines the cause of the failure and displays the corresponding error on the display. Having seen the fault code on the display, all you have to do is get the instructions for Ardo and read the explanation of the designation. Units without a screen will indicate a problem by flashing LEDs on the dashboard.

Sometimes the self-diagnosis sensors do not see that the belt has come off the shaft, so the error code does not appear. The user can guess the malfunction by the unusual “behavior” of the SMA. You can suspect problems with the drive mechanism if:

• the machine started the cycle, water filled the tank, the electric motor started working properly, but the drum “stands there” without moving;
• The engine of the machine makes noise, then immediately calms down and stops working. The state of the electric motor changes at the same intervals;
• the washing starts, the engine operates as usual, but the automatic machine freezes and does not respond to user requests;
• the drum rotates freely by hand, although the engine cannot set the “centrifuge” in motion.

An automatic SM with a flyaway drive belt will not be able to wash things; it is necessary to return the rubber band to the pulley as soon as possible.

Having noticed at least one of the listed “symptoms”, you need to turn off the equipment as soon as possible. Operating the machine for a long time with a loose belt can lead to overheating of the engine and failure of the engine. After de-energizing the equipment, check that the drive belt is in place. To do this, you will need to partially disassemble the case. Let's figure out how to return the machine to working capacity with our own hands.

Belt replacement procedure

If the rubber band does come off, you should not immediately call a specialist. It is possible to tighten the belt yourself, the main thing is not to deviate from the recommendations. The work ahead is not entirely simple: the strap is tight enough to put it on the pulley, it will require endurance and skill. However, if you follow the instructions, even a beginner can handle the repair.

If the belt has come off for the first time, you don’t have to change it, but simply install the same elastic band in its original place.

When the drive belt falls off periodically, it is necessary to install a new spare part. To assess the condition of the gum, you need to do the following:

• unplug the machine's power cord from the outlet;
• disconnect the washing machine from the house networks, unhook the drain corrugation and the inlet hose from the body;
• move the device away from the wall so that you have free access to the back;
• remove the “top” of the case by unscrewing the pair of screws holding it;
• Unscrew the bolts around the perimeter of the rear wall and move it to the side;
• find the belt. Its position is the same on all Ardo collector models. The rubber band “passes” between the “wheel” of the drum and the small pulley of the electric motor. If the strap comes off, it will lie under the washer;
• check the condition of the rubber band.

Carefully inspect the part, look for the markings on it. The initial four numbers will tell you the factory diameter of the strap in mm. You should measure the circumference of the elastic and compare it with the original size. A belt that has stretched more than 2 centimeters is not suitable for subsequent use and will need to be replaced. You should select a new drive belt based on both its marking and the Ardo CMA model. Having purchased an analogue rubber band, you can begin installation. The algorithm of actions will be as follows:

• place the belt on the electric motor pulley;
• Pull the rubber onto the drum “wheel”, turning the pulley slightly to the left.

If possible, it is better to do the work together, with four hands. This will make tightening the belt easier and faster. It should be understood that the factory rubber band can be very tight, and you will have to work hard to get it into place. You can tell that the belt is “seated” tightly by twisting the pulley. If the drum “wheel” rotates with tension, then the job is done correctly. After checking the quality of the installation, you should assemble the body of the machine (fixing the back and top panels), connect the equipment to the house communications, move the device to the wall and start a “idle” wash with an empty drum.

Belt won't hold

It happens that even a new rubber band falls off after a couple of months of using an automatic machine. This is an alarm bell that may indicate certain problems with the operation of the unit.

If the belt falls off the pulley more often than once every 3 months, it is necessary to perform a comprehensive diagnosis of the Ardo machine.

Constant falling of the drive belt can be caused by:

• element wear. The elastic tends to stretch - if there are cracks, defects on its surface, or the length has increased by more than 2 cm from the factory parameters, the part should be replaced. When the belt wears out too quickly, literally within a few months, the user is probably violating the operating rules of the washing machine, for example, by exceeding the permissible load weight;
• drum play. In this situation, replacing the strap will not help; it will continue to fall off. The problem can be solved by tightening the main pulley screw. In advanced cases, you will have to completely change the drum “wheel”;
• poor fixation of the electric motor. At the factory, the engine of Ardo washing machines is fixed “conscientiously”, but with intensive operation of the equipment, the element can become loose. To fix the problem, just tighten the bolts securing the engine;
• pulley deformation. This situation may well arise after unqualified equipment repair. Sometimes craftsmen fix one thing while breaking another. If the “wheel” was bent, it is allowed to straighten it. It is better, of course, to install a new, even element;
• cross defect. This damage can be either a manufacturing defect or a new breakdown caused by increased vibration of the washing machine during operation. The crosspiece needs to be replaced. Otherwise, the situation can lead to imbalance of the drum, and this is a more expensive and labor-intensive repair;
• damage to the bearing unit. Broken bearings lead to “misalignment” of the equipment, which is why the drive belt falls off.It is important to replace the metal rings, and at the same time the oil seal.

Sometimes the drive belt falls off due to improper placement on the pulley - when the elastic band is not inserted into special grooves.

In some cases, the reason for the strap to regularly come off is the installation of components that are not suitable for the washing machine. It is necessary to select a drive belt suitable for the specific model of the automatic machine. Ardo. If the rubber band falls off for the first time after several years of using the equipment, you can simply buy a new belt and install it yourself. If even new straps constantly fall, you will have to take a more serious approach to the problem and perform a full diagnostic of the elements that ensure the operation of the drive mechanism.

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