Every owner of an Ariston washing machine with a commutator motor may encounter the problem of a flying drive belt. The elastic often stretches and requires replacement. You can do the work yourself, you just need to understand how to remove the element and put a new one in its place. Let’s figure out how to properly replace the belt on an Ariston washing machine so that it doesn’t fall off during the first wash.
Is it really the belt?
It is impossible to determine at first glance that the drive belt has come off - it is “hidden” behind the back wall of the machine, and to confirm your guess, you will have to use a screwdriver. However, sometimes it is possible to identify that the reason for the equipment stopping was problems with the drive, based on certain “symptoms”.
Firstly, modern washing machines can themselves indicate to the user the reason. Direct confirmation will be the signal sent by the fault self-diagnosis system. Washing machines with a display will display a certain error code to the screen. The user will only have to look at the instructions for the equipment and decipher the designation. Automatic machines that are not equipped with a display will indicate a breakdown by flashing the display on the control panel.
It happens that the internal self-diagnosis system simply does not notice a broken belt. Then the owner of the equipment can independently guess what’s wrong by analyzing the general “symptoms”. You can think about problems with the drive in the following cases:
The machine has started the specified program, filled the tank with water, the engine is running, but the drum does not start spinning:
The washing machine hums, then suddenly quiets down and stops working.The motor states change at regular intervals;
the washing cycle begins, the engine runs continuously, but the SMA “freezes” and does not respond to user-specified commands;
The drum of the automatic machine rotates easily by hand, but the engine does not make any sounds.
You cannot operate a washing machine whose drive belt has fallen off; this will lead to overheating of the electric motor and its failure.
If at least one of the listed “symptoms” is noted, you should immediately end the cycle and see if the belt is in place. To do this you will need a screwdriver. Let us analyze the basic algorithm of actions that should be followed when conducting diagnostics.
Repair instructions
If the element really comes off, it is not necessary to call an SMA repair specialist; you can change the belt yourself. Get ready for the fact that the upcoming work is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. Tensioning the belt will require patience, strength and dexterity, but even a “newbie” can cope with the task if he follows all the recommendations.
If the rubber band falls for the first time, then you can simply return it to its original place. When the drive belt breaks regularly, the part will have to be replaced. To remove the belt from the case and assess its condition, you must:
make sure that the washing machine is de-energized;
disconnect the machine from house communications, remove the inlet hose and drain hose;
place the machine in a place where it will be convenient to work with it, turn the unit with the back panel towards you;
Unscrew the screws securing the back wall. If the top cover interferes with removing the panel, you must first remove it by also unscrewing the bolts;
find the drive belt.Its location remains the same on any Ariston washing machine with a commutator motor. The rubber band is located directly behind the back wall, between the drum pulley and the motor. If the belt is not visible, it has fallen and lies under the machine;
pull out the belt and determine its condition. First you need to find the markings on the element. The first 4 digits of the code indicate the initial diameter of the elastic band in mm. Then you need to measure the circumference and compare the result with the factory value. If the resulting difference is more than 20 mm, then the elastic band is not suitable for further use.
If the length of the drive belt stretches by more than 2 cm from the factory parameters, you will have to replace the part with a new one of a more suitable diameter.
Having selected a similar drive belt, you can begin installing it. To put on an elastic band, you should:
pull the belt onto the electric motor pulley;
put the rubber band on the drum pulley, carefully turning the “wheel” from right to left.
It will be much easier to cope with this task if you invite an assistant. Using two people to put the drive belt in place will be faster than working alone. You should also prepare for possible difficulties - on some Ariston machines the elastic is too tight, and you will have to “sweat” to tighten it.
To make sure that the element is securely “sat” in its place, you need to spin the drum wheel a couple of times. If the drum pulley rotates tightly, the drive belt is tensioned correctly. After visually checking the quality of the repair, you can begin assembling the SMA body.
First of all, you should put the back wall of the case in place and secure it with self-tapping screws. Afterwards, the machine is installed in its original place, connected to the water supply and sewerage, and connected to the network.Be sure to run a test wash to check the operation of the washer.
Replacement didn't help
If the rubber band falls off the pulley regularly, even after replacement, this may indicate some problems with the operation of the SMA. If the belt falls off more than twice in six months, you need to be alert and diagnose the washing machine. An element can fly off multiple times due to:
wear. The drive belt is subject to natural stretch. If, upon inspection of its surface, traces of wear were found, cracks or the length of the elastic band increased greatly, it means that the belt has completely used up its resource and it is time to replace it;
drum play. Here, replacing the rubber band will not solve the problem, but the way out of the situation will be even easier - just tighten the pulley fixing screw. In some cases, wheel replacement may be necessary;
insufficient fixation of the engine. The Ariston washing machine motor is well secured, however, due to vibrations during operation of the equipment, the motor may become loose. The bolts securing it unscrew, which causes the belt drive to break. To solve the problem, you need to tighten the motor fasteners;
deformation of the shaft or pulley. This can happen after an unsuccessful repair. Unfortunately, there are “masters” who manage to change some parts and damage others. If the pulley was really bent, you can try to carefully straighten the part, but it is better to install a new wheel;
crosspiece damage. It's rare, but users still encounter this problem. The defect can be either a manufacturing defect or caused by strong vibrations of the machine during operation.The crosspiece will have to be changed, otherwise you can “hold out” until the drum is unbalanced, which, in turn, will lead to more expensive repairs;
bearing failure. Broken bearings can cause a “distortion” in the system, which sometimes causes the belt to fall off the pulley. There is a solution to the problem - change the bearings and seal.
The belt may periodically fly off due to improper installation - if the elastic is not fixed in the grooves.
Perhaps regular decline is observed as a result of installing an elastic band that differs from the factory one. It is important to select a replacement drive belt that is suitable for a specific SMA model Ariston. Purchasing a similar part will prevent the elastic from falling off again.
As you can see, even a “newbie” can change the belt with his own hands; the main thing is to be patient and follow the recommendations. It is important to follow safety rules and purchase a replacement rubber band that is suitable for your particular washing machine model. If the belt falls frequently, a more thorough diagnosis of the SMA should be performed to identify other problems in the drive system.
Every owner of an Ariston washing machine with a commutator motor may encounter the problem of a flying drive belt. The elastic often stretches and requires replacement. You can do the work yourself, you just need to understand how to remove the element and put a new one in its place. Let’s figure out how to properly replace the belt on an Ariston washing machine so that it doesn’t fall off during the first wash.
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