How to change the belt in a Bosch washing machine?

How to change the belt in a Bosch washing machine According to statistics from service centers, German washing machines from Bosch are durable and wear-resistant. Compared to Indesit, Ariston and Beko, the “Germans” break down less often, and some malfunctions, premature wear of bearings or motor failure, completely bypass them. However, there are several typical Bosch problems, for example, slippage and damage to the drive belt. You can cope with replacing the motor belt of a Bosch washing machine without calling a technician. We suggest you figure out how to change the rubber band and prevent the situation from happening again.

Or maybe it's not a belt at all?

You won’t be able to immediately guess that the washer’s drive belt has fallen off. The rubber band is “hidden” behind the back wall, so you will first have to partially disassemble the machine. However, it is better not to rush, but to try to clarify the nature of the breakdown by reading the “symptoms”. The problem may not be a empty pulley.

The first step is to check the Bosch self-diagnosis system. Modern household appliances can automatically record problems that have occurred and signal them to the owner. If the machine is equipped with a digital display, a certain combination will be displayed on it. All that remains is to find the explanation of the error in the factory instructions. If the model does not have a screen, then you should pay attention to the dashboard lights - the board will tell you about the malfunction through the display.

Thanks to the self-diagnosis system, the Bosch washing machine automatically detects a problem and displays an error code on the display.

It is rare, but it happens that the self-diagnosis system does not notice a problem.Then you can suspect a problem with the belt based on certain symptoms. We are talking about the following situations: drive belt came off

the washing machine started the cycle, filled the tank with water, the motor makes noise, but the drum does not rotate;
the engine hums, but after some time it suddenly quiets down and stops (everything happens at regular intervals);
the wash has started, the engine “growls”, but the machine “freezes” and does not respond to user commands;
After starting the machine, the motor is “silent”, although when turned off the drum rotates freely by hand.

It is prohibited to start the machine without a drive belt - the motor will run idle, overheat and break down.

If you notice at least one of the symptoms listed above while using your washing machine, you need to force it to shut down. You cannot wash it with a loose belt - an engine running “idle” will overheat and break. Before continuing washing, you should check whether the elastic is in place, and if necessary, put it back. We'll tell you how to do this below.

How will we change the part?

It’s easy to check the integrity of the belt - just unscrew the back panel of the case with a screwdriver. The drive is located directly behind the door, and the rubber band should be tensioned on the large and small pulley wheels. If the “ring” is not in place, then repairs are needed.

To deal with a broken belt, it is not necessary to call a service technician. You can cope with the replacement yourself, but this work is not as simple as it seems. Stretching the elastic will take time, patience and dexterity, but if you follow the instructions, it will work.

During the initial rally, belt replacement is rarely required; it is enough to return the elastic band to its place.If the situation repeats two or more times, then it is better to first assess the condition of the tires. The procedure is as follows: find the marking on the drive belt

disconnect the washing machine from the power supply, water supply and sewerage;
unfold the machine so that it is freely located near the rear panel;
using a screwdriver, remove the back wall, removing all the retaining bolts (on certain Bosch models you will need to additionally remove the top cover);
we find the belt, which should be on the pulley directly behind the panel (if the elastic band is not stretched over the pulley, then it will break off and fall to the bottom).

The fallen belt must be lifted and inspected. More precisely, you should look for the factory markings applied, a symbolic combination. The first four digits are the initial diameter of the ring, given in millimeters. We remember the value, and then measure the circumference of the existing elastic band and compare the indicators. If there is a discrepancy of 20 mm or more, it is not recommended to continue using the part.

If the drive belt has stretched in diameter by 2 cm or more during operation, then the elastic cannot be used - replacement is necessary.

Having selected a replacement, you can install the belt back. To do this you will need:

pull the rubber band onto the motor pulley (smaller wheel);
put the belt on the drum pulley, turning it from right to left (larger wheel).

The instructions are simple, but in reality changing the belt is not so easy. It is better not to act alone, but to attract an assistant: one holds the rubber band on the motor pulley, and the second tries to pull it onto the drum wheel. On the nth machines from Bosch, the task is complicated by non-stretchy rubber.

Afterwards you should make sure that the belt is seated correctly. To do this, rotate the drum pulley 2-4 times and evaluate the quality of rotation.If you feel a stretch, it means the task was completed efficiently.

Assembly follows the instructions described earlier, but in reverse order. First, install the back panel on the case and secure it with self-tapping screws. Next, we move the washing machine to its original place and establish a connection with the water supply and sewerage system. At the finish line, turn on the machine and start the “idle” cycle. If the drum spins as before, the electric motor is noisy, and the self-diagnosis system is silent, then the belt drive has been restored.

A quick recurrence of the breakdown

Constant falling of the belt indicates not only damage to the belt. If the rubber leaves its seat more than twice in six months, then a comprehensive Bosch diagnostic should be carried out. Most likely, the ring comes off due to problems with the washing machine. Bosch machine pulley is deformed

Drum play. Uneven rotation of the drum leads to constant fly-off of the belt. The problem is solved by tensioning the pulley mounting bolt. Sometimes it is necessary to replace a damaged wheel.
Insufficiently secured motor. Over long periods of use, a Bosch motor may become loose. Under heavy loads and increased vibration, the retaining bolts unwind and introduce an imbalance in the operation of the engine. To correct the situation, you will need to tighten the fasteners.
Warped shaft or pulley. Such a breakdown is a consequence of unprofessional repairs. It is almost impossible to straighten an axle or wheel with your own hands; it is much easier, faster and more reliable to replace the entire assembly.
Damaged crosspiece. It is extremely rare. The main reason is a manufacturing defect, but sometimes strong vibration of the washing machine leads to a malfunction. In any case, the crosspiece must be replaced, otherwise the situation will only get worse. If you do not respond to the problem, then it is easy for the drum to become unbalanced, which will increase the cost of repairs by 2-3 times.
Loosening of the bearing assembly. On new Bosch, problems with bearings are rare; failure usually occurs after 5-8 years of operation of the machine. Broken “rings” disrupt the belt drive, which provokes periodic slippage of the rubber band. Parts need to be replaced, including stuffing box.

The drive belt should not fly off the pulley more than twice every six months.

Most often, the drive falls off due to natural wear and tear. If cracks appear or the diameter differs from the original by 2-3 cm, then the elastic band has already “worked out” its purpose and needs to be replaced. Another reason is incorrect installation, in which the ring does not “fit” into the provided grooves.

Incorrect selection of a replacement also leads to repeated belt failure. Therefore, it is recommended to use only original spare parts during repairs, guided by the serial number of a specific model. Otherwise, the part will not fit the pulley and will fly off again at the slightest play.

Even a “newbie” can cope with a fallen belt - just follow the recommendations and be prepared for possible difficulties. When making repairs, it is imperative to follow safety precautions and purchase original spare parts. If replacing the rubber band does not solve the problem and the drive breaks down again, then it is better to be wary, carry out a comprehensive diagnosis of the machine and rule out other system problems.