Why does the belt fly off the washing machine drum?

The belt on a washing machine is the connecting link between the motor and the drum, or rather the drive. When turned on, the motor begins to rotate and, with the help of a drive, rotates the drum. This is the operating principle of a washing machine. But sometimes it happens that the belt flies off the drum. Why is this happening?

Causes

The situation when the washing machine stopped working, and an autopsy showed that the drive belt had fallen off, can arise for several reasons:

Under heavy load, when the machine operates intensively, the belt may fly off its drum. If this is an isolated case, then no need to worry, just install it in place and the machine will continue to work perfectly.
If the situation repeats periodically, this may be due to the fact that the belt has stretched a little and flies off when rotating quickly. To fix the problem, you need to replace it with a new one.
The situation may arise due to a loose motor mount, which changes its position and leads to weakening of the drive. The situation can be easily corrected if the engine is securely strengthened.
The belt may fall off if the pulley is loosened. Fasten the pulley well - and the machine is ready for washing again.
The tension may weaken due to deformation of the pulley or shaft. Such a malfunction requires replacement of the deformed part.
The shaft is attached to the machine body via a cross. If it is damaged, it must be replaced.
Worn bearings can cause the rotational motion of the drum to become distorted, causing the weakened belt to fly off.
Infrequent use of the washing machine causes the drive belt to dry out. When you turn on the device, it may break.

Possible causes of malfunction

Belt wear. The most common reason why it can fly off. If the belt is stretched, then during operation it flies off the drum or simply slips, making whistling sounds. Sometimes the belt breaks at the point of wear.
There is a problem with the pulley fastening. The pulley can come loose, causing the belt to fly off. Check the fastening for tightness and tighten if necessary.
The engine mount is loose. The engine can become loose over time, causing the belt tension to decrease. Check how well the engine is secured.
Deformation of the pulley or shaft. When a belt comes off, it can damage the pulley or the shaft itself. In this case, replacing the belt will not work; you will have to replace all the damaged parts. It happens that a pulley or shaft is initially irregular in shape due to a manufacturing defect. If such a malfunction is discovered during the first operation, it is better to immediately return the machine under warranty and demand a replacement.
Damage to the crosspiece. The crosspiece connects the shaft to the tank; it can weaken or completely burst, which will create an imbalance and lead to the belt breaking. The bolts should be tightened or the crosspiece should be completely replaced.
Incorrect installation of belt or pulley. If you have already tried to repair these parts, you may have made a mistake during assembly. Contact a specialist for help.
The pulley or belt does not fit your machine. When doing your own repairs, you may have purchased the wrong part.
Bearings are worn out. This causes the drum to rotate unevenly, which can cause the belt to fly off. This malfunction may be indicated by the machine knocking in the spin mode.

To change the washing machine belt yourself, you must follow these steps:

Turn off the water and unplug the washing machine from the outlet.
Unscrew the fastening screws on the back wall of the machine and remove it.
Remove the old belt: to do this, you need to pull it towards yourself while simultaneously rotating the pulley by hand.
Place the new belt on the motor shaft.
Carefully pull the belt onto the pulley, also rotating it by hand.
Check that the belt is level and adjust it if necessary.
Replace the back cover.
Run a test wash to make sure the machine is working properly.

Pay attention to whether the belt has damaged wires, sensors and other elements located nearby. It is advisable to diagnose and eliminate these faults along with replacing the belt.

How can the user understand that there is a problem with the drive belt? Certain signs indicate faulty parts: error codes, extraneous sounds.

Find out how you can diagnose a breakdown yourself, what signs you need to look out for, and how to replace the drive belt in your washing machine.

How to determine that there is a problem with the drive element in the SMA:

The self-diagnosis system of the washing machine showed an error code on the display.
When washing, the drum does not rotate, but it can be turned by hand.
During operation, the drum rotates very slowly, and extraneous scraping sounds are heard.

Why is such a breakdown dangerous? Because if it breaks, the belt could catch and break the wiring or damage the sensors.

You can accurately determine the cause of the problem by removing the wall of the washer and inspecting all the parts.

Why does the belt come off? Here are the most common causes of the problem:

Problems with the drum pulley. Improper loading of laundry, overload and imbalance can lead to malfunction and breakage of the pulley. As a result, the belt jumps off and falls off, which leads to a stop in the operation of the SM.

Wear. Each belt has its own service life. But few products work before the end of this period. The probable cause of wear is the design of the washing machines. Narrow machines have parts that are tightly packed together, which leads to rapid wear.
Incorrectly folded laundry. If the drum is overloaded, an imbalance occurs - all the laundry is shifted to one side. When spinning at high speeds, the drum may suddenly hit the tank, causing the drive element to jump off.
Problems with bearings, which are needed for uniform rotation of the drum. If the bearings are not replaced in time, this leads to severe vibration of the pulley. Consequently, the belt can not only fly off, but also break.

Too infrequent use of the SMA causes the belt to break. How does this happen? With infrequent use, areas of the drive element shrink. The next time they are started, they fray, which leads to stretching and breakage.

Is it worth doing the repairs yourself?

Important! If you are far from repairing household appliances and have never done this before, then it is best to trust professionals who will fix the problem quickly and efficiently.

Any user can inspect and diagnose a washing machine. Depending on the malfunction detected, decide whether to seek help from a professional technician or deal with it yourself.

Before deciding to fix the problem, you should make sure whether the warranty period has expired? Manufacturers of equipment from well-known brands, such as Indesit, Samsung, Electrolux, provide a warranty period of one to three years.

If you decide to turn to professionals for help, then it is better to contact a service center. Why should this be done?

A guarantee is provided for the repair work carried out.
Replacement of components, if necessary, will be made from “original” parts.
The competence of the craftsmen is beyond doubt.

And the master you find through an ad will not give any guarantees. He will replace the faulty part, but it is possible that it will be the wrong brand. How long the car will work after such repairs is also unknown.

How to install the belt yourself

Replacing a belt on a washing machine is a simple matter that even a beginner can handle:

When repairing any electrical equipment, it is necessary to disconnect the device from the electrical network.
To carry out inspection and diagnostics, it is necessary to remove the rear panel of the machine, which is secured with bolts.
If the drive belt has come off, you should put it back in place. First put it on the motor shaft, and then pull it onto the pulley. Initially, only part of the circle, and then, turning the pulley, tighten it completely. It should fit snugly into the groove. Be sure to rotate the pulley several times to ensure the correct position of the belt.
If the belt stretches or breaks, you need to purchase a new one. You can choose the right belt for your washing machine in a specialized store or service center.
Close the back panel, securing it with bolts.

Why does the belt come off?

If your device was recently purchased and you operate it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, then the washing machine will work flawlessly.
The belt in a new washing machine can fly off only if the component itself is of poor quality or you have loaded the drum more than the required amount and the machine cannot cope with a large amount of laundry. From here there are spins, and the result is a flying belt. However, if the situation is systematically repeated, then it is necessary to think about professional diagnostics in order to identify the reasons for such behavior. Only an experienced technician will be able to establish the true cause and efficiently eliminate the malfunction. If we talk about the reasons, it is necessary to highlight the following:

Weak fastening of the drum pulley - the driving mechanisms are subject to heavy loads, so their fastenings can simply become loose. If the pulley fastening is loose and it “moves” from side to side, the belt will inevitably fly off, get jammed or completely break. This may lead to a situation where the drum is stuck.

The motor mounts are unreliable - due to the fact that the washing machine produces vibrations during operation, the motor mounts, as well as the pulley mounts, may become loose. The belt tension will be insufficient, and the result will be the belt coming off. To verify this, you need to unscrew the back cover of the washing machine and check the belt and surrounding components. If necessary, you can tighten the fasteners, tighten the belt back, and then check the operation of the unit.

Deformation of the shaft or pulley - in the first case of slipping, the belt may bend the pulley, after which it will need to be replaced, otherwise there is a high probability of damage to other important components of the device. This can also happen to the shaft. Deformation of one of the components will in any case cause incorrect operation of the mechanisms.

Natural wear of bearings - wear of the bearings causes the drum to skew, as a result of which the belt will fly off. To correctly determine the cause, call a washing machine repairman.

The belt is not tensioned correctly - replacing the belt, although not a difficult task, however, requires certain knowledge, otherwise it is fraught with rallies. The belt must be correctly tensioned on the pulley and with a certain tension. If the belt breaks, it may have been incorrectly selected when replacing it. To choose the right belt, it is recommended to seek professional help, or take a worn product with you to the store. The seller, judging by the labeling, will help you with the right choice.

The drum cross is damaged - if the cross is damaged or weakened, an imbalance may occur, causing the belt to fly off.

Rare use - oddly enough, due to rare use of a household appliance, the belt may break. This occurs due to the rubber component drying out, cracking, and losing elasticity.

As you can see, there can be many reasons for a belt breaking or slipping. Without special skills, knowledge and equipment, it will not be easy to establish the true cause. If you don’t want any problems with your washing machine in the future, then trust the professionals. This will guarantee the correct and uninterrupted operation of your home assistant.

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The belt is an important part of the washing machine, thanks to it the drum rotates. Using a belt, the drum pulley is connected to the engine. This design is used in all washing machines, and if the belt stretches, falls off or breaks, your machine will need immediate repair.