Just changed the drum bearings and seal on a Hoover AM120.
Your Hotpoint may be similar but will require some mechanical knowledge plus a socket set, screwdriver and pliers for dismantling/assembling the machine and appropriate size drifts and hammer to replace the bearings and seal.
The bearing kit cost £32 and took me most of the day to change. The result is a quiet washing machine.
**SWITCH OFF THE ELECTRICITY AND UNPLUG THE MACHINE**
Turn off the water.
Remove the top and back.
Take plenty of digital photos of the inside to refer to later.
On the AM120 the drum came out of the top so, if your machine is similar, remove everything from the drum i.e. weights, motor, spider, door seal, facia panel at the front and the soap box and anything else that might be in the way.
Undo electrical switches/timers but don't disconnect, just hang them out the way.
Disconnect the drum stays and attachment springs (or whatever your machine has) and lift the drum assembly out.
Dismantle the outer casing, a ring of bolts on the AM120.
Wind the attachment nut back on the drum spindle and using a soft drift knock the inner drum free of the outer casing.
Carefully drift the bearings and seal from the outer casing.
Clean up the bearing housing as best you can but pay particular attention to the area on the spindle the seal runs on.
Preferably press the new bearings into the outer casing but you can use a flat punch and gently tap around the OUTER race of the bearings until they are fully home.
Fit a new seal. You WILL need something slightly smaller in diameter to be able to knock the seal in place without damaging it.
Grease the seal and sleeve on the spindle and assemble the inner drum to the outer casing. Be careful you don't damage the new seal.
Use the retaining nut and appropriate size spacers to draw the spindle through the bearings. Rotate the drum as you do this.
Everything from now on is the reverse of the dismantling, just refer to the photos you took earlier!!
Double check everything, particularly electrical wires.
Connect the water and electric and keeping hands and any loose clothing away from the inside give it a short wash to check for leaks before putting the top and back on.
diy, July 2007
