Brushes for washing machine motors

The average owner of a washing machine usually does not think about the internal structure and principles of operation of this useful device. The most important thing for us is that the washing machine functions properly, performing its main tasks - washing, rinsing and spinning.

So it goes on until one day we notice a malfunction in the work of our assistant. Then at least a basic knowledge about the device of household appliances are very useful. It is at this point that most of us carefully read the user manual for the first time and learn a lot of new information, which ideally every washing machine owner should know.

Today we will tell you about the electric brushes, which are some of the most important elements of the washing machine motor. From this article, you will learn what they are, what they are for and how to properly replace the electric brushes.

Electric brushes are parts of the washing machine motor, which are necessary to provide contact. A brush is a small metal device consisting of a cylindrical or cube-shaped tip, a long spring, and the contact element itself.

The principle of operation of electric brushes is that they transfer electrical energy from the external circuit to the motor rotor winding, resulting in the rotation of the motor.

Different models of washing machines use different types of electric brushes; the main difference between them lies in the material of manufacture of the clamping element. Most often, the motors of household appliances are equipped with the following varieties of electric brushes:

• copper-graphite;
• carbon-graphite;
• electro-graphite.

Also copper (contact material) and steel (spring material) are used for production of electric motor brushes.

So, for the manufacture of electric brushes, which are equipped with washing machines, choose only very durable materials with good wear resistance. But, meanwhile, motor brushes are considered "consumables" - parts that must be replaced quite often. Why is this the case?

According to the assurances of manufacturers of household appliances, on average, electric brushes can last 5 years, and with infrequent use of the washing machine - twice as long. This is quite true: the brushes work properly for a few years, and then they burn out and need to be replaced. Thus they protect from wear and tear other parts of the motor, the repair of which will be more time-consuming and more expensive.

The following signs signal that the service life of electric brushes has come to an end, and it is necessary to replace these elements:

• sudden stopping of the washing machine motor, unrelated to voltage fluctuations and power outage;
• appearance of extraneous noises during washing and spinning (crackling or tapping);
• a decrease in engine power - this is indicated, for example, by a decrease in speed, resulting in poor spinning of the laundry;
• the smell of smoke or burning during operation of the machine;
• The appearance on the display of an error code associated with engine problems.

• Experts recommend replacing the "native" electric brushes only with original ones (that is, from the same manufacturer, and designed directly for this model of washing machine). There are also universal variants on sale, but they can cause malfunctions in the motor.
• Even if only one brush has failed, you need to replace both, because otherwise the load on the rotor will be distributed unevenly, which will lead to new malfunctions.
• Before purchasing replacement brushes, determine which type of brush was installed in your washing machine. There can be three options: brushes in a one-piece plastic housing, collapsible brushes consisting of three elements, or simple brushes that are graphite rods with copper contacts.

If you asked for the help of a repairman to diagnose the problem with the washing machine, it is likely that he will replace the electric brushes. If you managed to find the malfunction yourself, then you will be able to replace the part on your own. On how to do this, we will tell in detail below.

The first thing you need to do is to disassemble the washing machine to get to the motor and extract the parts to be replaced. Before this, we disconnect the unit from the mains, disconnect the water intake and drain hoses.

Next we act in this sequence:

• Unscrew the fasteners that fix the rear panel, and carefully remove it;
• Remove the drive belt from the pulley;
• unscrew the bolts that fasten the rotor to the drum, remove it;
• take pictures of the location of all the elements we need;
• We take the brushes out of their sockets one by one, disconnect the contacts;
• copper plates, located on the collector, a little sanding with emery cloth;
• do the same procedure with the new brushes, collect the copper dust with a vacuum cleaner;
• install the brushes in their sockets.

The assembly of the device is carried out, constantly referring to the previously made photo, which fixes the location of all the important elements of the engine. First we put the electric motor in place. Before putting the drive belt on the pulley, check the work of the new brushes. To do this, connect the washing machine to the mains and start the spinning program. If you observe sparking brushes in the first minutes of operation, do not be alarmed - it is absolutely normal. After making sure that the new parts are in good order, disconnect the machine from the power supply again, put the drive belt back in place and fasten the back panel.

The process of replacing brushes for Bosch washing machine motors is shown in the video by Vladimir Khatuntsev.

If you are not confident in your own strength, it is better to entrust the replacement of brushes to professionals - they will cope with this task quickly and for a very reasonable fee. The purchase of new brushes is also likely to be handled by a professional - they will be able to choose the right model compatible with your washing machine. The price for this service will depend on the region where you live, but on average it is about 1000-1500 rubles. The cost of brushes depends on the company-manufacturer and model of the machine. The owners of washing machines Indesit, Bosch, Hotpoint Ariston, Ardo, Beko, Zanussi, Candy, Siemens, Samsung, count on the amount within the range of 300 to 2000 rubles.