Washing Machine Troubles

I wonder if any of you can give me some advice about washers.  We're trying to figure out if the washer is broken beyond repair or if it's worth fixing.  Not knowing UK appliances, it's hard for me to tell.

The washer is filling and draining but it is not spinning.  The drum will move freely on if I spin it, it just won't do it during the cycle. 

Any advice? or should I just go buy a new one?

Sounds a bit like my problem (our washer went up today too).  The last time they said it was because it needed to be descale.  They took it away, descaled it and it worked again -- until today.  *sigh*

Whenever we have to fix the washer, it's the brushes. I have no idea what that means, but it doesn't cost much to fix and always works fine afterwards. Symptoms sound the same.

Thanks guys!  In my quest for info, I found this site

http://www.washerhelp.com/

A wealth of information about washers, repairing washers and buying washers.

It looks like I will be buying a new washer because our (very stupid) landlady doesn't have the money to fix it - hello..  isn't that what I pay rent for? 

And she seems to think this is ok because she didn't include the washer in our lease.  They were just too lazy to move it out of the house.  So we've been using it and now it's broken.  I told them if they won't fix it, then I want it out of the house or we will get rid of it. 

I seriously want out of that lease.  I'll be looking for a new place over Christmas. 

That stinks Mrs Pink!!!  We had that problem last year and turned out to be the motor.  Next time it happens we are getting a new washer though.  Cost about £100 to fix.

at least you'll have a new washer when you move?!?

Absolutely Meggles!!  Now that I know we're going to be here for a while, I'm thinking that  I can buy a washer I like and it will stay with us. 

I'm still grieving over losing my Maytag Neptune set though.. 

Can you hear the motor running when the drum should be turning?  If so, then it's probably just the drive belt needs replacing, which is a fairly simple DIY job on most machines.

If the motor isn't running, it could be any one of a number of things, from worn brushes, to burned out windings, to a faulty controller unit, to a loose connection.

Whenever we have to fix the washer, it's the brushes. I have no idea what that means,

You have to get power to the coils which are on the rotor, which obviously isn't as simple as just running wires to them since the whole rotor needs to spin round!   The way it's done is to mount metal slip-rings around the shaft, then the brushes ride on the rings under spring pressure to provide the electrical connection.  The brushes are normally carbon-based little blocks, which wear down over time. 

Thanks, Paul - you're always great at explaining how things work

Yes indeed, Thank you Paul!  I knew you'd come through.