How You Or A Washer Repair Professional Can Change A Bad Belt When Your Washer Won't Spin

If your washing machine won't spin, the problem might be a broken belt. Other things could be wrong, so you or a washer repair technician might need to troubleshoot the parts to find the problem. It's usually easy to tell if the belt is the problem since it will look worn or be broken in half. It may even make loud noises before it breaks.

Replacing a bad belt is a fairly easy washer repair that you might want to attempt yourself. However, if you don't feel comfortable opening up your washer and replacing the belt, call a washer repair service for help. This is how replacing a washer belt is done.

Locate The Belt

Before you start working on the washer, unplug it from the wall and unhook the water lines. You'll need to pull the appliance away from the wall so you can open it up to look for the belt.

Front-loading washers usually have the belt in the back, so you'll need to unscrew the back panel and remove the bracket that's in the way. With the panel and bracket gone, you should be able to see and reach the belt.

Top-loading washers may have the belt on the bottom of the machine. Even though it will be tricky to reach it, you can usually do so without having to tip the washer over. However, if necessary, you can tip the washer on its side so you have full access to the belt.

Remove The Bad Belt

If the belt has split, you can simply pull it out of the washer. If it's still in one piece and attached to the motor shaft and pulley, you'll need to unwind it. Washer belts are stretch belts, so they're tight on the pulley and you can't pull them off. Instead, you have to unwind them by pulling them as you rotate the pulley. When the old belt is off, you're ready to put on the new one.

Install A New Belt

Washer belts aren't universal. They come in different widths and lengths, so you'll need to know what type of belt to buy from the appliance parts store. If you hire a washer repair professional to change the belt, they'll know what part to use and you won't have to worry about it.

Putting on a new belt is easy if you know how, but challenging if you try to force it on. You start by putting the belt on the motor shaft and then you attach it to the pulley by holding the belt against the pulley and rotating the pulley so the belt goes on by itself. You'll need to hold the belt in place tightly as it winds on since the belt has to stretch.

Once the belt is in place, you can check it on the pulley wheel to make sure it's centered. If it isn't, adjust it so the belt wears evenly and won't pop off. When the belt is in place, you can replace the bracket and back cover to the washer, slide it back against the wall, hook up the plumbing, plug the appliance in, and then test it to see if the washer spins.

For more information on washer repair, contact a professional near you.

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