Samsung Washing Machine Motor Repair

It is not always possible to repair the motor of a Samsung washing machine on your own. Even an inexperienced technician can handle replacing worn-out electric brushes but grinding down the lamellas or adjusting the winding are more complex and sometimes risky tasks. The first thing you need to do if the motor is faulty is to diagnose and determine the causes of the problem. Let's consider how to do it correctly.

Comprehensive engine check

Many Samsung washing machine models are equipped with collector-type electric motors. They rotate the drum via a belt drive. Such motors have an important advantage: owners of the equipment can test them at home, on their own, if they wish. The only condition is to follow safety rules and know the electrical circuit of the engine.

In collector electric motors, the connection is carried out according to a certain scheme. The supplied current goes to the thyristor, then sequentially to the contacts of the reverse relay, the stator winding, the rotor. When switching operating modes or changing power, the signal is transmitted from the control board through the contact groups of the command device and the transformer. The acceleration speed of the engine is regulated by a tachogenerator. It is located on the body. And to smooth out the friction force, electric brushes are provided.

Due to the fact that there are two sections in the stator winding, the probability of interference due to sparks on the collector is reduced. The direction of rotation of the drum is changed by changing the polarity on the wire. When switching to the spin mode, a tap is provided. Electricity is connected to the extreme terminal and directly to the tap. If it is omitted, the washing machine operates on a standard program, with smooth and slow shaft movements.

To diagnose a collector motor yourself, you need to supply electricity directly. The discharge occurs sequentially when connected first to the stator winding, then to the rotor. If the motor is in good condition, it starts to hum and work. If a short circuit occurs, the circuit noticeably heats up.

Another way to test the engine is to connect the stator and rotor windings as described above, and then use an autotransformer with a power of over 500 watts as a power source. This option is called safer by the master, as it allows you to clearly track the acceleration of the engine and quickly respond if an unforeseen situation arises.

If it is not possible to use a transformer, you can take an electronic regulator. It is easier to control the load and prevent the engine from overheating. Sometimes specialists make such devices themselves. Their schemes are easy to find on the Internet.

Beginners can visually assess the engine's performance and serviceability. To do this, start it and watch the collector brushes spark. If a large number of sparks appear, then a breakdown has occurred. The next steps to take are disassembling the engine and conducting extensive testing.

Is it possible to restore the slats?

Electric motor failures are often caused by loss of contact with a section of the rotor winding. This occurs when the motor lamellas or the wire located next to them are damaged. Lamels are metal plates connected to the collector shaft and transmit current through the circuit. If the lamellas are faulty, the current stops flowing to the rotor or its strength is much higher than the nominal level. As a result, there is a risk of a short circuit or overheating.

When connecting the lamellas to the winding sections, hooks are created, making the contact more reliable. But during the operation of the electric motor, the wires can catch on protruding parts and break. In this case, the repair consists of restoring the integrity of the part.

The peeling lamellas are a consequence of overheating, which occurs when the rotor jams or shorts. Current flows through the metal plates, the strength of which is higher than the operating level. As a result, the thin metal overheats and peels off. Among the most common reasons for the peeling of lamellas, craftsmen name the following:

• Damage to the bearings that “stop” the motor,
• In top-loading machines – unsecured drum flaps after starting the wash cycle and sudden stoppage of operation.

Peeled lamellas often indicate that there are related problems, or the washing machine is not being used correctly. The peeling of metal plates always has its own prerequisites. It is important not only to repair the engine, but also to check whether the equipment is being used correctly.

In case of minor delamination of the lamellas, with a gap size of no more than 0.5 mm, turning the shaft helps to correct the situation. It is performed on a special machine. The master finds all delaminations, cleans them and carefully inspects the part again, removes burrs or dust particles.

A simple test helps to detect the lamellae coming off. You can do it yourself. You need to slowly turn the motor and check if there is a cracking sound. Its appearance indicates that the lamellae are rubbing against the winding.

Winding problems

The cause of acceleration problems is sometimes a faulty winding. The motor may not start at all, or rotate the drum too weakly. When short circuits occur in the wire coils, overheating occurs, the thermistor is triggered, and the power supply is turned off. When the washing machine is started again, this process is repeated. This happens until the temperature sensor burns out and the electric motor itself fails.

To diagnose a winding fault, you need to use a multimeter. You need to do the following:

• Turn on the device, set the “Ohmmeter” mode,
• Connect the probes to the adjacent lamellas,
• The multimeter should show the resistance value. Normally, it should vary within the range of 0.1–0.4 Ohm.

If the winding is damaged, it can be repaired. But repairs are not cost-effective in most cases. It is easier and cheaper to replace the entire part.

It's all about the brushes

If the cause of the motor malfunction is in worn-out electric brushes, it is easy to deal with the problem. It is enough to remove the damaged parts and install new ones. To do this, you need to buy similar electric brushes. When choosing, you need to focus on the serial number of the machine or engine. To avoid mistakes, you can take old parts and come to the store with them. Sellers will help you choose the right ones by serial number. Electric brushes can have corner or central contacts, with or without a housing.

To replace the brushes, you need to remove the motor. You should act according to the following algorithm:

• Unscrew the bolts holding the rear panel of the washing machine body,
• Find the electric motor. It is located below the drum,
• Remove the belt. To do this, pull it towards you and simultaneously turn the pulley,
• Release the wiring from the contacts,
• Loosen the bolts that hold the engine,
• Remove it from its seat. You need to act carefully, rocking the engine body from one side to the other.

Experts advise beginners to film the process of removing the part on video or take photos so as not to make a mistake when it is necessary to install the engine in place.

The extracted motor should be placed on a flat surface. It should be dry. After that, you can start replacing the electric brushes. They are attached to the sides of the case. To remove the parts, you need to disconnect the wire that goes to the case, move the contact down and stretch the spring. After that, the brushes can be removed one by one.

 

Its case should be opened and the carbon tip located inside should be measured. If its length is less than 0.7 mm, the brush needs to be replaced. A new carbon rod is installed in the socket. Then you need to compress the spring, fix the part in the seat, move the contact up and connect the wiring.

If during repair it turns out that only one electric brush is worn out, it is necessary to replace both carbon rods, they are always installed in pairs. After replacing the brushes, you can install the motor and assemble the washing machine. The work is carried out as follows:

• The engine is placed in the “nest” and secured with bolts,
• The wiring is connected,
• Put on the drive belt,
• Close the case with the back panel, screwing in the retaining bolts.

The repair work is completed by checking the new brushes. To do this, you need to turn on the quick wash program. If the engine starts and the drum rotates without interference, then the equipment is in good working order.