Washing machine jumps during spin cycle

If your LG washing machine jumps during the spin cycle for no apparent reason, then you shouldn’t turn a blind eye to it. This behaviour of the washing machine seems harmless and frivolous, but in reality, it sometimes hides large-scale technical breakdowns. Ignoring the problem will lead to internal damage, even death. In order not to aggravate the situation, you need to learn how to respond competently to the increased vibration of the machine. This will be discussed below.

What causes the shaking?

Normally, the machine should vibrate, but almost silently, and a noticeable increase is only permissible during the spin cycle. If the vibration develops into unhealthy and suspicious shaking, then there are good reasons for this. Some of them are harmless and can be easily fixed, while others indicate large-scale breakdowns and require costly repairs. To understand the tactics of action, we study the entire list:

• unstable position of the machine,
• the resulting imbalance,
• exceeding the maximum weight when loading things or, on the contrary, insufficient amount of laundry in the drum,
• transport bolts not removed,
• foreign objects getting inside the machine (keys, hairpins, pins, small toys, children's socks),
• faulty shock absorption system,
• worn bearing assembly,
• problems with counterweights (loose fixation or damage to the concrete block),
• broken electric motor.

Many causes can be identified and corrected on your own if you know the structure of the washing machine and remember safety precautions. The main thing is not to let the shaking take its course, but to immediately begin to act. Specific steps and recommendations are provided below.

How to look for a breakdown?

If you decide to act on your own, then we begin to find out who is to blame and what to do to calm down the washing machine. The search for a breakdown should occur sequentially: from the simplest to the most complex. So, first, we eliminate the imbalance, which can be dealt with in a couple of minutes. If there is an imbalance, the machine begins to jump furiously, because during the washing process:

• The laundry is crumpled in one place, for example, it got into a hole in the duvet cover,
• The weight of the clothes is above the specified maximum limit for the activated washing program,
• The weight exceeds the loading norm, or, conversely, there are too few things.

During the first wash on a newly purchased machine, a suspicious vibration indicates that the transport bolts have not been removed. They are installed in the machine to secure the drum and must be unscrewed before operating the machine.

Another simple reason is incorrect installation of the machine body. It’s easy to check the machine: just swing the equipment when it’s turned off. If with a slight push the washing machine moves, it means that the problem has been detected. To confirm your guess, you need to measure the position of the unit with a building level.

Next, open the hatch door and use a flashlight to illuminate the tank, while simultaneously rotating the drum. It is likely that a hard object is stuck inside the housing, jamming the motor from spinning. As a result, the machine begins to walk around the room and hum.

If at this stage the culprit of the shaking is not found, we will have to move on to larger problems. The first thing in line is shock absorption, which should smooth out all mechanical vibrations in the machine. When the dampers are worn out, the machine jumps, and the drum begin to knock on the walls of the case. A similar knock is heard when the counterweight is weakened. Bearings signal their wear with another sound - a strong grinding sound.

To accurately diagnose a breakdown, you need to remove the top panel of the machine and inspect all the mentioned parts of the washing machine one by one. If no faults are found, then there are two options left: a breakdown in the electric motor or a manufacturing defect. When the problem is found, you can begin repairs - step-by-step instructions are presented below.

We fix it with our own hands.

When it becomes clear why the machine is walking on the floor, you can begin to eliminate the problem. Tactics depend on the nature of the breakdown. So, when an imbalance arises, we act consistently.

• Stop the running program.
• Disconnect the machine from the power supply.
• We wait for the end of the drain and open the drum. If the water is not drained automatically and the UBL does not turn off, we use an emergency drain through the technical hatch.
• We break up the clump of things and distribute them evenly over the drum. If there is an overload, we remove some of the laundry, and if there is an underload, we report.
• Close the drum.
• We start the program or spin.

If the machine jumps due to improper installation, then to solve the problem it is necessary to level the surface on which the machine is installed with a level. You also need to adjust the legs so that the machine locks as level and stable as possible. You can put pads on the legs that have an anti-vibration and anti-slip effect.

To get objects that have fallen under the drum, you must try. First, we try to pick up the thing with a wire bent with a hook, and if that doesn’t work, we remove the back panel, take out the heater and take out the lost thing by hand.

If the shock absorption is faulty, only replacement will help. Moreover, only a pair of dampers are replaced, even when the left one or, conversely, the right one seems practically untouched. The procedure for dismantling and installing spring structures is complex, so it is recommended to study a separate article devoted to the analysis of this topic.

When the counterweight is to blame for the shaking, you will have to remove the top panel of the case and inspect the concrete blocks from the inside. The weights are attached with bolts, which are best tightened with pliers and wrenches. If the screws do not lock, but turn, then you will have to remove the old fasteners and install new ones in their place. We do the same when concrete is damaged.

If the machine jumps due to bearings, then it is better to immediately call the service center. Replacing a bearing assembly is too labour-intensive. If you want to figure it out on your own, look at our instructional article on this topic.

The worst thing is if the engine fails. Few people will be able to repair the engine on their own, but a new engine will be very expensive. Often repairs and replacements are not worth it - it is cheaper and easier to purchase a new washing machine.

Professional opinion

Jumping is a common problem, which from harmless and trivial can develop into quite destructive and costly. In order not to cross this line, it is worth considering a few expert tips that can minimize the effects of vibrations and reduce them to zero. We are talking about the following recommendations:

• Use special rubber or silicone gaskets for the legs that have noise-insulating properties,
• Lay a layer of sound insulation behind the wall of the machine,
• Do not place the machine close to the headset or other objects,
• Do not load the machine more than 1/3,
• Remove transportation bolts in a timely manner,
• Remove small objects stuck in the machine with a magnet or vacuum cleaner,
• Sort items by size and type of material.

The most important thing is not to experiment. It is better and more reliable to contact professionals in case of large-scale breakdowns with the motor, bearings, control board and dampers. Remember that LG direct drive washing machines require a different approach than a belt washer, and only an experienced technician can choose the optimal tactics.