How to change the rubber band on the washing machine: how to remove, replace the cuff

Replacement of the cuff in a front-loading washing machine may be required for various reasons, but for this task it is not necessary to call a master. You can change the elastic at home without any special tools in any typewriter, the , whether it's a model from Indesit, Samsung, LG or another brand. The procedure will take about 30-60 minutes and will save your money if you understand how the cuff is replaced.

The replacement of the cuff is most often due to the appearance on the seal of ruptures or cracks that leak water during washing. As a result of the formation of such damage, the owner of the machine will see under the hatch water flows, and having inspected the cuff, he will notice cracks or tears, which may have different sizes. The reasons for this situation are such factors:

• Natural wear of the seal. During the operation of the machine, the cuff is constantly susceptible to friction of the drum and laundry. It heats up when washing, and then cools. In addition, it is affected by detergents. Over the years, this leads to brittle and brittle rubber.
• Low-quality detergent. Under the influence of cheap powder and detergents with questionable quality, rubber cuffs begin to deteriorate, so saving on powder results in costs for replacing the sealant.
• Excess dosing of detergents. When using a powder or a liquid agent in an excessive amount, the structure of the sealing rubber can also be damaged, which causes the cuff to be changed.
• Details of clothing that could damage the seal. Such elements can act as metal and plastic fittings. In addition, the machine from the pockets of clothing can get screws, nails and other items that can cause cuff ruptures.

Over time, if you do not clean the sealing cuff, mold can get on it. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically clean the washing machine. How to do it, you can see in the next video.

• Prepare a flat-blade screwdriver for work, and if your machine is old, then round-benders. In addition, do not forget to de-energize the machine and turn it off from the water supply.
• First remove the machine from the door, as well as the lock of the hatch. Your main actions for detaching the cuff will be to remove the clamps used to attach the rubber bands to the front wall of the apparatus and to the tank body.
• Carefully remove the front edge of the cuff, then loosen and remove the first clamp. If this part is plastic, then it is fastened with snaps, and the metal clip is fixed with a screw or a spring, which you need to remove with a screwdriver. The screw should be unscrewed, and the spring - a little to pull and loosen. Using a screwdriver clamp, it can be removed. If the machine is an old model, there are no adjusting bolts or latches in the construction of the yokes, and to remove such collars, you will have to work round-nosed.
• The next step is to carefully detach the front of the seal. It is held in the machine because of its shape and its own tension.
• After this you need to start disconnecting the second clamp. Sometimes for this task it is required to remove the cover of the machine body. Using a screwdriver, unscrew the clamp bolt or simply slide it. After this, the cuff can be removed from the device.

First of all, you need to buy the necessary rubber band. Since the cuffs from other models of the machine may not go up to yours, even if in appearance they are the same, be sure to tell the seller during the purchase of the sealant model of the washing machine on which you are going to install the cuff. Only after making sure that the purchased cuff is exactly the same as your damaged sealant, you can start replacing, including such actions :

1. Clean the edge of the tank from dirt( salts, powder and others).For this task you will need a warm soapy solution. After removing all dirt, do not rinse the film formed from the soap solution, since it will help in installing a new cuff.
2. Install the rubber band on the tank. Please note that doing this with a new rubber band will not be easy. Attach the upper part of the seal to the tank( its upper edge) so that the marks coincide, then use two thumbs to tighten the cuff. To do this, your fingers should slide from the center to the sides. In this case, at the bottom of the cuff will not slip, but will put on the entire edge.
3. Check if the cuff is correctly seated. The holes for draining the water should be located strictly down the center, and the tab, which is found in most rubber bands, should be at the top. In addition, after installing the rubber, no gaps should form, as leakage due to leakage is possible.
4. Tension the inner yoke. You need to act according to the clamp. If its fixation is provided by a tensioned spring, it is necessary to put the spring part of the yoke on the screwdriver( if you have not removed the front wall, then slide the screwdriver into the lock hole).So you can freely stretch the spring and clasp in its place. In case of tightening with a screw, simply unscrew the screw, put the yoke in its place, and then tighten the screw to the required force. It will be even easier to fasten the plastic clamp held by the latches. If you have a wire clip in your model, carefully tighten the ends with the round-nosed pliers, and then remove the assembly into the existing cuff recess.
5. We put the rubber band on the front wall and pull on the second clamp. All manipulations with the second clamp are carried out in the same way as with the inner clamp, depending on the features of its clamping.
6. Check the tightness of the installed cuff. To do this, include any short program of washing, without loading the machine linen, and make sure that water does not flow out of the bottom of the cuff.

It also happens that the front panel on the washing machine is not removed. It's not entirely convenient to replace the cuff. There is a way out of this situation and in the following video they describe in detail and tell how to replace the sealing cuff on such washing machines.

To prevent damage to the cuff due to metal locks and other fittings on clothes, use special bags for washing things with plastic or metal elements. In the absence of a bag, turn the locks inside the clothes.

In addition, it is important to always inspect the pockets of things before loading into the washing machine to prevent any objects that can cut the rubber seal from getting into the apparatus.