I found that my
squeal was coming from the little rubber boot that seals the pump from the
impeller.
I silenced the
squeal as follows...
Give it a try. It
might work for you, too. It takes about 30 minutes.
- Unplug the
washer.
- Pull it away from
the wall a foot or two.
- Tip the washer
back toward the wall.
- Have a strong,
reliable helper hold the washer in that position -- firmly against the wall.
- Get down on the
floor. Lie on your back and put your head and arm under the washer (that's why
you need a good helper!).
- Unplug the
electrical wiring to the pump. (The GWL11 has 2 wiring connectors.)
- Slide a shallow
plastic dishpan under the pump to catch any water.
- Find and bend
back slightly (don't break it!) the plastic retaining latch that holds the pump
in place.
- Rotate the pump
counter-clockwise about 60 degrees, until it comes free.
- Note the
angle/position of the pump as you pull it free. This is the same angle/position
you'll need when you put it back in, of course.
- Get out from
under the washer -- with the pump, of course.
- Have your helper
lower the washer to the floor.
- Have your helper
clean up any excess water that runs onto the floor.
- Put the pump on a
well-lit table or other surface covered with newspaper.
- Using a straight
blade screwdriver, pry directly underneath the plastic fan (right up against
the shaft) to carefully and slowly work it off. Don't lose the small plastic
fan bushing!! - which is actually what you are prying against. Also, as you
remove the fan and bushing from the shaft, note carefully how the bushing fits
on the shaft. There is a right way and a wrong way to put it back!
- Now, you are
ready to remove the motor/shaft/impeller assembly from the bearings/windings
assembly. But first!! Find on the white plastic impeller frame the locking tab
that was engaged with the latch in step 8 above - and put a piece of tape on
the black bearing/windings assembly to mark the tab's position for reassembly.
- Using a 7mm
socket (or end) wrench, remove the 2 bolts holding the impeller/shaft assembly
to the bearings/windings assembly.
- Carefully pull
the impeller/shaft assembly from the bearings/windings.
- Spray the
bearings with a high-quality silicone lubricant. Buy a small can. It is worth
it. Do not use WD-40 or 3-in-1 Oil!
- Using toothpicks,
Q-tips, and paper towels, clean any dust, dirt, and hair from the bearings.
- Spray the
impeller shaft and rubber boot inside the white plastic framework with silicone
lubricant.
- Using toothpicks
and bits of paper towel, clean the shaft around the boot. Move the shaft back
and forth a few millimeters to compact the dusty, hairy crud - so you can spear
it with a toothpick and pull it away. Using a toothpick, stuff a shred of paper
towel inside the white plastic framework and rotate the shaft. Remove the dirty
paper towel shred. Spray more silicone onto shaft and boot. Repeat this
cleaning process until paper towel comes out clean. It is a little like
building a ship in a bottle - but quite doable.
- Once everything
is clean as a whistle, put a spritz of silicone lubricant in each sleeve
bearing and on the impeller shaft near the rubber boot.
- Re-assemble
everything in the reverse order starting with step 18 above.
- Test out your fix
with your helper and...
- If no squeal,
bask in the glow of gratitude and self-confidence!
- If it still
squeals, order a new pump.
BTW - Cleaning
all dust out from under the washer a couple times a year should help prevent
pump squealing in the future.
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