blades/paddles in the drum have broken away?

Hotpoint Ultima WD880 (1600spin)

Our washing machine developed a loud rattle on full spin but washed perfectly.

We unloaded the washing yesterday and the three blades/paddles which are fixed to the inside of the drum had broken free and were lying in amongst the washing.

These blades are blue plastic, triangular in cross section and about 25cms (10 inches) long, in fact they look like a slightly oversized ‘toblerone’ chocolate bar.

It looks as though the blades are fixed in place by 6 plastic lugs that engage into the steel drum. The lugs seem to have simply sheared off.

Can anyone advise what might have happened? – all three blades broke away on the same wash.

Also can anyone advise me where to go for replacement parts?

And can anyone advise how to go about the job of fixing the parts?

Many thanks

Peter Hartland
March 2009