Mend > Washing Machines

Mend Zanussi FJS1397 Washing Machine Leak Drum

Zanussi FJS1397 - Leaking from front?

While on a standard cycle I noticed wet carpet tiles at the front of the machine. I checked all external pipe connections, which were fine and then watched another wash cycle. No water leaked during the initial fill of the machine although soapy water started to leak from the front during drum rotation. Initially I thought it may be a door seal but initial inspection showed nothing. I then removed the back of the machine and checked all pipes and hoses and found nothing obvious. On running the rinse program there was no leak, but the water level in the empty machine was low. I stopped the cycle and started to intermittently fill the drum via a hosepipe through the open door whilst checking for drips with a torch from the exposed rear of the machine. After a short while I noticed a series of drips from the very front of the drum but feeling with my hand, as I could not get to the front of the machine without major disassembly, it was evident the water was not from any hoses but seemed to be coming from the front of the very bottom of the drum where the front ballast/blocks are attached. For confirmation the water in the drum was well below door level which rules out the door seal. Any clues where the water is leaking from?... or whether I need to assume that the drum itself is damaged (which I would have thought to be unlikely). Any help appreciated.

Trevor Jones
June 2010

Zanussi Zanussi FJS1397 Household Appliances, Washing Machines Washing Machine Leak Drum

After ordering a brand new machine I eventually got round to completely stripping down the old leaky machine and was relieved that I hadn't wasted my money as once I removed the concrete weights around the front of the tub it was obvious that the rotating drum had been rubbing away the plastic tub for quite some time as the whole perimeter was almost worn through with a number of gaps around the tub perimeter.

There was no evidence of something before caught between the tub and drum but looked more like that the drum had been rubbing against the tub for quite some time.

Thanks for your help and advice

Trevor Jones
August 2010

Many thanks for the response. I tried again last night by disassembling the whole front of the machine but I think I am coming to the conclussion that Comet may end up with a major slice of my hard earned cash.

Trevor Jones
June 2010

if something has been jammed down between the front and the stainless steel inner drum then may be it has cut through the front tub which is only made of carbon plastic.remove the filter and if there is grey strips of plastic shavings in there then this is what has happened.whole drum out and total rebuild to repair.time for a new one ????

ck
June 2010