how do i change the rubber seal on mylgwashing machine?

how the hell do i do this it is driving me crazy

andy cavannagh
July 2007

I have just change the bellows (front seal) on my LG WD8013C frontloader.

First cut a small slot 1mm wide in a plain blade screwdriver with blade width about 6mm across. (Special tool I used)

First I removed the front steel ring and spring by levering between the rubber and the spring with a plain screw driver (you are going to replace the seal so there is no worries if you damage the old one). Next unravel the seal from around the outer opening. Then simply pull on the bottom of the inner sealing ring (another steel ring and spring is around the outside of that end as well). This should have some resistance so a little effort is required.

Now you have the old seal out, configure the new seal with the 2 drain holes in the bottom and manipulate over the outer drum lip (this took me about 5 minutes to get all the way home). The inside lip on the seal should be parallel to the stainless drum of the machine. Now push the rest of the seal until it is inside the stainless drum (to allow access to replace the inner spring ring) Next comes the FUN part! Putting the steel spring ring back on the inside.

Coat the outside of the seal with about 5ml of dishwashing liquid and spread it around with your hands to slip the ring over. Now loop the spring over the hook and loop the bottom of the ring over the small lip on the seal. Now work the ring anti-clockwise over the lip and hold the ring with the special screwdriver tool by placing the ring into the slot you cut. Next work the other half (still working anticlockwise) until the inner spring ring is on (easier to write than to actually do).

Next manipulate the outer edge of the seal (to the outer skin of the machine), around the door opening. This is easier than that painful inner one. Then put the spring ring with the spring at the bottom over the top of the outer seal. Again with the special screwdriver and the same method, work the steel ring into place.

Job should be complete, time to crack a tinny and sit down to watch the washing go around.

William Seal (no pun intended)
January 2007