Well..... the washing machine dismantling saga has started. I'm an hour and a half in and now on a break. I foresee this taking many hours. 

Installment Number One  

A quick photo op before we start. Smile! You can clearly see I was due an upgrade. She was getting on a bit, bless her. 

Poppy comes for a nosy. (She was my mum's dog).

The lid comes off. (At this point I had no idea of the trouble that big block of concretey stuff was gonna cause me). Loads of stuff in there, not sure where to start. I did start watching a video on youtube to get some tips, but it was 40 minutes long! I gave up after 2 minutes. 

I move to the back and hit my first snag. Some screws practically screw themselves off, others decide they ain't moving for nowt. I decide that small panel probably doesn't need to come off anyway  

The front is slightly more amenable. All those wires and stuff can be carefully removed by undoing a strategic screw or two. I decided just to chop them off with some pliers. I enjoyed that bit.  

Then I discover that the front of the washing machine does not come off at all.  The front and two sides are all one big section, so the back does need to come off.

Before I attempt that, I decide that removing that big concrete block will take some of the weight off and make things easier. Three big bolts to remove and it should come right out. The bolts are quite hard to access but after a slight panicky moment (cos I didn't have the right sized tool thing so had to use a normal spanner), I manage to get two off ....just. Then I notice the third bolt is set into a deeper hole and the angle just isn't gonna work.  

After a bit of a think I come up with a genius plan of chipping away at it to improve the angle.

After about half an hour of chipping I get bored and decide to investigate my tool box further and discover I did have the right sized tool thing all along. 

I LOVE my tool thing!!! Heavy concrete block removed and on the floor. Woo hoo!

I'm now  trying to decide the best course of action to remove the back panel. There are no screws.... it's got little rivet things? I think they're rivets? 

I've managed to chop the head off one rivet and then hammer the pin thing out, but it's still not making the join come loose at all. I'm regrouping on the sofa, trying to decide whether to continuing chopping and hammering or just go mental and get my drill out  

I'm now wondering whether I could undo enough stuff from the top and from underneath to then remove the drum through the top of the machine. I'm going to investigate! 

 I know with a couple of the washing machines I've had - I go through washing machines and hoovers like nobody's business - the engineers used to get in at them through the top, not the back. 

Yeah, It's looking like a hopeful strategy Yogi  

I have two more problems to solve.

1. The screws holding on the detergent draw are rusted and immovable, so I'm gonna have to smash that off if I want a chance of taking the drum through the top.  

2. I need to undo a number of bolts holding the drum to a concrete block at the bottom of the machine. It's taken me ages to find the right sized spanner thing (honesly...these things are as bad as USB drives, they LIE to you the first time you try them), and now I have, I don't have the brute strength needed to turn the things! I'm waiting for Duds to help me. 

In the meantime....Installment number two....

While pondering about the back versus the top strategy, I decide to do a bit of let the dog see the rabbit work and get rid of any bits and bobs that will allow me to remove them easily. 

E.g. the door...

...and any electrical bits I can gleefully chop off with my pliers... 

View from the top is a bit clearer now, but I'm gonna have to hammer off that draw on the left at some point. I haven't done it yet cos I'm a wimp and I'm a bit wary of flying bits of plastic. Another job for Duds.

If you're ever removing the rubber seal from a washing machine door, beware of releasing the metal clasp without goggles! I nearly lost my left eye!

With the door off, I was able to lay the machine on it's front and have a look underneath. The bolts I'm having trouble moving are at the bottom on the concrete thing. I also did a bit more chopping of wires and tried to remove the motor, but has the same issue with the bolts. 

It's the 'Aimee curse' 

Destroyer of Worlds and white goods 

You are doing Aimee proud Ducky  

SOCKET! That's what that spanner thing is called! Sorry, it's been driving me crazy all morning. 

Well if this is how she treats her machines, no wonder they never bloody work.  

Fair few vids on you tube on how to get the drum out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjULf1lLW5U

Ducky!  Get goggles on woman!

Or alternatively - just ask Aimee to give it a stern look and all the bits will drop off anyway.

Well Ducky, they tend to blow up, catch fire or otherwise fall apart. So more a case of dying really  

Thanks Jackson. I did try the videos. They tend to assume you want to put everything back together again afterwards, so there are a lot of steps! I'm taking a more direct, ripping stuff out approach.  

The problem I really have is that my sockets aren't deep enough, so I'm resorting to using a normal spanner. I can see what I need to do but don't have the strength to move the bolts.  I'm now googling deeper sockets and considering a trip to B&Q! 

I might try printing off her FB picture and wearing her as a mask. Too creepy?  

Have you tried squirts of WD 40 and then going back to trying after a couple of minutes?

No, but I shall now  

ROFL !  I'm loving your photo-story Ducky    You're very patient - I'd have taken a sledgehammer to it by now 

 I never thought of that - it's all Aimee's fault!

Nah.. go for it.  

WD40, gaffer tape and No More Nails that is my entire knowledge of DIY, if they fail I give up

  Same here Squiggle... 

  and the No More Nails is overkill.

 Two rules to diy

If it doesn't move and it should = WD40

If it moves and it shouldn't = Gaffer tape.

If gaffer tape and wd40 fails, then hit it with a hammer.

WD40 is your friend, though can't guarantee it'll work 100%.

Installment number 3!

Duds still isn't "available" to help me , so I gave up waiting and hit the detergent draw with a hammer. That worked. Popped straight off like a gud 'un. 

I gave up trying to get the bolts off too (WD-40 failed. The DIY holy grail actually failed    ... ) and just cut through the two rubber pipes left holding the drum to the metal case and gave it a good pull. And it got stuck.  

But all was not lost! Having turned it on to it's back in a fit of frustration in a well thought out plan to try and fit a round drum through a square hole, I spotted my chance to get at the other side of the concrete block bolts! And this time they moved! Mostly due to the fact my socket things were deep enough when used on this side Thank the lord for giving washing machines doors!

Success! Surely now it will be small and light enough to pull out! 

I forgot to take pictures for a while.... due to washing machine dismantling rage..... but it still wouldn't fit through!  So I went back to plan A. Stood it back up and hammered out two more rivets to try and get the back off. It became clear that the rivets were just for show and some f***er had welded together every damn panel with some sort of mega super sticky invisible substance unknown to man. 

So I once again laid it flat, wondering if I could attack the joints with a chisel and a hammer. Then I decided to give it one more mega super pull, just in case  .....and guess what?????

Ta da!

So yeah , I still have to get the plastic cover thing off, but for now, just for a little while, I'm gonna bask in the glory

I think I will have a tidy up before tackling the next bit. My house looks like it's been burgled by Bob the Builder! 

It's taken 6 hours ..... (including breaks to post pictures) 

I actually considered going to buy one around about 4pm  

Well done Ducky

I'm considering giving myself a well needed post washing machine dismantling manicure with these three products. 

That was a brilliant afternoons entertainment...I mean dismantling Ducky 

Brilliant descriptions and piccies too  

Almost as exciting as the football 

It sure was!  

Very proud of you Ducky   it was a heck of a job but....success at last!  

Almost? 

Ducky v Washer...... 1-0   

I've taken a couple of little bits off the outside of the drum, but I think I'm gonna call it a day. The plastic isn't shifting, so I think I need to have a good google. Plus my fingers hurt  

Tomorrow though, final victory shall be mine.

I have to win. I've already ordered the paint!  

Have a well earned rest Ducky  Very impressed you managed to do it! 

Well done, Ducky