Well done, your mum would be proud

Ok,  I couldn't leave it till tomorrow  

 

Installment 4! 

 

Took aaaaaaaages to get the top of the plastic cover off. There was a lot of swearing at this point.  But finally the end is in sight!

 

 

 

 

I was convinced that this bit wasn't coming off. Not till I watched someone do it on youtube was I convinced I just wasn't twisting the spanner hard enough. The piece of wood came from the packaging on my new washer. Duds called me daft for keeping it. He didn't believe me when I said it would come in useful. Can't wait to gloat. 

 

 

 

 

It does come off! Thank you youtube handyman!

 

 

 

 

The metal drum is freeeeeee! And yeah, turns out that a mangled black sock may be responsible for my washer's demise. 

 

 

 

 

 

Shiny!

 

 

 

 

Just imagine......daffodils.....and other stuff....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, Aimee......this is the only bit left between me and a drum that can stand flat on the ground....

 

 

 

 

I'm clueless as to how to remove it. So start glaring. 

I'd kick it

Actually you could help me, I'm having washing machine problems for a change mine keeps flooding and I've found its powder blocking the drawer, I've bought some stuff that unblocks it but I want to know what's behind the drawer, is it a pipe?

 

Yes. On mine it was a big thick corrugated tube, about 3 inches in diameter. 

 

See, if you'd asked me yesterday I wouldn't have had a clue. I feel quite knowledgeable now.  

That's going to look pretty damn good, Ducky!   Well done.

they look like torque screws - do they have a star shape to the head of the screw?

you see you've even learned something

Cheers for that my dad put his hand down so far and pulled all the gunk out

I use liquid now as I seem to be a bit heavy handed with the powder

It looks great Ducky  

 

No, they're completely round and with big hole in the middle.  They basically look like big eyelet things. I've had a google but I don't think I'm using the correct terms  

 

I'll try and get a close up pic in case we have DIY experts here who could help! 

Anyone have any ideas?

 

 

 

You can see straight through it and it looks basically the same on the back. 

 

Ducky, now you have discovered what was wrong with it...black sock...can't you put it back together again?

 

Scarpers  

You better run!   

Sorry can't help there Ducky 

 

It could be a pop rivet type thing, in which case it would have to be drilled out...

 

are they not bolt holes ?

 

what is this middle bit in this pic- could it be holding that 3 legged/pronged bracket on 

 

Good thought MrsH 

Well done the Duck! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think the bit in the middle was what connected to the drive mechanism that turned the drum.

If there were an award for the most entertaining but unexpected gripping tale of a domestic appliance, then this would win hands down!

That's the spindle Ducks, you should be able to release from the inside.

Well done Ducky! I'm so impressed and think it's gonna look fab. What colour paint did you decide on? Thanx for posting all the pics etc, I've really enjoyed reading through it all

 

Yep And the three 'hole things' are what's holding it on.  I need to get it off!

 

I watched a youtube vid and the bloke said on some machines you can take this three pronged thing (he didn't say thing... ...) off and replace it, on others you would need to replace the whole drum. 

 

I'm worried it ain't coming off.  

 

The only alternative would be to put my planter on soft ground so that thing in the middle can be stuck in the ground, but I'd rather not do that. 

The traingular bracket things are just strengthening the drum, I think, I don't think they come off.

 

It's just a totally smooth flat surface on the inside Jackson.  

If you can't get it off maybe You could place it on a layer of bricks Ducky? Could blow over in high winds though.

Me too Jen 

I suggested above to try and drill them out Ducky. Use a drill that is slightly larger than the hole. If it come off, okay. If not no damage 

Hit it with a hammer then..

Ditto WAy to go Duckster Maybe you've found a new vocation....you and Aimee can set up a business ....she breaks them and you recycle them    

 

I've gone for a fairly dark brown speckled stone effect paint Jen. I was going to go for something lighter... but because of all the little holes in the drum, I thought it would end up looking spotty.  

 

It's supposed to look like this....

 

 

 

We shall see  

With the soil in it I think it would be heavy enough to be stable.

PMSL!!

 

Poor Aims. She does come in for some stick 

 

Great idea Moons! I've checked, but I don't have a drill bit big enough. I would need one over a cm wide. I shall investigate this as a way forward though  

Well done, Ducky.

If you were really going for it an angle grinder would cut through those ring things