The video is accurate with the directions. But it is edited and done by a professional so don’t think this is a 5 min replacement. It took me about an hour and I am very mechanically minded. Taking everything apart was nothing. Putting the bellow in and making sure the lip is properly sealed on the inner side will test your patience. A combination of that, being on my knees, and my spring being way stronger and shorter than the one in this video is what took all the time and my patience. I’m glad my kids weren’t home to hear the expletives I was spewing. Thank you for the video.
We used this video to remove and clean the bellow on the washer in the house we are renting, which hadn’t been cleaned properly in years and was full of mold. The instructions are completely accurate, but be warned that it took my husband and I a full 5 hours to get this done. It is quite difficult to get the feel of how to re-seat the bellow when replacing it. And the tension on our inner spring was so high that it took 3 spring clamps (and a lot of frustration) to get it back in place. Definitely think about how much time and effort you are willing to spend re-installing the bellow before removing it. But that being said, we couldn’t have done it without this video!
While I appreciate this this video, I gave up and called the service person. I fixed all the other issues myself and they cut me a deal for just installing the spring. My kids learned a bunch of words that day which I reiterated that they are not to repeat.
Well i ended up getting it on with a little help from a friend. But we had to take the cement counter weight off also. Still sucked with all the room in the world to get the bellow around the stupid thing almost gave up. The spring was the easy part mostly cause we had spring clamps. Never do that again.
OK I just did this - I see others are having difficulty so here are a few tips - first, to seat the backside of the bellow, you don't just jam it in, it sort of slide in then you need to pull the rubber back a bit and slip it over the lip of the metal. It's kind of hard to explain but just know you don't just shove it in and that's that. It isn't hard just needs finesse. Now to the spring - your spring ls likely much tighter than the spring in this video. I found the KEY for me was to use a large C-clamp at the top of the bellow. Also, it really helps to use soapy water in the groove where the spring goes, this helps a lot too. If I had to do this again, I think I could do it in 20-30 mins where this first time took me an hour and a half or so.
Larry Steffler Could'nt have been easier, I watched your short video, did'nt unplug the washer as there is no way to get shocked, and simply removed the broken one with snippy nose pliers, I checked the wire channel for any debris, there was none. Next, placed clamp in the groove at top center assuring that the wire was in the groove both sides to bottom, then, once I was assured the clamp was in place properly, I pulled on the spring lightly and tucked the spring assembly under the flap made for it at the bottom. It went on in less than 3 minutes and I am no mechanic. Thank you thank you for saving me a service call and who knows how much for repairs. Thanks again for clear instructions. Your a human bein, and its much appreciated.
The best advice given in the comments is to make sure that the seal is correctly installed on the lip. I had this wrong and the lip was riding up making the spring impossible to fit. I had multiple clamps around the circumference and still could not do it. I searched all the videos and read the comments. My advice is to make sure that the seal is seated correctly before trying to fit the spring. The seal should laying comfortably on the washer with the lip laying flat and not riding up. If it rides up look at it again and get that part right. Once i had that correct it took 5minutes to install the spring. This job took me quite some time but thankfully I didn't have 'someone ' looking over my shoulder telling me how I was going wrong. My advice is to take a good look at how the seal is mounted b4 u remove it. Not like i did and just pull it off. Thanks again to utube and the posters and comments. Saved me heaps.😊
Great video! Thanks so much for the step by step process. For anyone having problems with getting the springs back on - listen to this guy's instructions... Spray with a silicone lube, use a good spring clamp or 3, and then work your way around like he said. I'm not particularly handy but with the help of my son's rock climber hands we were able to get the whole thing reinstalled in about 10 or 15 minutes. It's actually pretty easy with the right technique.
Life and money saver.. Thank you. Reading the reviews it takes a bit longer than 5 minutes. It took me 2 hours and I am good with tools. I had a lot of fun.
Thanks for the video , and it helped a lot to understand how the bellows comes apart. That inner spring has a bit more tension on it than I thought it would , and it took some force to stretch it into place .
Thank you for the video. I have a stacked machine in a laundry closet and didn't want to take it all apart (like all the other videos said had to be done)... This works .. was not easy but is doable and the more you do it the easier it get (and way easier than taking the whole machine apart). Unfortunately for me the one I purchased on eBay didn't fit correctly and once it was all installed it rubbed against the spinning drum and started to disintegrate. I was able to patch the old one with some silicone sealant and put it back on .. I can say the second time was way easier than the first. Used the 2 clamp method for the retaining spring and it worked like a charm.
hahaha... very funny video....thank you for making it but.....as a mechanic for 50 years I have found that the long route is some times the easiest..... I tried for 15 mins to install, hahahaha.... then pulled the top , control panel and front so I could get the gasket deep enough to over lip. the other problem is the top tab alignment, no room for error at all... Tried silicon but dish soap worked better....I believe I could have gotten the old one reinstalled without removing the face panel but it was already stretched out... So save yourself some real cussing and go the long route. The spring was a little tough to install but after coating the spring grove with some dish soap I got it in. Total time, including removing the panels, about 1.25 hours....
I did the replacement shown here this morning. The video makes it look a lot easier than I experienced. I had to do it twice. The 1st time, the boot rubbed against the metal edge of the drum during a test wash causing the unit to smoke. I had a repairman look at it and he quoted a price of over $600 to redo it. I tried again myself, with more lubricant and the spring more stretched out and it seems to have worked. We've done 4 loads with no issues since my second install attempt. First, the spring shown is a lot looser than a replacement spring out of the box. You're going to need patience and hand strength to line up the spring in the groove all the way round. Second, the stage in the video is more open than the space I was working with and probably most actual set-ups in people's homes. If you try this, be really careful with the spring. The one I installed popped out a couple times the first time I tried, causing scary moments. The spacers that come with the boot to hold the spring in place when installing (not shown in this video) flew out of the machine on me, so use firm clamps (at least two) and a lot of lubricant. Be careful. The video makes this job look much less difficult than it is.
Thank you for sharing. You are correct, the person completing the video is a very experienced technician so the repair would be a lot faster than someone with as much experience. We're glad to hear that you were able to complete the repair on your own. However, we would caution you and others from stretching the spring, it's supposed to be that tight.
Tips or tricks?: Getting the new rubber 'boot''s first inner side to stay on the plastic rim was the hardest part for me. It kept sliding off as I was working it around the rim. Finally had to get my wife for a second set of hands to hold the top most areas on while I worked the lower portions. Doing it alone must take some tricks or practice. The videos make it look so easy.
Fred - Do we have to take apart the front cover of the washer apart as i have dryer stacked on top which mean i will have to take that apart and bring it down or can you install the bellow as you did in the video without removing front cover. please advice. Thank you so much for helping. The washer is exactly same kind you are using in your video
@1:07 can’t be stressed enough. Do yourself a favor and do NOT attempt to install the bellow without the silicone lube. You won’t be able to get it on to the inner ring. Also, stretch the spring out a good bit before attempting to re-install it. Spring clamps are NECESSARY.
My feedback: I had a piece of plastic in the door lock from the previous door latch that had broken off and got lodged inside the lock. I did not have needle nose pliers so I used a flathead screwdriver to wedge underneath the spring to remove the metal ring. Pulling from the right side (adjacent to the door lock) is the easiest way to remove the bellow. It took about 40 minutes in total to do everything, including removing the broken piece of plastic from the lock.
The inner spring on the video has been pre stretched. Like it's got so much more slack, about 4x more slack than mine! So since I got mine installed without any slack means I'm stronger than this guy. Like 4x stronger!
Alexis, mine went on like it was made for it!, did'nt take 3 minutes and only used my thumb and index finger to pull it a tad and went right into place..
I'm with you, Alexis. I used three spring clamps and all my grip strength to get that blasted spring on. Plus, before each spring went on, the video just said to push the bellows into the groove. Nothing about fitting the rubber over the metal flange, which was really difficult.
I got this done without pulling the washer apart as well. Ours is in a built-in a couple feet off the floor so taking it out meant building some kind of stand (matching the exact height of the built-in) to hold it then sliding it out likely ruining the cabinet in the process. I used one good c-clamp to hold the left side in place (near the door hinge) then simply worked the spring around with my thumb and fingers (I'm in my 50s and work in computers so not the strongest hands), sliding it up over the ridge from the top toward the bottom. If I had any tips it would be: 1. There are more than one arrow. Pay attention to the holes and make sure they are on the top.. I was so stressed about the spring I didn't see I was 1/4 turn off after my first successful attempt with the inner spring. Couldn't straighten without starting over. Grr! 2. Too much lube will work against you as the boot will slip off and things generally are too slippery (including hands). May have been best I got the boot on then walked away to let that dry. 3. Have at least one good c-clamp at the ready. I spent time messing around with other clamps and things that just wouldn't hold against the tension of that wire. If I'd have had 2-3 of those clamps it would have gone faster than the hour it took. 4. It took me a while to find a good way to clamp it without hurting the boot. I ended up pulling the boot inside the clamp and having one side on the metal inside the washer.. otherwise it put pressure on the boot and likely would tear it. 5. Have some zip-ties to hold the tubes into the boot - you'll see them when you take it apart. 6. When you pull the old boot out the spring likely will stay in place. Pry it out with a screwdriver but watch out, its going to go flying once you start pulling it over the rim and snap. 7. Kept dropping things down into the washer.. take your time and be careful. Once I nearly lost the inner spring down there. If you've changed a stubborn/tight tire on a bike you can do this. Many of the actions felt similar from getting the boot on to the spring etc. Pretty sure this guy can do it in the time shown but maybe not the first time. Now that I know how it all went I could do it way faster than an hour.
great video but also adding that this “5 minute job” took me a couple hours - took a smoke break, a ride to the store to get the correct spring clamps (i just had the one spare), and a whole lot of patience beware removing and re-installing the inner spring, the factory one had gorilla strength tension on it
Getting the bellow back on takes finger and thumb strength plus lube. The inner spring takes the spring clamp and a wife. Totally doable regardless of what commenters say. Took me 2 hours because i kept going back to video but i think next one will be 30 minutes.
I’m glad I didn’t try do it this way. That spring is extremely tight. Follow the videos that remove the top and front panels. You’ll save a lot of frustration. There are several screw types, so keep track of where they go.
This bellow is definitely a tough one to put back on. Two great pieces of information when reinstalling the bellow is to take the top cover and front cover off with 14 Robertson screws and two clips one for the control panel and one for the door sensor. Then when you push the lip back on the inside push the outside lip while you pull the inside seal towards the middle of the washer and work it around and when reinstalling the spring start from the side and have one person hold it and another pull it around and tuck it in as you go. Its definitely difficult but me and the wife got it done in under an hour and a half.
So we got the old one out pretty quick. Tried for three hours to get the new one in , no luck. I am now thinking you missed a step, would it be easier to do the inner lip/ spring with the door off?.
The OEM spring on my original bellow was so tight I needed 4 clamps and a screw driver, plus I took the front off to gain access. My washer doesn't have an LED light, just the fresh rinse line
Notice how loose the inner spring is on this video. The OEM is much tighter. Also, the replacement boot I received did not have the outer groove for the outer retention loop.
Tip: The inner spring (about 38-40 inch circumference) is very tight but it can be stretched by hand very carefully. Just pull it apart at different points and it will stretch the coils. Do not over stretch it. I did not need to take off the front panel of the washer to replace the bellows.
Looks like I have the same bellow but I cannot remove the below. It feels like it is glued on. Purchased brand new from Howard's Appliances in San Gabriel. I'm afraid to rip it. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your help.
Can anyone help me with figuring out the inside clamp? We bought a new bellow and are re-using the the old front spring and the old inside clamp. Do you need to get the inside clamp into the groove on the bellow before installing the bellow on the washer? It seems impossible. We used at least 6-8 clamps trying to get that clamp into that groove all around and we had it in and it just kept popping out. This feels like the clamp is too tight and won’t fit without popping out.
The inner spring that hold on the boot is very tight. the boot must be placed on first starting from the top and working your way down along the sides. Then the spring is started at the top of the boot and held in place with a clap. the clamps you see in the video are suggested. Work your way about one third the way around with the spring and place a clamp again to hold it in place. Work another third of the way and place a clamp again and then finish install the spring. It is not an easy job.
looks like a over stretched the spring, that's how I managed to put it back in...like 1/5 of it was overstretched. I believe this is called plastic deformation. can this spring still be used or do I need to buy a new one?
I followed directions, but when I had finished, the drum on my washer literally couldn't spin... I assumed I wedged the bellows in too far.. But it looked right. I'm ready to give up on this project!
Yup. The spring in the video must have been pre-stretched. Take apart route was easier to get spring back on. More disassembly but with clamps I got it back together without cussing at Fred's Appliance Academy. I think they need to make videos from the point of view of someone who has not been doing this day in day out.
Make sure you watch intently during the install of the inner seal after he puts silicone on. Spent about an hour of trying to figure it out and rewatched this video. Got it done in about 15 minutes
The boot seal I ordered was missing the rubber sleeve where the tube goes into. They must have cut it off. I tried to rig it up but I’m not 100% sure the tube will stay in there. This is so irritating.
We would suggest when this happens to return the part and make sure only a new correct part is installed. We do understand the frustration of getting a part that is damaged or incorrect.
Just went through this process and the door wouldn't close properly. We had to push the door closed and hit the lock button. Has anyone had a similar problem?
A key factor when making a how-to video is to properly communicate the most difficult parts of this entire process. The most challenging part is successfully putting the bellow on. And, unfortunately, this video fails to neither provide forewarning nor explain - in exhaustive detail - that this singular step out of many takes a good hour or two (at least) for non-professionals.
just a question?, did you check the number on the bag? they may have sent you the wrong one. It certainly should not be loose, thats what the spring is for on the clamp. I just used my fingers to put mine on, it was a no brainer, and I am no handyman or mechanic! Good luck
That was not enjoyable. 1. Lube the bellow. I used dishsoap. This will help the lip sink into the groove of the bellow properly. 2. I started at the top and sink the white metal tab into the special groove at the top of the bellow. One cannot just shove it in there, you’ve got to make sure the lip is sinking down into the groove. I used both hands on either side of the bellow. 3. Definitely need spring clips.
ADDITIONAL ADVICES: - SEAL - my install didn't feel right and could not figure this out. This guy: explained it: ruclips.net/video/5Nu8KYKljyc/видео.html The steps of the video here are great but not clear how the edge goes around the cylinder. Otherwise great! I'd recommend to remove the top weight as well, it was easier after. - SPRING for seal - I used 2 straps (loops) at the bottom to hold the spring in place at the bottom using the 2 small legs as anchor. Then I pulled the spring around pulling from the top and going around, and I think it was easier than using the clamps (the clamp doesn't allow the spring to stretch). Otherwise, great and clear video! Thank you very much!
@@davidsullivan3906 Make sure you start at the top and work your way down along the sides. Also, make sure it is properly being lipped onto the outer tub. This is not an easy job and most people do have a difficult time with it the first few times they do it.
@fredsapplianceacademy I got it in 5 minutes after that. I don't know maybe i was trying to put the outside edge in the groove too. Thanks for the last comment.
I think it is unfair to suggest that this was done in 5 minutes. The bellows and spring takes 5 minutes once u get the bellows seated correctly. This is the key. Ask me how I know. I thought it was right but it wasn't. Once i got it right 5 minutes. U must use at least two spring clamps. I bought 8 of the suckers b4 i realised where i was going wrong. While the machine is half dismantled give it a clean with the vacuum. Also there was a couple light rust areas which i treated and painted. Bought 2017 and prolly go the same again. Cheers. I wouldn't be an appliance tech for any money.😮
My motto is if it isn't broke completely and totally gone to hell, DON"T mess with it (whatever IT you may have). If you're lucky you will be dead before whatever "it" is becomes an issue. ' Kind of like the national debt. ;)
There is no way any human would be able to do this in less than five minutes! Get Real! This is the loosest spring I have ever seen! None of them are that loose! Scott Bushkin
Both the video and the washer are pointless. Anyone can reinstall the original, first lets see him open one out of the package and install it. Then when you get to the most important part, installing the inner seal, keep your head out of the way so we can see.
This how to video is extremely misleading. This guy does it is less than 4 minutes & I had a professional washing machine repair man do it and it took him over an hour. This is staged and extremely exaggerated. Do not use this video as a reference for a real life bellow replacement.
Hello! We appreciate the feedback and we would agree with you that not every front load washer is the same when it comes to replacing the bellow. This particular video is based on a Frigidaire Affinity Front Load Washer and for an experienced technician, it should only take about 15 minutes to replace a bellow. There are other brands and models though that take longer than 15 minutes so it all depends on the specific product. We encourage anyone to tune into a live stream of one of our classes on Instagram when we are teaching bellow replacement in front load washers to see our process in action. Have a great rest of the week!
This is a sham, it’s not that easy at all. The bellow will not get over the groove and the spring is very difficult to put on. UPDATE: strongly recommend using a lubricant to apply the bellow in the groove. Once it's on, run your finger over the bellow to feel that the groove is in place. The spring takes a lot of persistence and clamps definitely help.
Clark Underwood I can assure you that yes the first few bellows you do will are very time consuming. As for the Frigidaire it is easier that some think. Things like a can of food grade silicone and a 2” hand-clamp will help you get that repair down to 20 mins. Trust me I’ve been there. My first bellow took me 2-2.5 hrs.
That’s great to hear. The words of encouragement we give are given because we’ve been there and it’s just all around great professionalism, we don’t want to see anyone fail and this is the reason for the videos.!again great job!
The video is accurate with the directions. But it is edited and done by a professional so don’t think this is a 5 min replacement. It took me about an hour and I am very mechanically minded. Taking everything apart was nothing. Putting the bellow in and making sure the lip is properly sealed on the inner side will test your patience. A combination of that, being on my knees, and my spring being way stronger and shorter than the one in this video is what took all the time and my patience. I’m glad my kids weren’t home to hear the expletives I was spewing. Thank you for the video.
Looks like the spring was over stretched to make it easier to go on
I’m at that point now I think I’m going to lose my mind!! I need to do this or I will be up all night ffs
We used this video to remove and clean the bellow on the washer in the house we are renting, which hadn’t been cleaned properly in years and was full of mold. The instructions are completely accurate, but be warned that it took my husband and I a full 5 hours to get this done. It is quite difficult to get the feel of how to re-seat the bellow when replacing it. And the tension on our inner spring was so high that it took 3 spring clamps (and a lot of frustration) to get it back in place. Definitely think about how much time and effort you are willing to spend re-installing the bellow before removing it. But that being said, we couldn’t have done it without this video!
The video and this comment is accurate haha
While I appreciate this this video, I gave up and called the service person. I fixed all the other issues myself and they cut me a deal for just installing the spring. My kids learned a bunch of words that day which I reiterated that they are not to repeat.
Oh yeah still at it right now i cant get the bellow seated without it coming off on the other side.
@@redbeardevildead3459 my brother in-law, who's a carpenter with tons of tools, and I couldn't do it.
Well i ended up getting it on with a little help from a friend. But we had to take the cement counter weight off also. Still sucked with all the room in the world to get the bellow around the stupid thing almost gave up. The spring was the easy part mostly cause we had spring clamps. Never do that again.
OK I just did this - I see others are having difficulty so here are a few tips - first, to seat the backside of the bellow, you don't just jam it in, it sort of slide in then you need to pull the rubber back a bit and slip it over the lip of the metal. It's kind of hard to explain but just know you don't just shove it in and that's that. It isn't hard just needs finesse. Now to the spring - your spring ls likely much tighter than the spring in this video. I found the KEY for me was to use a large C-clamp at the top of the bellow. Also, it really helps to use soapy water in the groove where the spring goes, this helps a lot too. If I had to do this again, I think I could do it in 20-30 mins where this first time took me an hour and a half or so.
Larry Steffler Could'nt have been easier, I watched your short video, did'nt unplug the washer as there is no way to get shocked, and simply removed the broken one with snippy nose pliers, I checked the wire channel for any debris, there was none. Next, placed clamp in the groove at top center assuring that the wire was in the groove both sides to bottom, then, once I was assured the clamp was in place properly, I pulled on the spring lightly and tucked the spring assembly under the flap made for it at the bottom. It went on in less than 3 minutes and I am no mechanic. Thank you thank you for saving me a service call and who knows how much for repairs. Thanks again for clear instructions. Your a human bein, and its much appreciated.
The best advice given in the comments is to make sure that the seal is correctly installed on the lip. I had this wrong and the lip was riding up making the spring impossible to fit. I had multiple clamps around the circumference and still could not do it. I searched all the videos and read the comments. My advice is to make sure that the seal is seated correctly before trying to fit the spring. The seal should laying comfortably on the washer with the lip laying flat and not riding up. If it rides up look at it again and get that part right. Once i had that correct it took 5minutes to install the spring. This job took me quite some time but thankfully I didn't have 'someone ' looking over my shoulder telling me how I was going wrong. My advice is to take a good look at how the seal is mounted b4 u remove it. Not like i did and just pull it off. Thanks again to utube and the posters and comments. Saved me heaps.😊
Great video! Thanks so much for the step by step process. For anyone having problems with getting the springs back on - listen to this guy's instructions... Spray with a silicone lube, use a good spring clamp or 3, and then work your way around like he said. I'm not particularly handy but with the help of my son's rock climber hands we were able to get the whole thing reinstalled in about 10 or 15 minutes. It's actually pretty easy with the right technique.
Life and money saver.. Thank you. Reading the reviews it takes a bit longer than 5 minutes. It took me 2 hours and I am good with tools. I had a lot of fun.
Great to hear!
Thank you thank you thank you !!!!!
I followed your instructions and saved myself hundreds of dollars !!!!
Thank you sooooo much !!!!!
Great video! I love how you can leave the front panel on. It makes it easier on stack units!
Thanks for the video , and it helped a lot to understand how the bellows comes apart. That inner spring has a bit more tension on it than I thought it would , and it took some force to stretch it into place .
Thank you for the video. I have a stacked machine in a laundry closet and didn't want to take it all apart (like all the other videos said had to be done)... This works .. was not easy but is doable and the more you do it the easier it get (and way easier than taking the whole machine apart). Unfortunately for me the one I purchased on eBay didn't fit correctly and once it was all installed it rubbed against the spinning drum and started to disintegrate. I was able to patch the old one with some silicone sealant and put it back on .. I can say the second time was way easier than the first. Used the 2 clamp method for the retaining spring and it worked like a charm.
hahaha... very funny video....thank you for making it but.....as a mechanic for 50 years I have found that the long route is some times the easiest..... I tried for 15 mins to install, hahahaha.... then pulled the top , control panel and front so I could get the gasket deep enough to over lip. the other problem is the top tab alignment, no room for error at all... Tried silicon but dish soap worked better....I believe I could have gotten the old one reinstalled without removing the face panel but it was already stretched out... So save yourself some real cussing and go the long route. The spring was a little tough to install but after coating the spring grove with some dish soap I got it in. Total time, including removing the panels, about 1.25 hours....
I did the replacement shown here this morning. The video makes it look a lot easier than I experienced. I had to do it twice. The 1st time, the boot rubbed against the metal edge of the drum during a test wash causing the unit to smoke. I had a repairman look at it and he quoted a price of over $600 to redo it. I tried again myself, with more lubricant and the spring more stretched out and it seems to have worked. We've done 4 loads with no issues since my second install attempt. First, the spring shown is a lot looser than a replacement spring out of the box. You're going to need patience and hand strength to line up the spring in the groove all the way round. Second, the stage in the video is more open than the space I was working with and probably most actual set-ups in people's homes. If you try this, be really careful with the spring. The one I installed popped out a couple times the first time I tried, causing scary moments. The spacers that come with the boot to hold the spring in place when installing (not shown in this video) flew out of the machine on me, so use firm clamps (at least two) and a lot of lubricant. Be careful. The video makes this job look much less difficult than it is.
Thank you for sharing. You are correct, the person completing the video is a very experienced technician so the repair would be a lot faster than someone with as much experience. We're glad to hear that you were able to complete the repair on your own. However, we would caution you and others from stretching the spring, it's supposed to be that tight.
Tips or tricks?: Getting the new rubber 'boot''s first inner side to stay on the plastic rim was the hardest part for me. It kept sliding off as I was working it around the rim. Finally had to get my wife for a second set of hands to hold the top most areas on while I worked the lower portions. Doing it alone must take some tricks or practice. The videos make it look so easy.
I got the bellow all the way on and it pops out. 5 hours
and here’s me try to put that spring in from the other side thank you for this video I think I might be able to handle that on my own now
Fred - Do we have to take apart the front cover of the washer apart as i have dryer stacked on top which mean i will have to take that apart and bring it down or can you install the bellow as you did in the video without removing front cover. please advice. Thank you so much for helping. The washer is exactly same kind you are using in your video
@1:07 can’t be stressed enough. Do yourself a favor and do NOT attempt to install the bellow without the silicone lube. You won’t be able to get it on to the inner ring. Also, stretch the spring out a good bit before attempting to re-install it. Spring clamps are NECESSARY.
Thank you for the video it was very helpful.
I have a gltf2940fs1. Bellow looks the same. I don't have drum light. Older model. Will this demo work for me?
Thank you so much! We did it!
My feedback: I had a piece of plastic in the door lock from the previous door latch that had broken off and got lodged inside the lock. I did not have needle nose pliers so I used a flathead screwdriver to wedge underneath the spring to remove the metal ring. Pulling from the right side (adjacent to the door lock) is the easiest way to remove the bellow. It took about 40 minutes in total to do everything, including removing the broken piece of plastic from the lock.
The inner spring on the video has been pre stretched. Like it's got so much more slack, about 4x more slack than mine! So since I got mine installed without any slack means I'm stronger than this guy. Like 4x stronger!
Alexis, mine went on like it was made for it!, did'nt take 3 minutes and only used my thumb and index finger to pull it a tad and went right into place..
I'm with you, Alexis. I used three spring clamps and all my grip strength to get that blasted spring on. Plus, before each spring went on, the video just said to push the bellows into the groove. Nothing about fitting the rubber over the metal flange, which was really difficult.
I got this done without pulling the washer apart as well. Ours is in a built-in a couple feet off the floor so taking it out meant building some kind of stand (matching the exact height of the built-in) to hold it then sliding it out likely ruining the cabinet in the process. I used one good c-clamp to hold the left side in place (near the door hinge) then simply worked the spring around with my thumb and fingers (I'm in my 50s and work in computers so not the strongest hands), sliding it up over the ridge from the top toward the bottom. If I had any tips it would be:
1. There are more than one arrow. Pay attention to the holes and make sure they are on the top.. I was so stressed about the spring I didn't see I was 1/4 turn off after my first successful attempt with the inner spring. Couldn't straighten without starting over. Grr!
2. Too much lube will work against you as the boot will slip off and things generally are too slippery (including hands). May have been best I got the boot on then walked away to let that dry.
3. Have at least one good c-clamp at the ready. I spent time messing around with other clamps and things that just wouldn't hold against the tension of that wire. If I'd have had 2-3 of those clamps it would have gone faster than the hour it took.
4. It took me a while to find a good way to clamp it without hurting the boot. I ended up pulling the boot inside the clamp and having one side on the metal inside the washer.. otherwise it put pressure on the boot and likely would tear it.
5. Have some zip-ties to hold the tubes into the boot - you'll see them when you take it apart.
6. When you pull the old boot out the spring likely will stay in place. Pry it out with a screwdriver but watch out, its going to go flying once you start pulling it over the rim and snap.
7. Kept dropping things down into the washer.. take your time and be careful. Once I nearly lost the inner spring down there.
If you've changed a stubborn/tight tire on a bike you can do this. Many of the actions felt similar from getting the boot on to the spring etc.
Pretty sure this guy can do it in the time shown but maybe not the first time. Now that I know how it all went I could do it way faster than an hour.
great video but also adding that this “5 minute job” took me a couple hours - took a smoke break, a ride to the store to get the correct spring clamps (i just had the one spare), and a whole lot of patience
beware removing and re-installing the inner spring, the factory one had gorilla strength tension on it
It takes time if you haven't replaced many of these but it does get easier with practice!
Use a thick paint stirrer stick lengthwise cut to where it holds the inner below in place. Once I did that, I could do the spring installation myself.
I used a flathead screwdriver to wedge under the spring to pull it out.
Getting the bellow back on takes finger and thumb strength plus lube. The inner spring takes the spring clamp and a wife. Totally doable regardless of what commenters say. Took me 2 hours because i kept going back to video but i think next one will be 30 minutes.
If I get this done an hour I’ll be so happy. Haha thanks for the video
I’m glad I didn’t try do it this way. That spring is extremely tight. Follow the videos that remove the top and front panels. You’ll save a lot of frustration. There are several screw types, so keep track of where they go.
This bellow is definitely a tough one to put back on. Two great pieces of information when reinstalling the bellow is to take the top cover and front cover off with 14 Robertson screws and two clips one for the control panel and one for the door sensor. Then when you push the lip back on the inside push the outside lip while you pull the inside seal towards the middle of the washer and work it around and when reinstalling the spring start from the side and have one person hold it and another pull it around and tuck it in as you go. Its definitely difficult but me and the wife got it done in under an hour and a half.
Thanks Kenneth. Great to hear you got it done!
Great video ! Thanks ! used it to change the wax motor... 3 minutes job thanks to this vid !
What is the part number to this bellow? The one I ordered that claims to work for my model does not have the hole for the light.
Found this on the partswarehouse.com website: Electrolux Bellows Kit #WCI-134728400
Thank you!!!
Glad to help!
I am at 5th day and i cant get the back spring off 😪
So we got the old one out pretty quick. Tried for three hours to get the new one in , no luck. I am now thinking you missed a step, would it be easier to do the inner lip/ spring with the door off?.
The OEM spring on my original bellow was so tight I needed 4 clamps and a screw driver, plus I took the front off to gain access. My washer doesn't have an LED light, just the fresh rinse line
Yep, around $250-300 for the job. ~appliance repair guy
Notice how loose the inner spring is on this video. The OEM is much tighter. Also, the replacement boot I received did not have the outer groove for the outer retention loop.
Tip: The inner spring (about 38-40 inch circumference) is very tight but it can be stretched by hand very carefully. Just pull it apart at different points and it will stretch the coils. Do not over stretch it. I did not need to take off the front panel of the washer to replace the bellows.
Looks like I have the same bellow but I cannot remove the below. It feels like it is glued on. Purchased brand new from Howard's Appliances in San Gabriel.
I'm afraid to rip it. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your help.
What part of the bellow feels lick it is glued on?
Can anyone help me with figuring out the inside clamp? We bought a new bellow and are re-using the the old front spring and the old inside clamp. Do you need to get the inside clamp into the groove on the bellow before installing the bellow on the washer? It seems impossible. We used at least 6-8 clamps trying to get that clamp into that groove all around and we had it in and it just kept popping out. This feels like the clamp is too tight and won’t fit without popping out.
The inner spring that hold on the boot is very tight. the boot must be placed on first starting from the top and working your way down along the sides. Then the spring is started at the top of the boot and held in place with a clap. the clamps you see in the video are suggested. Work your way about one third the way around with the spring and place a clamp again to hold it in place. Work another third of the way and place a clamp again and then finish install the spring. It is not an easy job.
looks like a over stretched the spring, that's how I managed to put it back in...like 1/5 of it was overstretched. I believe this is called plastic deformation. can this spring still be used or do I need to buy a new one?
It's tough to say with out seeing the spring. It would be recommended to use a new spring to prevent any leaking.
I followed directions, but when I had finished, the drum on my washer literally couldn't spin... I assumed I wedged the bellows in too far.. But it looked right. I'm ready to give up on this project!
Where can I get a bellow like this today
A local parts dealer would be our best suggestion. However, if it is needed today, they might not have it in stock.
What part number is that exact bellow
The closest we can find is 134515300
Yup. The spring in the video must have been pre-stretched. Take apart route was easier to get spring back on. More disassembly but with clamps I got it back together without cussing at Fred's Appliance Academy. I think they need to make videos from the point of view of someone who has not been doing this day in day out.
I do this for a living. The inner spring is a nightmare. Very hard on old hands.
Me too. The guy on the video want you to think it is a very easy job so you buy the boot without hesitation.
How much would it cost for the service?
@@Roland-Henry 165-$250
Make sure you watch intently during the install of the inner seal after he puts silicone on. Spent about an hour of trying to figure it out and rewatched this video. Got it done in about 15 minutes
Bellow doesn't stay in place to even get it to where you can install spring
The boot seal I ordered was missing the rubber sleeve where the tube goes into. They must have cut it off. I tried to rig it up but I’m not 100% sure the tube will stay in there. This is so irritating.
We would suggest when this happens to return the part and make sure only a new correct part is installed. We do understand the frustration of getting a part that is damaged or incorrect.
Where can I buy this bellow
Typically we source our parts from a supplier such as Encompass or Marcone, but you may be able to find it on Amazon as well.
@@fredsapplianceacademy ok thanks
Where can I get a bellow at a decent price?
You can try a parts supplier such as Encompass or Marcone, or try searching for one on Amazon.
Walmart was by far the best price when I bought mine three years ago.
Just went through this process and the door wouldn't close properly. We had to push the door closed and hit the lock button. Has anyone had a similar problem?
I would double check your work and spring placement. Also, make sure you are installing OEM (original equipment manufactured) parts.
A key factor when making a how-to video is to properly communicate the most difficult parts of this entire process. The most challenging part is successfully putting the bellow on. And, unfortunately, this video fails to neither provide forewarning nor explain - in exhaustive detail - that this singular step out of many takes a good hour or two (at least) for non-professionals.
This is the loosest spring I have ever seen! None of them are that loose!
just a question?, did you check the number on the bag? they may have sent you the wrong one. It certainly should not be loose, thats what the spring is for on the clamp. I just used my fingers to put mine on, it was a no brainer, and I am no handyman or mechanic! Good luck
That was not enjoyable.
1. Lube the bellow. I used dishsoap. This will help the lip sink into the groove of the bellow properly.
2. I started at the top and sink the white metal tab into the special groove at the top of the bellow. One cannot just shove it in there, you’ve got to make sure the lip is sinking down into the groove. I used both hands on either side of the bellow.
3. Definitely need spring clips.
I just use zip tie. Done in less than five minutes. Work smart and not hard. ;)
Are there any brands that you’ve run across that you’re not able to use a zip tie on?
@@fredsapplianceacademy 🤣
ADDITIONAL ADVICES:
- SEAL - my install didn't feel right and could not figure this out. This guy: explained it: ruclips.net/video/5Nu8KYKljyc/видео.html The steps of the video here are great but not clear how the edge goes around the cylinder. Otherwise great! I'd recommend to remove the top weight as well, it was easier after.
- SPRING for seal - I used 2 straps (loops) at the bottom to hold the spring in place at the bottom using the 2 small legs as anchor. Then I pulled the spring around pulling from the top and going around, and I think it was easier than using the clamps (the clamp doesn't allow the spring to stretch).
Otherwise, great and clear video! Thank you very much!
Bellow pops out. It doesn't stay in place to install spring clamp. I worked on it over 5 hours
That's why we use the clamps; to keep the bellow from popping out of place.
@fredsapplianceacademy no I'm saying the bellow won't staying place for me to install the clamp
@@davidsullivan3906 Make sure you start at the top and work your way down along the sides. Also, make sure it is properly being lipped onto the outer tub. This is not an easy job and most people do have a difficult time with it the first few times they do it.
@fredsapplianceacademy OK thanks. My fingers and thumbs are hurting. Getting ready to give it another try today with my son helping.
@fredsapplianceacademy I got it in 5 minutes after that. I don't know maybe i was trying to put the outside edge in the groove too. Thanks for the last comment.
Impossible to do that in 5, forget it, it's not true
I think it is unfair to suggest that this was done in 5 minutes. The bellows and spring takes 5 minutes once u get the bellows seated correctly. This is the key. Ask me how I know. I thought it was right but it wasn't. Once i got it right 5 minutes. U must use at least two spring clamps. I bought 8 of the suckers b4 i realised where i was going wrong. While the machine is half dismantled give it a clean with the vacuum. Also there was a couple light rust areas which i treated and painted. Bought 2017 and prolly go the same again. Cheers. I wouldn't be an appliance tech for any money.😮
My motto is if it isn't broke completely and totally gone to hell, DON"T mess with it (whatever IT you may have). If you're lucky you will be dead before whatever "it" is becomes an issue. ' Kind of like the national debt. ;)
There is no way any human would be able to do this in less than five minutes! Get Real! This is the loosest spring I have ever seen! None of them are that loose!
Scott Bushkin
agree! no way for 5
Both the video and the washer are pointless. Anyone can reinstall the original, first lets see him open one out of the package and install it. Then when you get to the most important part, installing the inner seal, keep your head out of the way so we can see.
한국분들을 위해서 글 남깁니다.
사람 부르세요. 1시간 동안 시도하다 손가락 아작나고 사람 불렀습니다.
핸디맨 부르세요 10분만에 합니다.
댓글을 안본 제 잘못이 큽니다.😊
Thank you for your comment. Yes, it is a long process and the technician who is in the video has done this multiple times!
This how to video is extremely misleading. This guy does it is less than 4 minutes & I had a professional washing machine repair man do it and it took him over an hour. This is staged and extremely exaggerated. Do not use this video as a reference for a real life bellow replacement.
Hello! We appreciate the feedback and we would agree with you that not every front load washer is the same when it comes to replacing the bellow. This particular video is based on a Frigidaire Affinity Front Load Washer and for an experienced technician, it should only take about 15 minutes to replace a bellow. There are other brands and models though that take longer than 15 minutes so it all depends on the specific product. We encourage anyone to tune into a live stream of one of our classes on Instagram when we are teaching bellow replacement in front load washers to see our process in action. Have a great rest of the week!
This is a sham, it’s not that easy at all. The bellow will not get over the groove and the spring is very difficult to put on. UPDATE: strongly recommend using a lubricant to apply the bellow in the groove. Once it's on, run your finger over the bellow to feel that the groove is in place. The spring takes a lot of persistence and clamps definitely help.
Clark Underwood I can assure you that yes the first few bellows you do will are very time consuming. As for the Frigidaire it is easier that some think. Things like a can of food grade silicone and a 2” hand-clamp will help you get that repair down to 20 mins. Trust me I’ve been there. My first bellow took me 2-2.5 hrs.
@@fredsapplianceacademy yea after a while, I lubed it up really well and was able to secure it. Thanks for the encouragement.
That’s great to hear. The words of encouragement we give are given because we’ve been there and it’s just all around great professionalism, we don’t want to see anyone fail and this is the reason for the videos.!again great job!
im all for wanting to look like a pro but you misinformed so many people just for your ego
Inner spring now seems way to small, this is the most annoying thing I’ve ever had to do
It's not easy. Make sure to use the clamps like the video shows. It really does help.