Mold in Front Load Washer Gasket - How to remove & clean
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
- How to remove mold from front door rubber seal on a LG front loading washing machine. I go through the steps of how to remove, clean, and re-install the rubber boot (rubber gasket). I do it for no cost using simple tools I have around the house. Save money by following this guide. No need to pay a handyman or pay for a new door gasket, just clean it!
Also, see my video on How to fix your LG washer if it won't start:
• LG Washer won't power ...
More info on how to remove the door seal:
• Replace LG Front-Load ...
Replacement Boot (if you need it):
www.repairclin...
Spring Removal Tool:
www.repairclin...
I'm so glad I watched this before starting the project. It convinced me to not start.
David Schnepper I was thinking the same thing!
Same!
ditto
Holy shit you aren't kidding.
I think I'm right there wish you. I am in awe of Kevin's work, but it's way above my pay grade. I will have to find another approach.
2 minutes into the video was all I needed to convince me to clean the gasket in place. 😮
Yes.
😂😂😂😂
Darn skippy I would be afraid I couldn't get it back together lol
RIGHT! 😂🤣😂🤣🤣
Yep!
I just watched this video and am rather impressed with this guy for an amateur, I have been in the business of repair for over 26 years and the one thing he didn't mention in his recommendations is soap usage, or the over usage is the route cause of all of the problems I've seen discussed here.
What most people don't take into account is the fact that these machines use alot less water than a top loader and the amount of soap the directions tell you to use is geard toward a top loader.
The typical fill of a top loader is 18-20 gallons in the wash and a typical amount for a front loader per fill is approximately 6 gallons so following the same directions for the front loader as you would the top loader your using 3 times to much soap ,which leaves the residue that causes the odor by building up bacteria.
Then I saw it mentioned about the spin tub support breaking, this can also be contributed to over usage of soap as the residue is very acidic and eats up the cast aluminum the support is made of.
So dont use too much soap?
You're a beast!! This vid convinced me that there's no way I could ever do this. But thanks so much for the effort of showing us lesser mortals how it's done.
Ya i would have tried got half way then been pissed i tried when found you can just remove the seal it self but half most the unit
Gotta say, I was expecting it to be significantly easier.....
You're not kidding. There's a reason appliance repair, and other maintenance technicians are paid well. There jobs aren't always cake.
Done!! Watched this very eye opening video, and just cleaned it as much as I can in place🤣
I'm one of those ppl that love to take on a job and do it right. That being said, can you just come over?
hehe... too funny.
I agree i will even give you a cordless screwdriver and have a beer while i wait for you to finish.
@@kevinrepairfix THIS COULD BE A GOOD BUSINESS TO GET INTO.. GASKET CLEANING BIZZ.. $50 AN HOUR! LOL.. GREAT VID!
I was thinking the same thing, he is the man for the job😅
Did this last night. Not nearly as scary as some have posted. Found a spring expansion tool on Amazon for $40. Only hard part was getting the spring wires back on. Because it's round it really helps to have three hands. One to expand the spring (my wife was nice enough to do that) while I used my thumbs (finger nails) to work both sides of the circle into the groves. I used a 30% solution for an hour to 90 minutes. Last thing is that while the black mold is what bothered us I found lots of brown sludge behind the rubber seal around the drumb. Disgusting and smelly. Thanks Kevin. Video nearly spot on and really helped.
Danny Scroggins thanks for your comment. Glad you found the video useful and that you managed to get your boot cleaned and reinstalled. 👍
I agree totally. Getting that spring back on was a bear. I had to get the special tool from Amazon for $39 in 24 hours. I have no idea how he managed to put his own back in place in the video. He must have really strong hands. And I mean REALLY strong.
Such good guidance! Even lil' old me (at 70) am managing it. We'll see how it goes back together once the gasket has soaked overnight. Really a shame though that you must take so much apart just to get this gasket clean.
Yep, finished it. However, I wasn't strong enough to hook the rear gasket spring onto the hook, so attached vice grips to the hole end and taped both the spring and hook end in place just to keep it in the channel, and then had to ask for help just getting that spring onto the hook. Also, it was very difficult to pop that gasket channel onto the white plastic where it needs to go until I removed the upper counterbalance weight (4 bolts--not hard). For the front gasket spring, rather than buying a spreader tool for $22.00 or so, I got a ratcheting clamp for $3.20 at Harbor Freight, reversed it so it would pull apart rather than clamp together, and then used a zip tie on one side of the spring and a coated picture hanger wire to thread through the final spring hoop (since the hook holding the spring had a gap and kept releasing the second zip tie) and worked the spring apart that way. Still took some work, but it's do-able. The remedy for lack of enough strength is mechanics! Thanks again, Kevin---very helpful video.
I'm going to try your zip tie method.
OMG I have a whole new appreciation for repair people. Thank you for doing such an in depth video, I am convinced this is too much for me to attempt and even if I could I may not be able to put it back together.
My wife and I got this washer and dryer for free from her mother. She wasn't using them and they sat in a garage wrapped in plastic for over a year! We tried several times to remove the mold and finally I thought I just need to take it apart. Your video is amazing! Very clear steps and it saved us a ton of money! I really appreciate you posting this! Thank you so much Kevin!
Ok, i think im ready now. Where do i take my certification exam. This was the prep for the exam, correct?
In other news...my machine will be sold to a participant that will be willing to go through all of this.
3 mins into this video convinced me I might as well just buy a new machine.
Thanks for this. Followed it and and it's back up and running with no leaks. Wasn't a walk in the park, but doable. Had to cuss and walk away a couple of times, but it's working. Thanks again
😂😂
I'm currently on my third walk away. That spring is really tough to get back on.
Just finished this job. Checked out the video and laughed and agreed with everyone’s comments about the labor time. Turned out to be much easier than the video implies. The only tricky part is putting the second wire back on, which is helped by multiple strong clamps. No need to pay for the special tool. Thanks for the video, it helped me save a few hundred dollars by just cleaning instead of buying either a new seal or washer even! If you’re debating wether to do this job or not, go for it! Just keep track of what screws go to each part of the washer when putting it back. Good luck!
Also, I’m an idiot, so if I can do it, anyone can.
Thanks for the video, made it a lot easier. I went a step further and took those side hoses off. They had so much mold/dirt in them that I don’t know how water was passing through them at all.
I also spent the 70 bucks to just buy a new gasket, and 20 on the spring expander on Amazon. About to install the new gasket now, hoping it goes smoothly.
Excellent! Just closed on a house that came with this machine, so this was my tutorial for the project.
"Oh so effortlessly..." haha. That inner tensioner ring was a beast for me.
Two tips. I used a small amount of electrical tape to hold the ring in place as I pulled the spring. This prevented the ring from falling out of its groove when the pliers inevitably slipped (due to inexperience).
Second: wear gloves when removing and installing the front door. It's really sharp and sliced my thumb.
Thanks for making this video. It made the job possible for me.
Thank you so much for this video! The washing machine in our new house was staining all our clothes with black stains and I decided to do this instead of beating it with a bat. The inner spring was difficult to get back on but I was able to do it by connecting the spring before it was in the groove and then using about four screw drivers to lever it into the groove. No $80 tool needed!
Thank you so much for posting this video!! I washed a heavy blanket alone, which was unbalanced and knocked the entire barrel out of place and twisted the door gasket. This video was all I needed to get the machine open, clean the gasket (ours was moldy too), and reassemble everything. It was surprisingly easy to rebalance the barrel (no video needed there) but I never would have had the confidence to open it up at all without this video. You are clear, descriptive, & easy to follow. I sincerely appreciate it, you saved me a ton of money!!
Thanks for the kind words. Glad the video was helpful!
Excellent video! I would never have attempted this project without it as a reference. Fortunately, I have the exact same model washer. The gasket was pretty gross and came out clean as a whistle after soaking in 50% bleach solution. I went a couple steps further and removed and cleaned some of the drain hoses as well as the entire soap dispenser assembly. The last step - replacing the outer gasket retainer ring is tricky to do without an assistant but I came up with a very helpful solution - after getting the gasket in place, I wrapped some thin but strong string all the way around the gasket in the channel where the retaining ring goes. I used a truckers hitch to get the string good and tight and lashed the string off to one of the two screws that hold the door latch receiver in place after backing it out a couple of turns. The string helps to hold the gasket in place while installing the retaining ring. This way you can stretch the spring over the other end of the retaining ring without the gasket slipping off. Once the retaining ring is in place, simply remove the string and tighten the screw back up and you are done. I do not want to do this project again so I am going to be more diligent about drying the gasket off and keeping the door open as well as using tub cleaning tablets and tub clean mode every month or so.
Just inherited this washer from family and had no idea how I was supposed to clean it out after trying with towels and toothbrushes. This was an immense help and greatly appreciated!!!
I'm pretty sure I watched this exact video 4 years ago when I cleaned my washer, and I'm watching it again now, cleaning my washer again. Thanks so much for the helpful content!
Currently trying to reseed the gasket after removing and cleaning it like at 5:50. This is literally the most frustrating thing I’ve attempted in awhile. Thanks for the clear demonstration....
I did mine without removing the front, but I did watch this first to see what everything looked like behind the gasket. Thank you for the content, it was very helpful. Removing and reinstalling is more difficult without removing the front shell, but it's not too bad if you're used to this type of quick repair.
Just finished doing this a second time (had to do it about a year ago - and we wipe the gasket dry after every wash and leave the door wide open).
After the first disassembly - I bought the spring spreader tool for the reassembly.
It is amazing how clean the gasket gets in the bleach soak.
If it took just one year to accumulate again even after wiping the gasket and keeping the door open maybe you're using too much soap ?
I read on here from one commenter who's a mechanic for washing machines say that the instructions on the back of soap brands are mainly written for top loading machines and it's 3 times too much soap for a front ladder that uses less water when washing. He said the soap residue is what causes most problems since that's where the bacteria fester.
Nice job! I've been wiping down the gasket every month or so with 50/50 bleach solution and running a tub cleaner cycle afterwards. So far that's been keeping the gasket in great shape in my LG washer.
Good video, just an update, I just bought the clamp tool needed to remove the spings from Amazon for less than $20. well worth it. thanks for the video.
Thanks for the excellent video.
Mine has a Maytag model number but seems to be the same.
We bought it in 2012.
We've always left the door open and dried the gasket but now find it a bit moldy.
We remove and dry the soap dispenser and its holder after every wash and leave it out when not in use and that has been the best way for us to keep that from molding.
Thanks again.
Started mine this morning(identical washer) and it’s super easy, just a little time consuming. Having common sense helps too. Good work man, I hope it stays clean for years too!
Holy @¡$&! Think I’ll just get a new washer- since I’d never get my old one back together right again!
My feelings exactly!
I love the way you think.
I've fixed my washer and dryer a couple times over the years. Videos are great to follow. But for this job, if you don't have that tool for pulling out the wire ring, forget it. Even with 2 people it's very hard.
In a short 11 minute video: How to break your washer and void the warranty. 😂😂
LMAO!!
And start divorce papers 😂😂😂
Thank you so much for this detailed video!!I’ve been struggling for two trying clean my gasket still attached and it still smells ugh this is such a life saver plus I have the exact same washing machine 😃
OMG! I’m impressed! That was a lot of work to get the gasket out! Looks great now that it’s clean! Thank you for the tutorial!!!
This is insane. Was not expecting this to be so intense. I think I will build a time machine instead, which would be easier.
Replaced my top loader for one of this side ones...oh how I miss that first washing machine. Now I'm stuck with a moldy washer and lazy roommates.
This video saved me a few hundred dollars. Thank you! Putting The spring loaded wire back on was the hardest part.
Thank you for the great video. My water pump went out (again, 6 kids) so I need to do most of the disassembly to replace that. I’ve done it before and while it wasn’t exactly fun, I did it and saved a lot of money. I might as well get that gross gasket clean while I’m in there!
I was planning to remove the gasket and clean it, on second thought starting to love the mold and will clean it with Gasket on. 😂
Geez. Thanks for showing how much damn work that is. I’m getting rust streaks on my clothes. If cleaning out the boot in place doesn’t work, I’ll gladly pay a repair guy to just replace it.
I just did this to my washer. The hardest part was waiting for 24 hours to pass while the gasket was soaking in bleach. Thank you for the video.
Great video Kevin. I am 100% confident I will have no problem disassembling, cleaning, and assembling my washing machine. However, I'm buying the tool for getting the spring rings back on. Thank you!
Great video. I have the exact same LG - 6 years. I empty the little water filter thingy and clean out the screen once a month and the water is never dirty, but it may be a little yellowish - sometimes. I might have a piece of fuzzy stuff on the filter that I clean off. I do laundry almost every day. I have SOME "dirt" and "gunge" after a couple of weeks around the rubber gasket, but I clean it out with Qtips and vinegar. I clean my throw rugs in the washer - and that is where the real dirt comes from and I have 2 dogs.
My secret is:
1. Use the very least amount of laundry soap - stay under the word NORMAL - NEVER above it on the line - and NEVER UP TO MAX (Unless you are cleaning dirty rugs or something). Use a non-scented laundry soap - preferably organic, because the scents are just chemicals and they stay on your clothes and skin - and help stink up your washing machine.
2. NEVER, EVER, EVER USE DOWNY OR ANY OTHER FABRIC SOFTENER IN YOUR LAUNDRY! USE PLAIN WHITE VINEGAR INSTEAD. Just fill the container that is for "softener" or "rinse aid", etc.
3. As for the dryer:
DON'T USE ANY TYPE OF DRYER SHEETS BY DOWNY OR ANOTHER COMPANY. They are full of wax that just clogs your filter.. I use organic woolen balls - with a drop of peppermint, clove, or similar oil on each of the dryer balls (no more than ONE DROP! My clothes smell fresh, sometimes a very tiny scent of peppermint or cinnamon or whatever essential oil I used. The dryer lint screen is ALWAYS easy to get the lint off - but there is NO stuck on gunk from DRYER SHEETS, OR HORRIBLE DOWNY SMELL - which is just made from chemicals - not real scents. It is amazing how easy it is to have a non=smelly, clean washer and dryer.
Unbelievable….I think I’d rather buy a new washer! Wonderfully done! ♥️
My gosh, sooo much work just to remove the gasket. 😞😢 you are so patient to do ALLLLL of these steps just to clean your washer. I applaud your patience. 😁😁😁👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you so much for this video! I was definitely determined to get the gunk in the gasket resolved, and this video was the only one I needed to watch to easily get stuff done. 10/10.
You are completely over the top - just like me!! This is something I would do! LOL! Thank you for showing what I am getting myself into. :)
Yup, that was the plan... show what's involved. Good luck!!
god bless you man. i wish i had a man like you to do these thing for me. seeing how hard it is, I won't be doing it on my own.
Thank you very much for making this video. It was a big help and I was able to wash the gasket of my LG frontload washer. Now it smells clean and fresh. No more mold/mildew!
From what i can see there are 2 or 3 small drain holes at the bottom of the gasket. This lets water drain back into the tub. If those get plugged with lint, hair, etc the gasket wont dry properly and likely lead mold. So just make sure the bottom of the gasket behind the fold keep it clean.
Gene Friedman i got these holes clogged and the one which spray soap and rinse clothes. Any idea hiw to open these. I have a combo of LG
I got most of my washer taken apart and cleaned, except the seal. I've wiped it down and q-tipped it the best I could. I think I will invest in that spring tool before I attempt to take the seal off. Thanks for a great video!
I just removed my gasket for cleaning without removing the front panel. Once you get the front retainer off, you can access the hoses and disconnect them. From there it's possible to remove the rear retainer. The workspace is constrained this way, but I was able to disassemble it within 10 minutes, and put it back together in 20.
Walter Hicks you need to make a video because your method sounds like something I would actually try
Show it in a video or it never happened! 😁
I'm working on stacked machines that were professionally installed into a bathroom cubby so I removed door seal gasket without removing front panel as well. This video really helped me figure everything out [I've watched it several times LOL]. Definitely feel the space constraints but it is doable without removing front panel though I doubt the string of cuss words are unavoidable LOL
Great video; for many years now l wondered how to go about it; haven't been able to clean like it was shown in the video; only cleaned the glass door and the inside of the gasket. Thanks a lot for putting up this video.
Thank goodness I watched your video; I will clean the gasket in place, and wisely ignore whatever I can't reach!
Just as an FYI - some machines are not nearly that difficult to remove the boot seal from. BUT they do tend to be more of a PITA to clean out the drain pump. Instead of that nice access panel showed in this video, you have to remove multiple panels and tilt the machine up. So it's half dozen of one, six of the other. My Frigidaire Affinity is one of those that is easier to remove and replace the boot, but more of a pain to clean the drain pump. In fact, because you have to loosen the boot seal in order to clean the drain pump, I recommend doing both at the same time on a machine like mine.
Yeah agree with below comments, I encountered that first spring clamp and could see multiple tubes hooked up and thought, I'm going to break this thing! Video still saved me since I had no idea how to put the spring clamp back on and Kevin (with the help of his neighbor) did a real good close up and showed how the last seal has to fit over the lip before you can put the clamp on reliably. For the record I had to ask my daughter's boyfriend to assist, so it's pretty much a two person job at the end. My machine isn't anywhere near as clean and disinfected as Kevin's but its better than destroying my washer with my knucklehead mechanical skills
@10:58
If it hasn't been posted or mentioned yet, it's a good idea to open (or gap) the detergent tray to let it dry out and prevent mold in and around this area as well. Thanks for the great video!
Watching this made me decide to get a new washer. A top loader.
Thanks for the great video. I'm a total DIYer so I'm starting this first thing in the morning.
I was planning to remove the washer and clean it but thank you for making me not to do so. Probably I would have faced a huge loss
Thanks for this excellent video. I just completed my cleanup and running a test cycle now. If anything, my seal was even grosser than yours 😂. One thing I would add is to use a little soapy water on the seal slots when placing it back on. Especially the inner side. I couldn't even get it to start without the soapy water.
A tech gave me an estimate for $480 which included a new seal .
Wow! Great tutorial. Might be something I'll have to tackle at some point. Wasn't there a class action lawsuit against the manufacturers for this problem? Why would you design a system that would accumulate this much growth, and then make it so difficult to keep clean.
There was a class action lawsuit, but it was 5 or 6 years ago. It had already run it's course... too late for me. The washer came withthe house when we bought it... I'm just trying to squeeze a little more life out of it.
I am in awe of what you did, I'm pretty handy for a woman, but Idon't think I could do this
Thanks Mate, sure was very helpful, it took about 4 hours but our samsung is now as clean as new!
Ha ha! I thought this would be a quick cleaning video. This is the type of thing the wife walks in and yells "Why is my washer all over the laundry room?" 🤣
This actually is a nice video showing how to clean your washer, but also great for how to replace the gasket!
This video is the best advertisement for Whirlpool ever. Only had to take the top off to get at a clamp and it came right out.
🙏 This is a GREAT video but there’s just no way I feel confident in myself to ever be able to clean my machine out like this!
No wonder companies charge $350 or more to clean this! 😐
I should’ve gone with a top loader with no rubber gasket 😂
Seriously though… thank you so much for sharing this video with us. Maybe I can convince my husband to do this for me 🤣
Good Lord, I had no idea that rubber gasket was so massive. I will stick to cleaning it without removal. Great work though and thanks for educating me!
1kgking yeah-I’m thinking soaking an old rag in bleach or vinegar and tucking it into the gasket for a few hours will be the route I take. I hope it works but I will never be able to do this re-assembly.
wow!! you're a champion... that was a whole day project. I say, after you are done with Nikki's, come over and clean this one over here. It's bad.
Thanks, this helped me fix my own LG washer after the seal got all twisted. Turned out one of the suspension springs had broken, a good opportunity to clean and bleach everything. Be careful of the sharp metal edges inside.. I cut my hand pretty good. Wear work gloves!!
My husband and I did this with twine. We tied the twine in the loop above the hook then strung the twine through the top loop of the spring. My husband lifted up on the twine from the top which pulled the spring flush with the hook. I slid the spring ring over the hook. I took photos but couldn't post them.
Thank you for making this video! It was difficult, but my machine really needed it. Some nasty stuff came out of the machine.
He cut the video while putting the rubber back cause it is a fkn struggle. Don't do this😂😂😂😂
Lol, you are correct I did this very job "with the wife" as an extra pairs of hands, 2 hours later brused hands and a big fall out between us, ha
@@antoniocrawley Happening right now.😑😑😑
@@AimeeAimee444 Lol, good luck with it.
Dang.....I thought it would be a simple remove, clean and replace OR toss the old one and replace with a new one. This was rocket friggin' science dismantling the whole washer!! Think I might just go buy a new washer - TOP load. :) Done and done........
Great video! Saving as I want to replace my boot because it has a small tear. Thank you!
Nice, I’m having some water pool up in the gasket on mine, it might be time for me to do the same. I should have stuck with a top load.
J_ White , check behind the drain hole. I was originally clearing the drain holes in the boot/bellow. In my LG, they are just pass through for the accessible drain hole. My filter was also blocked by loose change and lint, which was the actual cause, of the lint clots
Boy, that looked easy....... Not, I'm glad I watched this video first. Maybe it's just time for a better designed machine. These front loading pieces of crap should have all been recalled and the manufacturers sued for selling the junk in the first place.
I agree 100%. This Awesome technology was pushed on the consumer. Save the planet at to detriment of the people who want clean clothes.
Mold and mildew is so unhealthy. The average consumer can’t do this cleaning job like is shown in the video. And they certainly don’t want to spend a couple hundred dollars having someone do it for them.
Plus the front loading washer does not clean as well regardless of what anyone will tell you.
They were sued
Sean Gilbert is
Chuck Pope totally agree with you, these crap machines need to go. Going back to top loaders on the next set.
Chuck You agreed
You should also leave the soap dish open when not in use. This will also help with the mold problem.
You definitely wanna marry a person who knows how and has the inclination to do this type shit. Kudos!!
Thank you sir!! You have no idea how helpful this has been
Vinegar kills all Mold and Mildew on contact. Bleach would be a bad idea if you try to clean the boot in place. Glad you are removing it.
Went step by step and it worked for me! Easy, just take your time!
I will do my LG this week, thanks for sharing this.
As I was watching this video, I couldn't stop saying, "Holy crap, you're kidding me!" But the fun part was reading all the comments from other viewers. Some were so hilarious. The video itself is excellent, but like the first comment I read, it convinced me not to even come close to taking the gasket out. I'm just going try cleaning with a solution.
I was considering this but I know I would render my machine inoperable do to breaking or losing something.
If you don't want to take the gasket out of the machine, I imagine you could still remove a good deal of the mold with a toothbrush and bleach/water solution. :-)
Been there, done that. LOL
LOL, I hear ya.
Even though he makes this look relatively easy, I wish there was a business that offered this service!!
Great video thank you! I totally got rid of the mold and smell. I got the spring spreader tool for about $25 online and that made the job pretty easy for this home handy person.
Wow, what attention to detail! I would pay you clean the washer for me, but I’m not gonna try to do what you did!
Great video! Thanks so much. My washer and dryer are stacked! I wish I could hire someone to do this, can't imagine what it would cost though..the mold is just too much..our laundry room smells awful :(
I watched another video featuring a mold specialist. He stated in your manual (if you keep those things, if not it'll be on-line) there is a section for cleaning and a phone number to call for service. He said someone will come out and clean it for you but it can be expensive - upwards to $300. Good luck.
Thanks for the video how to. I’m with the others. My washer was outside so the gasket is stained black. I’m getting a top loader next time
What an awesome video! Thank you and your neighbor 🙏
Excellent R/R! Great detail, explanation and sequence of steps needed. Thank you for sharing! Great job!!
Dude you are awesome!! I'm totally doing it this weekend! You Just saved me a ton of time trying to figure out how to do this!
Thank you very much for this video. While it looked sort of hard, it was relatively easy. Thanks again!
Man, thank you so much for this tip how to put spring back whit out special tool. After fooling with putting it back on for an hour saw your video. Thanks again.
Thank you for being such a help. I had to put in another door unit and was able to take off the gasket easily. You're a life saver! Rene
I was hoping to do this in-house but better call an expert !! 😊
I'm about to spend the $70 on the darn tool, spent the last 3 hours trying to get the darn spring thing back on!!! I've hit myself in the face with pliers three times and my hands have gone numb. 😑 Just going to clean it in place next time, not worth it!
I’m in the exact spot as you lol. Pondering getting someone professional round that can do it easily
@@meow8132 Amazon has the tool for around $10, it made it super easy!
Man I have both Whirlpool and a LG washers thanks for video God Bless
Update and warning to consumers: I managed to get some repairmen to come look at my washer. Due to the stack, it did require two people. That’s an extra charge. During the diagnostic, the drum of my washer filled with smoke (!) and the stench was incredible. The senior technician offered me two possibilities. The problem was either the boot seal was torn and rubbing, creating the smoke, or the axle on my front loader was bent and burning out the motor, a repair so expensive, it was cheaper and easier to buy a new machine. I crossed my fingers and prayed it was the boot seal, to the tune of $300 parts and labor. I have a sneaking suspicion the technician knew at that point the machine should be replaced. Long story short, I have a new washer and it cost me 50% more than it needed to because the repairmen wanted to bilk me out of $300 for a needless repair, instead of just the $95 for the initial service call.