Hello All,
This morning I discovered the left-rear foot of my washing machine had come off. Initially, I thought the mounting bracked the foot’s threaded leg was screen into was broke, but it just simply unscrewed itself. I’ve had this Maytag washer for +5 years and its still running, almost like new.
Anyway, the washer sits in a rather tight closet. This closet is so tight that I had to remove the bifold closet doors as they wouldn’t close with the washer/dryer in the closet. Can you say spec house? Well, the washer sits in a plastic overflow tray with a 30″x30″ footprint and about 2-3/8″ high sides.
Unless I want to remove the dryer (that would be a pain), I’ll have to tilt the washer forward until it rests on its front face. This doesn’t seem like a challenge except it will surely break that plastic tray apart, which I do not want to do. If I push the washer as far back in the tray as I can I could get a 2×4 to lay flat, but that’s only 1-1/2″ so I’ll have to build that up. I have some small scraps of 1-3/4″ thick LVL, which I’ll add a strip of 3/4″ plywood to give me 2-1/2″ to clear the height of the tray wall.
I’ll need to fabricate two ‘step’ pieces and use a section of 2×6 to bridge the steps. This will essentially act as a wooden protector for the plastic tray’s side-wall. But, that’s a lot of fabrication for something I’ll use once, hopefully. Anyone have any better ideas? I could snap a photo if that would help–just let me know.
Replies
I am not sure that I visualize the whole thing.
But think about this.
Move to the far back of the pan that you can. Put two long 2x4" on the front and strap them in place.
Then setup some blocks in from the pan a few inches out and higher than the pan lip. Use the blocks as a pivot point and tip the washer over the blocks like a see-saw
How about putting the blocks under the washer alternately side to side or front to rear until you can get your arm under far enuff to screw it back in? Joe H
Just lift it up with one hand...about waist height......to be comfortable...... and screw the foot back in with the other....
like I do.....
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
No, no. Go to the local balloon store, buy a fistful of helium balloons. Maybe a couple hundred should work. Tie them to the washer. But first, duct tape some pillows to the ceiling, in case the washer gets too high. You should be able to get teh washer up where you can work on it easily, and then just break one balloon at a time to gently lower it back in place.
Oh, yeah: for safety, unplug the washer first.
Save yourself a lot of trouble and pull the drier out about three feet. Any luck and you won't need to play with the exhaust duct or plug. Then climb over it to the open spot next to the wall. You should be able to kneel down to get to the foot. You may need to get someone to tint the washer forward to gain room. Take a few pieces of 2by4 with you so you can rest the machine on the stack.
Ok, some of the suggestions weren't quite as I imagined they would be, but then again ...
Here are a couple of pictures ...
http://bellsouthpwp.net/j/o/joe6pack/Washer-A.jpg
http://bellsouthpwp.net/j/o/joe6pack/Washer-B.jpg
Kartman0,
I've gotta go with 4LORN1 on this. You're trying to make a straightforward job much more difficult. Dryers are light and easy to move around.
Pull the dryer out, climb over it, and fix the problem. Or pull the dryer all the way out. Yes, I see that you say it would be a pain, but it isn't nearly as painful as you are thinking, I think.
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.
K.O. .....Call the Maytag repair man ,other than T.V. ads he's not very busy.