A plastic motor bracket on a washing machine drum can break. When this happens, the motor can come loose and the drive belt may come off. As shown in the photo, this type of damage is very difficult to repair successfully, and there’s a strong chance any repair won’t last.
The first question is — how did it break in the first place? This isn’t something that should normally happen. It could be due to a flaw in the moulding or simply weak plastic.
Another possibility is that the motor had already come loose and was moving around inside the bracket. Perhaps there had been a noise that was ignored for some time.
If the broken piece is still available, you could try bonding it back using a strong epoxy resin. However, it’s doubtful that any adhesive will be strong enough for this job.
This is because during spin, the motor is under constant strain. It is subjected to significant forces as it runs, and the bolts holding it in place create continuous tension. The motor is effectively trying to move against the bracket at all times.
In addition, during spin the outer drum moves and vibrates, creating further stress. Since the motor is attached to the drum, these movements can exert considerable force on the bracket.
I can share the experience of a Whitegoodshelp reader who attempted this repair (the photo above was supplied by him).
He used a high-strength epoxy advertised as “as strong as metal”. Although the repair initially held, it failed again after just one wash. This reinforces the likelihood that the forces involved will defeat most repairs.
That said, use your judgement. There are usually three or four fixing points, and some may be more repairable than others. If you do achieve a long-term fix, feel free to share your experience.
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