Dumb Q # 27: Something Silicone sealant doesn't stick to?

[pzkpfw]

I'm trying to repair a tear in the door seal of a front-loading washing machine (never again!).

I've used some Silicone sealant, and to mold it to the shape required I needed to close the door on it - but wihout letting the Silicone glue to door to the seal.

I used selotape, with the "sticky" side to the Silicone. Seemed to work OK, but when I peeled off the tape it did take a little of the sealant with it. Maybe I didn't wait long enough for it to fully cure, or maybe that'd happen no matter how long I left it.

Can anyone suggest a better method?

I suppose I could smear some kind of lubricant on the door before closing it on the sealant; but that might be hard to control.


(I've also looked at spinning the door seal, to put the tear above where the water goes, but the inner end of the rubber seal is held by a spring that needs the whole front panel of the machine taken off to get to; and I want to avoid that if I can.)

[oneofsix]

why are you not replacing the seal? I haven't played with front loaders but it seems to me, in all my ignorance, that you are courting trouble trying to use silicon to repair the existing seal. Sooner or later you will end up with a very wet floor.

[nodrog]

I'm trying to repair a tear in the door seal of a front-loading washing machine (never again!).

I've used some Silicone sealant, and to mold it to the shape required I needed to close the door on it - but wihout letting the Silicone glue to door to the seal.

I used selotape, with the "sticky" side to the Silicone. Seemed to work OK, but when I peeled off the tape it did take a little of the sealant with it. Maybe I didn't wait long enough for it to fully cure, or maybe that'd happen no matter how long I left it.

Can anyone suggest a better method?

I suppose I could smear some kind of lubricant on the door before closing it on the sealant; but that might be hard to control.


(I've also looked at spinning the door seal, to put the tear above where the water goes, but the inner end of the rubber seal is held by a spring that needs the whole front panel of the machine taken off to get to; and I want to avoid that if I can.)

squirt Spray and Wipe on the surface you do not want the silicon to stick to.

[avgas]

Cover silicon with glad wrap.

[pzkpfw]

why are you not replacing the seal? I haven't played with front loaders but it seems to me, in all my ignorance, that you are courting trouble trying to use silicon to repair the existing seal. Sooner or later you will end up with a very wet floor.

Because I'm a cheap bastard, and I like to try to fix things myself, and if the seal got stuffed once it might get stuffed again - so I want to avoid forking out every time.

If at some stage I have to admit defeat, I'll just pay someone to come replace the seal - no biggie; but first I'll have a go myself.

(And it's too late to worry about wet floors - been there...)


squirt Spray and Wipe on the surface you do not want the silicon to stick to.

Sounds worth a shot. Thanks.


Cover silicon with glad wrap.

Yeah, something I'd considered, but wasn't sure if the Silicone would stick to the glad wrap.

[MisterD]

Because I'm a cheap bastard, and I like to try to fix things myself, and if the seal got stuffed once it might get stuffed again - so I want to avoid forking out every time.

You need espares (http://www.espares.co.uk/parts/washing-machines/seals/p/1564) then.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yhpBQTPmyNs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Disclaimer: the bloke in the Video is the marketing director and my bro-in-law.

[avgas]

Yeah, something I'd considered, but wasn't sure if the Silicone would stick to the glad wrap.
Yep - you never get it off your lunch damhik

[pzkpfw]

You need espares (http://www.espares.co.uk/parts/washing-machines/seals/p/1564) then.

...

He quotes a different model number, but by looks that pretty much exactly my machine.

Awesome! (Thanks).



(Got a quote off the phone to supply and fit seal, from local fix-it people. Was about $250, which is 1/4 to 1/5 what we paid for the (5 year old) machine, and nearly half what I've seen new F&P cheap models going for on sale - so you can see why I want to not have this repair cost too much. Will check out espares....)

[tigertim20]

I'm trying to repair a tear in the door seal of a front-loading washing machine (never again!).

I've used some Silicone sealant, and to mold it to the shape required I needed to close the door on it - but wihout letting the Silicone glue to door to the seal.

I used selotape, with the "sticky" side to the Silicone. Seemed to work OK, but when I peeled off the tape it did take a little of the sealant with it. Maybe I didn't wait long enough for it to fully cure, or maybe that'd happen no matter how long I left it.

Can anyone suggest a better method?

I suppose I could smear some kind of lubricant on the door before closing it on the sealant; but that might be hard to control.


(I've also looked at spinning the door seal, to put the tear above where the water goes, but the inner end of the rubber seal is held by a spring that needs the whole front panel of the machine taken off to get to; and I want to avoid that if I can.)
margarine. spread that shit everyfuckingwhere.
best of all, once youre done, you can say to the mrs 'its fixed now, you can go clean up the mess'

[xXGIBBOXx]

Get some V-60 it clear and will work a treat . Just give the seal a sand up and it will stick mint as , just spray some soapy water on ya hands and on the v-60 to shape . should tack off in about an hour or so , about a 1 mm an hour cure

[DrunkenMistake]

Get yourself like,
6L of tractor grease,
Lather it around the edges, and just smear the shit on,

That will prevent your Harley from..
Oh wrong thread,
Just bog it up with silicone and then jam the door shut once its dry, whats the worse that can happen, besides an indoor swimming pool. :innocent: