Replacing a washing machine drum lifter or paddle

Purpose

Drum lifters are used to lift and drop the clothes as the drum turns which provides the necessary agitation required for effective cleaning. Many drum lifters are also designed to scoop up water and then redeposit it onto the clothes from above. This reduces the amount of water required for washing and rinsing thus increasing the machine's efficiency.

Faults and fault finding

The problem with drum lifters is that they are made of plastic and so are prone to snapping and coming loose. Lifters used to be built in to the metal drum but adding them as a separate item makes production much cheaper so many manufacturers are now using this method of production.

Replacing

Drum lifters normally just click in to place. Make sure that it is oriented correctly (normally with the locating lugs pointing to the back of the drum), place the locating lugs into the locating holes in the drum, slide the lifter towards the back of the drum, and you will hear a click as it locates.

Difficulty

Easy. Each drum lifter can be fitted in a matter of seconds without any tools.