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Nu Fresh, LLC

P.O.Box  272581 

Fort Collins, CO 80527

CustomerService @TechnoFresh.net

The “Spider” is the heavy duty, multi- leg flange that connects the washer drum to the motor shaft. Apparently a lot of machines are having problems with the spider. It can pit and corrode and then fail mechanically by cracking. This is because it is made of aluminum.

Click on picture to link to more photos

Aluminum does not “rust” like iron or some other metals when it oxidizes. Aluminum has a coating of aluminum oxide that blocks continued oxidation after it get to a certain thickness. This is why aluminum can look good for so long especially when exposed to outdoor conditions.

So, you would think that aluminum should work well in washing machines. 

Well, it is if you only use detergent and softener in the machine. These products are buffered to be in the 8.0 - 9.0 pH range. The machine is designed for these chemicals.

Apparently, if you go outside the normal operating range of the washer too far the aluminum of the spider flange will corrode. Then it will crack.

Why am I telling you this?

All the commercial shock treatments have the ability to push the pH into a range where the attack can occur. Some people may be tempted to use more of the shock treatment chemicals than recommended. This has a possibility of causing the problem. (and probably did not clean that much better anyway...) I really would like to assume that the package/tablet sizes are correct to prevent this out of range condition. But if you use extra, there may be a problem.

Be careful what you are doing.

FYI: The Super Shock treatment we recommend will not cause these problems because the formula uses a lot of a very weak acid (vinegar) instead of a small amount of a very strong chemical (acid or alkali depending on what product you are using).

I would like to say I planned this, but I did not. I chose vinegar because it is safe to use by anyone and is easily available. Sometimes being lucky works too...

There is a lot more info on the internets just search for “front loader spider.”

TechnoFresh will have no affect on the spider corrosion problem either way. Very little is used so it does not change the regular pH of the detergent it is used with. The pH stays in the 8.0 - 9.0 range as buffered by the detergent formula.

Bonus:

Using TechnoFresh will in fact reduce the number of shocks you need to do every year. You probably can get by with 3 or 4 shocks a year. And if you use the Super Shock formula those will have a minimal effect. Win - Win

Also:

The main reason for failure of the shaft seal is the overuse of bleach to shock the machine. The machine was not designed to have a really high concentration of chlorine in hot water many times a year. You will oxidized the plastic seal and it will crack. It is a cheap part but there is a lot of labor....

Use the Super Shock instead.

These are the two most common washing machine repairs repairs after gasket replacement.