Mike Masnick ✅Dec 18, 2022

Can't just talk about the other site all day, so... against the advice of ChatGPT and others... I am going to attempt to replace the door boot seal on my 15 year old washing machine and document at least some of it here (Mastodon is running a bit slow with latest influx, so we'll see)

Most people seem to expect a glorious failure, but my wife believes I can do it. #SpinImIn #DIYfollies

Show threadMike Masnick ✅

The door boot seal has holes in it, so any time we run the laundry a ton of water leaks onto the garage floor.... and we just sweep it out onto the driveway (you can see a leftover puddle below).

I have watched a dozen YouTube videos... and have made a (really, not kidding) 37 point checklist to follow.

#SpinImIn #DIYfollies

Dec 18, 2022 at 9:20pmWeb
Show threadMike Masnick ✅Dec 18, 2022

Welp. This was working out way too easy. Removed the old boot seal with just a few scrapes and curses... only to realize that my washing machine had one without a drainage hose connected to the boot seal... But my replacement boot seal has a drainage hole. This presents a problem.

#SpinImIn #DIYfollies

Show threadMike Masnick ✅Dec 18, 2022
Turns out LG made this design change in August 2007. I bought this machine in September 2007. Looks like I got one of the last models without the drain tube in the boot seal. Going to try to... just seal up the hole. 🤞
Show threadMike Masnick ✅Dec 18, 2022
Brief interlude as @adamsteinbaugh thought he might actually have a spare of the part I needed. Turns out... close but nope (still hilarious, thank you John Mastodon). I've now sealed the hole with marine grade sealant... And we'll see how this goes.
Show threadMike Masnick ✅Dec 19, 2022

Sorry for the slow followup. The next problem, I came to... It turns out that the new boot seal I got, besides having an unwanted drain tube that was open... shipped with all the other inputs... sealed shut. So I needed to carefully x-acto knife the holes in the proper spot to as exact a specification as possible... Easier said than done... but eventually... done.

#SpinImIn #DIYfollies

Show threadMike Masnick ✅Dec 19, 2022

And then... it was just nearly an hour and a freaking half of me trying to get the stupid boot seal back on the washer.

A little aside. Nearly every YouTube video I watched said that you needed to take the front of the washer off to do this job. And getting it off and putting it back were about 20 of the 37 steps.

However... there was ONE video that showed you how to do it WITHOUT taking off the front. Even though that guy says most people take off the front.

Guess which approach I tried?

Show threadMike Masnick ✅Dec 19, 2022

Turns out, getting the stupid seal back on the machine is WAY freaking easier if you aren't shoving your fingers in between the front of the machine and the inner tub.

Yet... that's what I did. Eventually.

THEN I had to get the spring loaded boot clamp back on, and EVEN THOUGH I BOUGHT THE SPECIAL TOOL to do JUST THAT ONE THING, it proved... difficult.

Eventually, my wonderful wife and I, together, using four hands, somehow figured out how to get the clamp back on. Don't ask me how.

Show threadMike Masnick ✅Dec 19, 2022

Then, the final seal and clamp, which was annoying... but doable... and... the whole thing appears to be back together. Somehow. Not testing it tonight because I want to wait for the marine sealant to cure (24 hours). But... IN THEORY, I have replaced the boot seal gasket on my washing machine.

The backs of my hands are all scraped up and I somehow squeezed the tip of a finger in some pliers in an extremely painful manner, but mostly... all good.

#DIYfollies #SpinImIn

Show threadMike Masnick ✅Dec 19, 2022

Stay tuned until we test it out sometime tomorrow... and see if it leaks.

And... for waiting through all that... you get a song. This was the song that inspired the tag I used for some of this thread, because... I like the song and I couldn't think of any washing machine themed song.

#SpinImIn #DIYfollies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEa9EIIwVWg

Spin I'm In

YouTube
Show threadMike Masnick ✅Dec 20, 2022
So... didn't test out the washing machine yesterday, as we didn't have any wash to do. But this morning I ran a load... and NO LEAKS. The DIY boot seal replacement, complete with me having to seal up the extraneous drainage hole... WORKED! Success.
Show threadJoé McKenDec 20, 2022
@mmasnick 🥳
Show threadWrenDec 20, 2022
@mmasnick Yay! 👏 👏 👏
Show threadTechnically EnjoyingDec 20, 2022
@mmasnick woo hoo! 🙌
Show threadrag. Gustavino BevilacquaDec 20, 2022

@mmasnick

👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

Now when you'll be tired to be a journalist you can have a spare job as washer machines sealer.

Show threadHalf Cocked LawDec 20, 2022
I know that 10b-5 is a nearly impossible standard to reach, but you have to wonder when Elon's shenanigans cause Tesla shareholders to revolt.
Show threadSloanLADec 20, 2022
@mmasnick Talk about a stress test!
Show threadJernej Simončič �Dec 20, 2022
@mmasnick Don't worry, it'll fail soon enough!
Show threadJuicyMooseDec 20, 2022
@mmasnick i am in awe. i too once had an LG front loader with a leaky boot seal and therefore several weeks every two years or so could be found at a local laundromat with bruised and sliced up hands.
Show threadDavid GouldinDec 19, 2022
@mmasnick reading your DIY misadventure threads strongly reinforces my predisposition to never ever try to fix a home appliance myself.
Show threadWSHuffDec 19, 2022
@mmasnick I’m guessing John Mastodon really didn’t have washing machine door seals in mind when he invented social media. It was supposed to be important stuff and polls.
Show threadDanDec 19, 2022
@mmasnick Twitter Leak Part 7.
Show thread∞ Monkeys on a MastodonDec 19, 2022
@Danielsand Well played.😂
Show threadAdam R. WoodDec 19, 2022
@mmasnick I'mma just leave this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1hnBv12-uk
The Devil Went Down To Georgia White Trash Washing Machine Cover

White trash washer band with a classic!“To use this video in a commercial player or in broadcasts, please email [email protected]”

YouTube
Show threadJesseDec 19, 2022

@mmasnick
I would not be able to wait until tomorrow! I'd run a load right away to see if it worked.

I feel your pain a bit. I've done several roller replacements on my current dryer which seems to eat them up every 18 months or so.

Show threaddaemon90 ✅Dec 19, 2022
@mmasnick Hey Mike. I want to share with you something that I found. If you want the blue verified check, put two colons and type “verified” between the two after your name. Like in this photo:
Show threadMike Masnick ✅Dec 19, 2022
@daemon90 thought that depends on your instance?
Show threaddaemon90 ✅Dec 19, 2022
@mmasnick No. Not necessarily. I just want the “chief twit” to burn in hell. 😤
Show threaddaemon90 ✅Dec 19, 2022
@mmasnick Love it. Lol.
Show threadTom WildDec 19, 2022
@mmasnick fingers crossed!
Show threadMismieDec 19, 2022
@mmasnick I probably wouldn’t try this. But I did repair my dryer once after the repairman told me it would be $300 to fix it. I found this YouTube video that said I could fix it with $9 part which I got from Amazon. I went through the steps and amazingly I was able to fix it. I love YouTube videos. You can find an expert on anything on there
Show threadInsurtechNerdDec 19, 2022
@mmasnick Impressive. Washing machine tech is somewhere between steampunk and dark magic.
Show threadFranz HaertlDec 20, 2022
@mmasnick Now I finally get what you were doing…. You have my admiration!All the best for your test! Fixing stuff is not easy, but in a lot of cases it‘s worth it. Actually, this inspires me to attempt fixing my 20+ years old 2.1 PC speakers. Sound is still great, but I have to permanently adjust the cables to get sound from both speakers lately. It‘s nowhere nearly as complicated as fixing a washing machine of course, but fixing is always better than buying new. Thinking of washing machines this is the song that plays in my head: https://youtu.be/Yf1ewCvFvmI
Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) [Lyrics] You spin me right round baby like record

YouTube
Show threadNotarobotDec 18, 2022
@mmasnick @adamsteinbaugh Any chance LG makes a drain kit?
Show threadDistrictDave01Dec 18, 2022
@mmasnick @adamsteinbaugh this thread, though too short and anticlimactic for my tastes, had the potential to replace the Twitter “I’m putting x item in my air fryer and will let it cook until my wife divorces me” threads.
Show threadJack Coates 🐀Dec 18, 2022
@mmasnick @adamsteinbaugh I have faith in the theoretical underpinning of this approach
Show threadJack Coates 🐀Dec 18, 2022
@mmasnick @adamsteinbaugh /me keeps hands in pockets, supervising, yep, yep
Show threadGadgetGavDec 19, 2022
@mmasnick If I was you, I’d have found a solid plug that would be a tight fit in the tube and then back that up with marine sealant and maybe a zip tie. Sealant against flexible material is bound to leak sooner or later.
Show threadDavid EvansDec 18, 2022
@mmasnick Who dares wins.
Show threadKirk KittellDec 19, 2022
@hudsonart @mmasnick unless it's plumbing related, then it's straight up "the only way to win is not to play"
Show threadKirk KittellDec 19, 2022
@hudsonart @mmasnick (although I wish you the best of luck)
Show threadDanDec 18, 2022
@mmasnick
I look forward to this entire thing collapsing into frustrated googling at step 5.
Show threadProIshDec 18, 2022
@mmasnick pfft - You should buy a wet/dry vac specifically for the laundry and just kick that baby on when you run laundry like a real lazy ass!
#LaundryTips
Show threadSarah McLaughlinDec 18, 2022
@mmasnick the obvious solution is to just keep the washer plugged in outside so the water leaks directly out there
Show thread❄️❄️❄️Dec 18, 2022
@sarahemclaugh @mmasnick look into area grey water rebate programs. Moving your leaky washer into your garden might make economic sense.
Show threadtomathomeDec 19, 2022
@sarahemclaugh @mmasnick or replace the seal 🤷‍♂️
Show threadBart LibertDec 18, 2022
@mmasnick
I'm not the handiest guy around and I managed to do something similar (I admit, it took me much longer than necessary I guess), but the machine is still running fine, about 8 years on. So you can do it!
Show threadAdamGoldbergDec 18, 2022
@mmasnick Keep me up-to-date! I have a similar-looking machine (probably the same, really), and I dread doing that damn seal.
Show threadSandbenderDec 18, 2022
@mmasnick Have a feeling this will someday be one of Mastodon's Tales of Yore.
Show threadDave The Tall GuyDec 18, 2022
@mmasnick changed mine on a similar LG wager about a year ago. Not technically complicated, but managing the springs is a bear
Show threadDave The Tall GuyDec 18, 2022
@mmasnick *washer
Show threadTorbjörn BjörkmanDec 18, 2022
@davethetallguy @mmasnick You've got an edit button here, remember 😉
Show threadAaron Ross Powell ☸️Dec 18, 2022
@mmasnick Good luck, Mike!
Show threadAlex ZaniDec 18, 2022
@mmasnick Construction adhesive to seal the door and a jig saw to put a hole on top. I don't know why people find this difficult.
Show threadJosh SorefDec 18, 2022
@mmasnick sorry to hear that. If it's any consolation, apparently it's a very common problem. It's one of the arguments in favor of the old fashioned top loaders as opposed to the modern "high efficiency" front loaders.
Show threadJoe ArisiaDec 18, 2022
@mmasnick why do American washing machines have little stands to sit on?
Ours:
Show threadTed GarrisonDec 18, 2022

@joearisia
Most don't. Some folks like to have the front loaders up a little higher so they don't have to bend over as far.

@mmasnick

Show threadJoe ArisiaDec 18, 2022
@Tedgarrison3 @mmasnick ahh ok, thanks.
Show threadMike Masnick ✅Dec 19, 2022
@joearisia they don't have to, but it makes them higher up and it gives us a drawer underneath to store stuff, which was useful in this location.
Show threadBruce ElrickDec 18, 2022
@mmasnick This is my fear. I will prepare, go get everything I need to do this maintenance task I've never done before, finally work up the gumption to start (because we can still use the machine), start, then find the first in a list of 8 things that, once you've done it once it seems kind of obvious in retrospect, until you *really* think about it & realize that there are a million little standards that make this stuff easy but for which your background in IT has made you never assume.