Can you break a washing machine by overloading it?

Question

Someone cleverly loaded the machine by rolling the clothes up in balls and stuffing them in.

The maching is struggling to turn the load, and is constantly using water to soften it.

Answer 1

You definately can. Mostly the arms of the spider coupling break off or whatever is holding it in position.

Answer 2

always load evenly, turn all clothing wrong side out to wash, NEVER put clothes in rolled in balls, they will NOT get clean and it is very hard on the machine.

Answer 3

yes you can break it .. not to mention with the clothes rolled they are not getting fully cleaned

Answer 4

Yes, you most certainly can break it by overloading it.  It makes everything in the mchine work harder than is intended for those parts.  You can also break a machine by under-loading it.  I am not sure how that works, but it just happened to my in-laws.  Just wanted to pass that along to everyone.

Answer 5

Stop the machine.  Yes you can break a machine by putting too much in.  You will have the tub rocking about and strain the bearings and the machine may move about when it tries to spin.

Answer 6

YES, this has been done at my house, so I can tell you YES.