Washer drum does not turn freely by hand; feels jammed or scrapes.

Safety first: Unplug the washer before attempting to rotate the drum or remove parts.

• Inspect drum paddles: Look for loose or broken lifters inside the drum. Remove and replace damaged paddles.
• Check for objects: Shine a flashlight through drum holes and gasket area to look for bra wires, coins, or other items lodged between drum and tub.
• Access heater opening: On many models, removing the heater gives access to the gap between drum and tub to retrieve objects.
• Bearings: If no object is found and the drum is still stiff or noisy, bearing or shaft damage is likely and requires major disassembly.