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Thread Number: 34333
Maytag LA308 won't drain |
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| Post# 515275 , Reply# 1 5/2/2011 at 18:19 (4,735 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA) | ||
belt | ||
Post# 515284 , Reply# 3 5/2/2011 at 18:53 (4,735 days old) by Kenmore71  (Minneapolis, MN) |
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Interesting...
Can you say more about what he does when he "fiddles" with the dial? That model Maytag has two seperate belts, one to the main drive-train and one to the pump. If the motor is running and the basket is spinning (albeit slowly), there are really only three things that could be wrong and they are: 1. The pump belt isn't turning the pump pulley at all because it is broken or too loose. 2. The pump pulley is being turned but for some reason isn't turning the impeller in the pump. (unusual but not impossible) or finally, 3. As mentioned above there is a blockage somewhere in the drainage system that is preventing water from actually getting to the pump.
If by some chance it is actually a suds-saver (LA308S, which I'm not actually sure if that model was ever offered) there are a number of other possibilities because that drain system is more complicated and involves a solenoid operated valve. | ||
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Post# 515286 , Reply# 4 5/2/2011 at 18:55 (4,735 days old) by Kenmore71 (Minneapolis, MN) |
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One more thing | ||
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Post# 515299 , Reply# 6 5/2/2011 at 20:09 (4,735 days old) by Kenmore71 (Minneapolis, MN) |
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My best guess
is that it's a belt tension/wear issue. With the machine empty of water and unplugged from electricity, pull the machine forward a few feet and then tip it backwards until the front is elevated about a foot. Underneath you will see the following: On the far left is the motor pulley (which is a double pulley) with two belts connected to it. One belt runs to the center of the machine. That is the main drive belt. It SHOULD be somewhat loose. The other belt runs from the motor pulley across the front of the machine to the pump which is in the right front corner. This belt should have a "normal" amount of tension on it. If you grab the belt and run it back and forth a few times (while trying not to add any additional sideways tension to it) the motor pulley and the pump pulley should turn freely. The other belt will move as well. Don't be concerned if that belt slips on the large center pulley. In fact it should do that when going in one of the directions. It is designed to slip (that is what Maytag used instead of a spin clutch). The pump belt should NOT slip, however. If it is slipping, it either needs to be tightened or replaced. If the pump pulley itself is turning hard, that most likely means that the pump has a bad bearing and it needs to be replaced.
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Post# 515308 , Reply# 7 5/2/2011 at 20:42 (4,735 days old) by dadoes (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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I had a nice description written of how the machine switches between agitate and spin per the motor direction. Browser crashed. Apparently I'm not supposed to provide the information, so I won't write it all out again.
In short, there should be NO delay during which the machine drains and does not spin. When the motor reverses direction after agitation, drain and spin should BOTH begin immediately.
To clarify on the belts, the pump belt is the one that's normally "loose." Belt tension is adjusted by shifting the pump in its mounting slots. Remove the front panel. Reach under the front edge of the machine and pinch the pump belt together halfway between the pump and motor and watch the motor carriage. At the point the motor carriage begins to shift against the spring tension there should be 1/4" space between the "halves" of the pump belt. If LESS than 1/4" when the carriage begins to move, then the pump belt is too TIGHT (it's putting too much pull on the motor carriage). | ||
| Post# 515347 , Reply# 9 5/3/2011 at 00:04 (4,735 days old) by qsd-dan (West) | ||
Sometimes a clothing item (usually socks) will make its way over the inner tub and into the outer tub, periodically plugging up the the drain port fitting leading to pump. Remove the tub to drain hose and see if anything is blocking it. I have had this happen where a quarter would intermittently get jammed in the drain opening. I have also had one particular machine that was used in an area with very hard water and hard water deposits were blocking 75% of the opening. As for the pump, the bearings get dry after decades of use and can cause the pulley to become stiff and erratic in operation. Not to worry though, a bit of Zoom Spout turbine oil (can be purchased at most hardware stores or appliance parts outlets) can be injected through the front access hole, after removing the flat headed screw. Lastly, if the belts have never been replaced....it's time. Also, it would be a good idea to replace the spring and glides (your particular machine probably still has the original rollers instead of glides, but both designs are compatible with each other). Overtime, the rollers wear out, and coupled with decades of trash accumulating in the tracks, the motor carriage stops "clutching" correctly for proper spin/agitate operation. All of these items can be found for cheap on ebay. Only use genuine Maytag/FSP parts! After 30+ years of operation, it's time for a little tune-up :) Springs and glides Belts | ||
| Post# 515635 , Reply# 11 5/4/2011 at 12:29 (4,733 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA) | ||
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Awesome | ||
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