Thread Number: 35629
Violent Shaking in Maytag Washing Machine A606S 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 531594   7/19/2011 at 11:31 (4,663 days old) by greentree40 ()        

Hi again, I thought I come back here for help since I got such great info last time I posted (under wondering10- I lost my password and rejoined a few months later under greentree40) with my Motor on Timer Shot thread (#17927 with photos) back in 2008. (The new motor is still working on the timer- so thanks again for all the help with that repair!)

This mid-1970's top loading machine has been making a moderately burning rubber smell for a few years now during the spin cycles, and though we replaced the belts (even though the old ones showed little sign of wear) the smell continued- But only when the machine went through the spin rinse (an added feature of this machine which is not really needed, but part of the cycle) and also, more prominently, the normal damp dry spin cycle (very neccessary).

Now, not only is the rubber smell stronger, but the machine has sometimes started to buck violently during the aforementioned parts of the cycle, with large and med. loads, and more recently when only a small amount of clothes were in it- socks and underwear about 1/3 full in the tub.

The machine will also make high pitched grinding sounds for a few seconds while it starts up during the damp dry. Overall, the washing machine still performs properly during the rest of the cycle, but you have to stand over it during the rinse and damp dry cycles and slam the off button when the machine starts bucking.

If you wait a few minutes, you can easily manually reposition the inner tub which has always been just a tiny bit off balance for a few years (judging from the slight distance between the inner tub and outer tub) and then run your sopping clothes through the damp dry for about half the damp dry cycle- enough to get the job barely done- but better than straining the machine. Even repositioning the tub at the beginning of the whole cycle doesn't stop if from becoming slightly imbalanced shortly thereafer- it just doesn't seem to be a problem until it hits the spin cycles.

I don't think my parents got a repair manual for this machine over the years, so I'm not sure if this Maytag Top Loader A606S has a snubber ring, snub pads, felt, or wheels to control the balance for this machine, or even where these would be located on the machine, and more importantly, how difficult this type of repair would be for armchair repair people such as myself- that is, if I could even find parts for this machine in my location in Ontario, Canada or online in the States.

When we last tilted the machine (with great difficultly) at a steep angle against the wall so we could change the belts last year, I don't remember seeing anything that related to this balance problem part of the machine. Not that I was looking for it anyway.

I will try to get some photos of the underside and the front when the panel is removed and add them to this thread. The front panel has been removed a few times over the yearas, and though we lost the second screw to put it in place recently and taped the panel shut, this front panel had been vibrating and making a loud noise, again, during the spin cycles, for a few years now- even when both screws were in place. Maybe it's a bracing issue rather than a snub/buffer issue? At this point, I have no idea and would welcome any help. And if anyone had a copy of the repair manual too, that would be great.

Thanks,

Brian in Ontario, Canada.




Post# 531601 , Reply# 1   7/19/2011 at 12:31 (4,663 days old) by mixfinder ()        
Knock, Knock, Who's There

It sounds like tub brakes.  Does the machine come to a screching halt the moment the spin cycle ends which may leave the tub cocked a bit?  This isn't a life threatening illness and there are multiple threads for oiling the brake package while the machine is lying on its side.  I also know that if the machine is tilted forward the out of balance connecting rod can come loose which lets the tub flop around a bit.  Mine is an 806 made in 1972 and still seems happy to merrily churn away.  Good Luck.
Post# 531628 , Reply# 2   7/19/2011 at 15:25 (4,663 days old) by greentree40 ()        
Violent Shaking in Maytag Washing Machine A606S/photos

 Hi, here is a photo of the machine we're having trouble with, with the front off. I also have some tiny video clips, but I'm not sure you can upload them here. I didn't want to run the machine too much during the spin cycle with the front off anyway, because it's kind of nerve racking. The typical screech sound during the start up and finish of the spin cycle only occurs after a couple of loads. Starting it fresh with a small load and running it for a few seconds won't induce the rattle or sound.

Re: Knock, Knock's comment- I would say that the machine doesn't come to a screeching halt and that most of the grinding/rubbing/screeching happens when the spin cycle first starts up after the machine's been through a large or med. load. Thereafter, the screeching and shaking gets more violent- as if the machine can only take one load and then has to rest for quite a while before the next one can be put in. Hours away, I would say.

Post# 531629 , Reply# 3   7/19/2011 at 15:27 (4,663 days old) by greentree40 ()        
Photo Maytag A606S Violently Shaking thread

 Photo of the machine

Post# 531687 , Reply# 4   7/19/2011 at 18:11 (4,663 days old) by yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
Sounds like the inner tub is loose from the hub............can you remove the agitator, then grab the inner tub and see if you can shake it around, or even spin it somewhat....with the brake engaged, it should be hard to move, and will not rock or wobble.......

Post# 532419 , Reply# 5   7/23/2011 at 15:36 (4,659 days old) by greentree40 ()        
Re: Violent Shaking in Maytag Washing Machine A606S

 Hi, and thanks for the feedback so far. I think the easiest way to describe it is to add a link to a You Tube video of a somewhat newer but similar model of machine which pretty much describes the problem here, although, not quite as wonky as the one shown, but pretty close.





You can manually move the inner tub a bit, espc. when it looks off center, and I didn't really notice if there were white shavings (snubber ring) at the base of the snubber area- there's so much dirt and dust, it's hard to tell.

From what I'm reading it can be various things- bearings, snubber ring and pads, inner tub bolts or spring. Since some of these things are more involved than others, I'd like to take the simplest route first and am wondering what that might be and cause the least amount of damage if I have to do the repair myself.

Post# 532421 , Reply# 6   7/23/2011 at 15:42 (4,659 days old) by coldspot66 (Plymouth, Mass)        

You might try grabbing the tranny shaft below the outer tub and moving it back and forth to see if there is any "play" in the outer tub bearing area. That will cause it to shake quite a bit in spin. That usually indicates a warped outer tub bearing or sleeve.

Post# 534403 , Reply# 7   8/1/2011 at 19:34 (4,650 days old) by bpetersxx (laf in on the banks of the Wabash River)        

bpetersxx's profile picture
OOOO I like that washer there


i have one of those sitting by the 806s

this is the 806s I will have to get a picture of the 606s again as I lost the copy I had when my hard drives died


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