Thread Number: 10333
Neptune - fix or fling
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Post# 189688   2/8/2007 at 22:27 (6,257 days old) by khodabear ()        

We have a first generation Neptune stack that isn't spinning like it should. Clothes are not getting spun out at all like they used to.

Door lock light is on.

Strongly tempted to replace it...but wanted to ask about the fix before making that kind of purcase.

Thoughts?

Peter
Who loves the stuff on the Vintage side :~)





Post# 189817 , Reply# 1   2/9/2007 at 15:40 (6,256 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

toggleswitch's profile picture
Methinks you have a collectors' item already. Fix if you can afford to. Then, perhaps find yourself a good inexpensive scratch-and-dent sale at your leisure for a daily driver. Vola! Instant collection!

Best of luck!


Post# 189818 , Reply# 2   2/9/2007 at 15:59 (6,256 days old) by peterh770 (Marietta, GA)        

peterh770's profile picture
Fix. Call your repairguy and tell him you need a new control board and wax motor. You can actually see what is needed if on eBay you do a search on "maytag repair". This is a common problem. Any repairguy worth his salt should know about this issure and be able to do this repair easy enough.

Post# 189859 , Reply# 3   2/9/2007 at 20:43 (6,256 days old) by gadgetgary (Bristol,CT)        
New control board and wax motor

gadgetgary's profile picture
Exactly what I needed on mine...to the tune of around $350!

Post# 189864 , Reply# 4   2/9/2007 at 20:54 (6,256 days old) by khodabear ()        
Confused - but that's pretty normal

Jeffryson's Ebay repair package states:
Problem: Your Neptune washer won’t spin and the door locked
light doesn’t come on anymore and your spouse is unhappy because the laundry is piling up really fast!

Caught my eye right away. But...my door light does come on and my door is locked.

Doesn't that rule out the wax motor/board repair?

Peter
Who wonders what flavor of juice comes out of a wax motor as opposed to a wax straw


Post# 189976 , Reply# 5   2/10/2007 at 16:25 (6,255 days old) by khodabear ()        

Ok - spoke with Ken of Ebay Wax Motor Fame.
My problem isn't that. The machine did spin up a few times - but not every time.
I seem to have a balance issue - there are a number of possible reasons:
Liquid ring around th drum has lost its fluid?
3 point support has broken
Springs broken

All these sound like serious issues. Has anybody here been deep enough into a Neptune to know how mych trouble I'm getting into?

Pete


Post# 189977 , Reply# 6   2/10/2007 at 16:27 (6,255 days old) by khodabear ()        

Sorry- It was Jeff that I spoke with - not Ken.
Very helpful guy - I certainly recommend him
Info@neptunewaxmotor.com


Post# 190029 , Reply# 7   2/10/2007 at 21:52 (6,255 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        

sudsmaster's profile picture
The liquid filled ring is tuned, as I understand it, to come into play at about 800 rpm. So if the machine is not getting up to more than a few hundred rpm I think the liquid ring isn't the issue. You can chcek on this anyway, by turning the drum when it's empty. If you hear liquid sloshing around, chances are the ring is still filled.

A broken 3 point support is serious and could lead to massive failure during a spin. It would be best not to use the washer if that is the case.

Another possibility is that the drum bearings are shot. If the drum doesn't turn easily, that could be the problem.

Broken springs should be relatively easy to discover, just pull front and top. As I recall, there are two (maybe four?) springs at the top, and two shocks at the back (front?). It's been a while.

The door lock light staying on all the time may indicate a controller problem. Not sure about that. If the door does lock and won't unlock, there's a little pull string under the detergent dispenser that you can pull to release the door.


I watched a repair person replace both the motor and the three-point support on my Neptune 7500 (under extended warranty). It is certainly do-able but I'd get a factory service manual from Maytag first (about $10 if you call them). The trickiest part seems to be reinstalling the wire loop that holds the door boot in place. You'll also need allen wrenches to remove the paddles to get at the support bolts, as well as other various wrenches and drivers. If you pull the drum and the bearings are ok, it would be a good idea to replace the seal. If the bearings are shot, you'll need a new outer tub (the bearings are cast into the outer tub). We didn't pull the outer tub because the bearings were ok and you don't need to pull the outer tub to replace the three point support.


Post# 190190 , Reply# 8   2/11/2007 at 09:51 (6,255 days old) by khodabear ()        

Thanks for the help!
Last night I sat and watched as it went through a Regular Wash spin cycle, and an extra rinse/spin cycle while loaded.
It spun up to top speed just fine with no out of balance issues - but it did knock loudly while spinning up and while winding down from top speed. I'd guess in the 300 rpm range
I cannot duplicate the knock by moving the drum by hand. There is fluid sloshing sounds when turning the drum, which turns easily. I always thought that was trapped water. Shows you what I know :~)
I guess I'll have to bite the bullet...pull it out...and open it up.

Housekeeping:
The lock light is only on at appropriate times.
I'm going to replace the Wax Motor as a prophylactic measure.
Jeff - Info@neptunewaxmotor.com - hooked me up with a PDF of the manual. He's been way helpful and I recommend him!

Peter
Ya know...bullets don't taste very good
in Denver


Post# 190229 , Reply# 9   2/11/2007 at 12:23 (6,255 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        

sudsmaster's profile picture
What prompted the replacement of the three-point support (I call it the "spider") on my Neptune was that the machine would make a funny squeak when it was doing a wash tumble with a heavy load of, say, bath towels. It would squeak at the start of each tumble. I thought it was a slipping belt, but replacing the belt twice didn't fix the problem. I also seem to recall it had more difficulty getting up to full spin speed than after the spider was replaced. The service person seemed to know instantly that the squeak was due to a cracked support. When he took it out, neither one of us could see a crack, but the replacement spider fixed both the squeaking and the spinning problem.

Post# 190276 , Reply# 10   2/11/2007 at 17:28 (6,254 days old) by khodabear ()        

Well, this is good news. Squeaking is one thing I don't have going on. perhaps the three point mount isn't my issue.

Peter
Processing the Eliminations
in Denver


Post# 190305 , Reply# 11   2/11/2007 at 19:22 (6,254 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        

sudsmaster's profile picture
Well, I would err on the side of caution. I didn't mean to imply that squeaking is the only symptom of a broken support, only that it was the symptom for my machine.

But anyway I'd pull the front and top and check out the springs and shocks to see if any of them are obviously broken or detached. If not, then I'd suspect the support.


Post# 190367 , Reply# 12   2/11/2007 at 22:22 (6,254 days old) by khodabear ()        

If only opening it up were that easy.
As I mention in the opening post - I have a stack :~(

Peter


Post# 190660 , Reply# 13   2/12/2007 at 22:17 (6,253 days old) by khodabear ()        
You'll never guess what turned up right here in Denver o

Brand New Maytag Neptune Front Load Washer - $200

Unbelievable. an MHW2000AWW - exactly what I have - new old stock. $200. I'll check the door gasket for mold - any other indicators of it's being misrepresented?

*************************************************
The ad:
I have a brand new Maytag Neptune Front Load model MHW2000AWW washing machine. This is the lower half of a stacked unit and requires the upper half (dryer) to be functional. I bought it thinking I had the upper part in my storage shed but was mistaken. Look at the photos, it is literally brand new and still on the original wood frame it came on.
************************************************
If it's for real - I have spoken with the seller and made arrangements to meet - it looks like I'll be running the Neptune Stack for another 10 years - at which point it'll be a classic :~)
Now if only I could install a glass window in the door.......

Peter
Stoked
in Denver



Post# 190661 , Reply# 14   2/12/2007 at 22:18 (6,253 days old) by khodabear ()        

Another photo

Post# 190683 , Reply# 15   2/13/2007 at 00:20 (6,253 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        

sudsmaster's profile picture
If it's really "new old stock" that would be a good find.

You might try calling Maytag and see if you can get warranty coverage for it, since it's never been used.


Post# 190753 , Reply# 16   2/13/2007 at 08:50 (6,253 days old) by khodabear ()        

While I'm at it I should see if I can get settlement money since this unit wasn't online prior to the cutoff date and therefore unfairly excluded...or something...:~)

Peter
Who needs medication to stop him from thinking like a freakin lawyer
in Denver


Post# 190917 , Reply# 17   2/14/2007 at 00:32 (6,252 days old) by exploder3211 ()        

How did one get half of the unit?? Curious

Post# 190932 , Reply# 18   2/14/2007 at 05:02 (6,252 days old) by khodabear ()        

Excellent question. I went over Tuesday and bought the unit.
The seller said he bought it on CL a couple of months ago. As he said in the ad - he thought he had the dryer but what he had in fact was the top half of a Kenmore TL stack. He didn't really have a story about why it was an orphan.

It's just that, though...still has paperwork taped to the bottom of the front panel - the front seal is new and squeaky clean. If I had to guess I'd say Maytag put out a bunch of solo washers for warranty replacement purposes since there was so much trouble with them. This one just didn't get installed.

He had some interesting items in the garage - he buys to stock rental units - a compact portable washer - an Avacado GE with illuminated console - cool stuff.

Peter
Who now has to put the two together
in Denver



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