Thread Number: 46523
Maytag SAV2555AWW washer problem |
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Post# 678682 , Reply# 1   5/11/2013 at 08:18 (3,996 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Carl you must be pretty handy to have put so many repairs into this washer but I think I would pull the plug. If you have had this many seal problems you should be sure that you are using enough detergent, you can tell if there is any buildup of mineral deposits in the outer-tub of your current washer that you either need a water softener or better or more detergent.
If you want a machine similar to the Amana get a new Speed Queen Top Load washer while you still can or if you want to do something much less expensive [ and also since you are so handy ] Get a 5-15 year old WP or KM Direct Drive washer, one of the many good things about WP DD washers is that they are virtually unaffected by hard water when it comes to the main seals. |
Post# 678734 , Reply# 2   5/11/2013 at 13:27 (3,996 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)   |   | |
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One big reason you have had all the bearing issues could be that you have not changed the transmission itself, which it now sounds like needs done anyway. What has been said to be the problem is that the upper housing on the transmission isn't 'milled' correctly. Instead of spinning in a perfect circle, it spins kind of in a elliptical which keeps knocking the already fragile triple lip seal around and promote leaks. Maytag has always suggested replacing the transmission along with the bearings and seal for a better chance of a successful repair. Depending on age, the transmission may be under part wtty. I have had customers call and complain to the 1-800-who-cares line and gotten mixed results on factory assistance for this known issue.
RCD |
Post# 678778 , Reply# 5   5/11/2013 at 19:39 (3,996 days old) by whirlcool (Just North Of Houston, Texas)   |   | |
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Isn't this the very dreaded AmanaTag machine? The symptoms and repair history sound like it is. |
Post# 678861 , Reply# 6   5/11/2013 at 23:53 (3,996 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)   |   | |
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Abandon that dead washer at the plant that Maytag abandoned.Would be an interesting find for urban explorers. |
Post# 678892 , Reply# 8   5/12/2013 at 03:26 (3,996 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)   |   | |
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I don't think Carl was looking here for more negative messages on this type of machine, there are enough of it already on this site. I should think he expressed enough why he wants to keep fixing this machine. I say good for him!
And Carl, welcome to the club! We all have our own reasons to like our machines! |
Post# 678938 , Reply# 9   5/12/2013 at 12:15 (3,995 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)   |   | |
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Thanks for that, Louis. While I'm not a huge fan of the Searcy machines, that doesn't mean that someone else ISN'T. We all have our machines in our collections that other people say "What in heck are you working on THAT for". We're being asked for help and after the first dozen or so "What in heck are you working on THAT for's", the point has been made and now it's time to try to help...
The answer about the transmissions isn't that easy to say. It was just common practice to replace the transmission as part of the repair, ESP since at the time Maytag was concessioning the repair as a known issue. Just make sure you get the right one as there were two different ones depending on rpm. The problem is that the repair didn't always 'take' and the issue would return. That being said, the repair always seemed to have a better chance of holding if the trans was repaired. There are machines we had to do the whole thing, including transmission, all over again. Frustrating, yes. Once Whirlpool burned Searcy to the ground along with the other casualties of the takeover, the pressure to care was... Diminished? The decision to proceed with the repair is most likely going to be chalked up to the chances one always takes when putting a huge repair into any older appliance. The transmissions for the Herrin machines may be somewhat similar but obviously are not. They have their own set of quirks but main seal failures are not one of them. Unfortunately, they are not retrofittable. When Maytag bought Amana, the people running the factory at Searcy were 'encouraged' to reduce the cost per unit of production. This brought about the changes that we see between the Speed Queens and their sister Amana laundry. These changes obviously did not do well. Anyhoo, whatever we can do do provide advice and (mental) support is here for the asking. Good luck and welcome again to the family of machines and the people who love them beyond logic itself. RCD |
Post# 679025 , Reply# 11   5/12/2013 at 21:12 (3,995 days old) by DigAPony ()   |   | |
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I suggest humanely euthanizing that machine and then rescue a vintage Maytag in search of a home.. |
Post# 679062 , Reply# 12   5/13/2013 at 03:00 (3,995 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)   |   | |
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Evidently we need a few more "What in heck are you working on THAT for's "...
That's an interesting question but I'm not sure that they will. I'm hoping John (Combo52) will chime in to answer that question as he may have seen a bit more Speed Queen than I. I will still insist that just changing the seals repeatedly without doing the transmission will just lead to more frustration and business for your parts supplier. I hear several things in your post. First off, a huge amount of patience for a machine that's having more than its fair share of issues. Also, a determination to either beat that washer into submission or go insane trying. Most obvious is a deep desire to keep that washer in service, if possible, since you like it. My Maytagman hat is off to you for this and I feel that no matter what machine you put your mind to, it could have a lot worse for an owner. I do agree that if you want to keep a machine around that is a product of Maytag engineering, think about a vintage Dependable Care. I'm not saying to give up on the Searcy washer but maybe it would do to work on something else deserving of your obvious patience and skill while giving yourself a rest from the SAV. RCD |
Post# 679065 , Reply# 13   5/13/2013 at 03:36 (3,995 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)   |   | |
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I am not clear-missed something somewhere-what is the "Herrin" Maytag?How are these identified-in case I find one at the swap shop so I will know what it is. |
Post# 679097 , Reply# 15   5/13/2013 at 08:59 (3,994 days old) by super32 (Blackstone Massachusetts)   |   | |
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Post# 679235 , Reply# 18   5/14/2013 at 02:20 (3,994 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))   |   | |
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Post# 679264 , Reply# 19   5/14/2013 at 07:05 (3,994 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Carl and Andy, I don't think that I was being too harsh when I suggested that there was no good reason to fix this washer again, EXCEPT for one reason that Carl gave in your first post about this washer being built in the town you live in.
I thought more about this after reading some of your following posts and when I think about the 100-200 appliances we have saved for our museum project that not one of them was built in Beltsville let alone even Maryland, so I can now more fully appreciate why you would like to save this washer. { and I still think that it is the only good reason to do so ]
You asked about using SQ parts to make a more durable repair, I know that the outer tub is very different [ the center seal area is raised an inch or two ] so I suspect that you would basically have to use almost the entire SQ guts inside the Amana cabinet at which point it would be only 1/2 built in your town, but since this design did originate from SQ originally [ not Maytag or Amana ] it would be sort of the ultimate Searcy built washer.
If you wanted to fix this washer using new factory parts and you wanted it to last longer than 3-4 years I would consider doing the following. Take the aluminum hub that rode inside the lip seal to a good machinist and have it turned down and a Stainless Steel sleeve installed in the wear area, doing this would likely make this seal arrangement much more durable.
I was at the Maytag sponsored training meeting approximately 15 years ago when this STUPID lip seal running on plain un-coated aluminum hub lubricated with Vaseline under water in the outer tub of a washing machine was introduced to us. I told the MT reps and the at least 40 techs in the room that this would likely be lucky to last 5 years and maybe a lot less. At another service meeting around this time when the MT Neptune FL washer was introduced I again told the entire meeting that the main Water Seal would not be durable, at least this time MT did change it for a better design but it took about 5 years to do so.
I was always very vocal at service meetings asking questions and offering my opinions, some trainers probably didn't like having me there, , LOL, but when meetings were announced they usually always gave us several different dates that we could attend, and we would usually get calls form a few other local dealers asking which meeting that John was going be at so they could be there also. My old boss Bob from the MT dealer where I started always wanted to be at the same meeting because he said I always learn so much more if you are there. |
Post# 679287 , Reply# 20   5/14/2013 at 09:36 (3,993 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)   |   | |
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I wasn't getting on you for your opinion, per se. As others also noted, it was the repeated negative comments (from a few people) when our new friend was looking for advise and help in saving a machine that was obviously important to him that I objected to. Frequently, when someone posts questions on a machine that has been a unhappy camper like the Searcy machines or even the Herrin machines, the replies are quick and blunt to knock or just outright shoot the machine and slow or non existent on offering any real assistance or helpful advise. At that point, we will most likely lose a (potential) member who will think " Well, all they want to do is trash my machine and not help me save it. I'm out of here!"
It is a cool idea of installing the guts of a Queen into a SAV. That would be a sight! The more I think about it, the more I want to try it if I ever get a donor Queen in that maybe has a trashed cabinet. The electrical would be the same as would be the hoses and springs for the most part. Hmmmm... RCD |
Post# 679301 , Reply# 21   5/14/2013 at 11:11 (3,993 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN)   |   | |
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My girlfriends parents have one of the Amana branded NAV washers dating back to ~2004. This machine has seen an amazing amount of use, likely 8-10 loads a week for the entire time frame.
Their family is one of those that can't bear the idea of gambling on unexpected repairs so they have a service contract. Interesting aside is that most everyone in the family loves to play the lottery or pulltabs which I find odd, but I digress. I believe they are paying less then $80 per year after the initial warranty ended. Personally I always advise against any extended warranty or service plan, one only has to look at how aggressively they sell them to understand the cash generator they are for the seller. In their case the service plan "may" have worked in their favor. The machine has had the main seal replaced. The transmission was done and the main support frame cracked also. This was 3 separate complete tear-downs of the machine! They have also got 3 replacement agitators for free as they are chronic over-loaders and they have broken fins a few times now. I keep waiting for the service company to refuse service but so far they keep it running! Eventually it will probably get replaced with a SQ top loader, and I'm sure there will be a service contract on that too. As you can see in the photo, at least they have a solid gas WP top-filter dryer off to the left. As for the OP, Andy's words are spot on. Don't let the negative "Nancy's" steer you away from servicing a machine that YOU like. We all have interests that vary and I will full well admit that I enjoy rescuing something that others would trash because its not financially wise! The idea of swapping in the SQ innards is intriguing, you'll have to watch CL for a donor if you want to go that way. |