Thread Number: 5110
Help...Maytag A700
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Post# 111567   2/23/2006 at 12:08 (6,608 days old) by bingwsguy (Binghamton NY)        

When agitating and spinning it has a squeak...almost like a "chirp". It is not in rhythm with the agitation pattern and remains the same through the spin. It is not having difficulty performing (at least to my knowledge), but the noise shouldn't be there. Being kind of new to this, I am not too good at diagnosing. Any thoughts on what it might be? Thanks for any help.




Post# 111569 , Reply# 1   2/23/2006 at 12:21 (6,608 days old) by coldspot66 (Plymouth, Mass)        

Check the motor pulley. The edges may be wearing thin.
Also check the belts to see if they are glazed. Does it agitate at normal speed, or does it seem to bog down or agitate slower than usual. Let me know.


Post# 111574 , Reply# 2   2/23/2006 at 13:33 (6,608 days old) by sambootoo (Moody, AL)        
Another question along the same lines

I have an A700 that won't agitate at all. Started out with very slow agitation, then picked up to normal speed, now won't agitate. The motor turns, belts just sit there and smoke. Is the tranny locked up or????

Post# 111578 , Reply# 3   2/23/2006 at 14:15 (6,608 days old) by bingwsguy (Binghamton NY)        
coldspot66

It agitates fine and at normal speed (from what I know of my Gram's). The noise seems to be coming from the bottom of the machine. The pulley is a good possibility....I will check it.

Post# 111582 , Reply# 4   2/23/2006 at 14:38 (6,608 days old) by coldspot66 (Plymouth, Mass)        

Sambootoo,

If you can lay the machine back against a wall to get to the bottom pulley, try turning it in a counterclockwise direction for agitation....is it hard to turn, can you turn it at all? Clockwise direction would be spin...does the whole tranny turn once you "wind up" the pulley on the helical shaft? You might have a busted gear in the tranny if it does not turn and burns up belts. Hope this helps!


Post# 111583 , Reply# 5   2/23/2006 at 14:39 (6,608 days old) by coldspot66 (Plymouth, Mass)        

Sambootoo,

Are the springs in the sliding motor base maintaining tension on the belt?


Post# 111602 , Reply# 6   2/23/2006 at 16:19 (6,608 days old) by bingwsguy (Binghamton NY)        
coldspot66

After doing 3 loads today, I went to see if agitation speed is still normal and it seems to be bogged down now...what does that mean? Also I have noticed a rubber smell when it first starts draining/spinning.

Post# 111611 , Reply# 7   2/23/2006 at 17:27 (6,608 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

goatfarmer's profile picture
Rubber smell is probably the belt slipping.

Post# 111620 , Reply# 8   2/23/2006 at 18:03 (6,608 days old) by bingwsguy (Binghamton NY)        
goatfarmer

I am a real novice here..does that mean the belt is bad and I should start there?

Post# 111621 , Reply# 9   2/23/2006 at 18:13 (6,608 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

goatfarmer's profile picture
Could be a bad belt,but I'm thinking a little more serious.Perhaps a bearing in the transmission.

Post# 111630 , Reply# 10   2/23/2006 at 19:02 (6,608 days old) by bingwsguy (Binghamton NY)        
goatfarmer

The only way to tell is to pull it apart and look right?

Post# 111638 , Reply# 11   2/23/2006 at 19:46 (6,608 days old) by coldspot66 (Plymouth, Mass)        

Bingwsguy,

See the 5th post in this thread about turning the main center pulley.


Post# 111642 , Reply# 12   2/23/2006 at 20:00 (6,608 days old) by bingwsguy (Binghamton NY)        

coldspot66 and goatfarmer...thanks for the advice. Coldspot66, I read the 5th post and will try that. I have a service/repair manual coming this week to show me the "how to" if I need to tear apart.

Post# 111655 , Reply# 13   2/23/2006 at 20:56 (6,608 days old) by mayken4now (Panama City, Florida)        

mayken4now's profile picture
bingwsguy. Change the belts first. 23.99 each. a nice place to start.

Then, let us know.



Post# 111749 , Reply# 14   2/24/2006 at 09:14 (6,607 days old) by sambootoo (Moody, AL)        

thanks for the advice. The belts seem to be held in good tension, sliding base is working fine, but, no, I cannot turn the pulley counter clockwise for agitation. Sounds like bad news to me..

Post# 111750 , Reply# 15   2/24/2006 at 09:17 (6,607 days old) by coldspot66 (Plymouth, Mass)        

Sounds like a busted gear in the tranny. Not good news for sure!

Post# 111782 , Reply# 16   2/24/2006 at 13:04 (6,607 days old) by fixerman ()        

Broken gear or stuck agitator shaft.

Post# 112921 , Reply# 17   3/2/2006 at 15:42 (6,601 days old) by bingwsguy (Binghamton NY)        

I finally got around to playing with my machine today. I tipped it back and moved the pulley both clockwise and counter-clockwise and it seems to move fine. I noticed a small amount (not a lot) of oil/grease underneath. I was able to pull the agitator off and all looks ok there (shaft and inside agitator). I started it up...worked fine except for that rubber smell when first spinning and pumping out water. Any more thoughts?

Post# 112938 , Reply# 18   3/2/2006 at 18:20 (6,601 days old) by bobbyderegis (Boston)        

Bingwsguy,
My gram's model 142 had the same problem as yours. It's practically the identical model, just a year or two older. It was the "indestructible" poly pump. It would never have been obvious until it actually froze during a spin. I am lucky the motor didn't burn up. I changed the pulleys, belts, you name it, but never suspected the pump. It also fixed the sort of sluggish agitation that would happen periodically. I recommend changing the pump. They are about $50, and you will need to drill a hole into the bleach dispenser opening on the pump top. The directions are on the pump packaging. I just propped up the front of the machine and didn't need to tip the washer over to change it. Incidentally, my machine is in Syracuse, and it has been going nonstop since 1961!
Bobby in Boston (but born and raised in Syracuse)


Post# 112970 , Reply# 19   3/2/2006 at 20:57 (6,601 days old) by bingwsguy (Binghamton NY)        

Bobby...Thank You for the suggestion. I will order a pump as that is not very expensive and if that solved your problem, hopefully it will solve mine as well. How long were you in Syracuse?
Joe


Post# 113124 , Reply# 20   3/3/2006 at 12:04 (6,600 days old) by deeptub (Carbondale, IL)        

deeptub's profile picture
There is confusion here--two people have reported different problems in the same thread and the replies have become confused as to what machine they're in reference to.

Bingwsguy, I wouldn't replace the pump until you have replaced the belts. Maytag uses special belts that are cloth covered. The reason is that the drive belt is designed to slip until the tub gets up to full speed--it acts like a clutch. Eventually the fabric wears thru to rubber, and you get the chirping, and burning rubber smell. They will SEEM like they have proper tension, and might even look like they're in fine condition to a casual eye. But if the fabric has worn through in even one small place, there will be chipring and smells, and eventually outright squealing. For this reason, you have to use the cloth covered maytag belt (or a cloth covered tractor-stye belt in the correct size). A plain rubber automotive-style belt will not work at all.

This is actually a clever design--let an inexpensive and easy to replace belt wear out, rather than an expensive clutch buried in the depths of the machine.

T.


Post# 113137 , Reply# 21   3/3/2006 at 14:14 (6,600 days old) by bobbyderegis (Boston)        

Joe, I moved to Boston in 1990, but the family is still in Syr. It's a great place to be FROM! Let me know how the old girl makes out.
Bobby in Boston


Post# 113273 , Reply# 22   3/4/2006 at 07:11 (6,600 days old) by bingwsguy (Binghamton NY)        

Mayken4now and Deeptub...I will start with the belts, they could probably use changing anyway, then Bobbyderegis, if that doesn't work,on to the pump.

Thank you everyone for the advice. I will keep you posted.
Joe



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