Are the Maytag troubleshooting gurus still here?

[patpackrat]

A couple of years ago Fixerman (PeterH770), Goatfarmer (Kenny), Maytaged (Ed), and Steve in FL were so very kind and patient in helping me solve what ended up to be a brake problem with my A-408.

Well, now my problem is a horrific noise during agitation. It sounds like I'm laundering a load of iron pipe fittings and railroad spikes! It started ever so gradually, being just a little noisy at the beginning of the wash cycle during the first load and then completely disappearing until the next week's wash. However, it's progressed over the past several months to where it now rumbles through both the wash and rinse agitation. (It's quiet during the spin cycles). It was so loud tonight that I'm afraid it will self-destruct if I run it one more time!

I have a thought of what it may be, but I'm the 'wrong end of the horse' to be speaking and would rather hear from someone with actual knowledge!

Thanks for any help.

Pat

 

[oldwasherguy]

loud agitation noise!

I may be wrong but that usually means a transmission rebuild. Don

 

[goatfarmer]

Yup, sounds like bearings in the transmission. Pretty involved job

 

[filterflo]

Have had similar problems like this on other Maytags. The motor rides on a carriage supported by four round nylon rollers, about the size and shape of a LifeSaver candy. They often crumble and break from age, or get flat spots on them. When they do, the motor pulley (where the two belts fit on) will often scrap on the bottom of the support plate (the whole bottom of the machine). The pulley is in the front left hand corner of the washer. You can access it by tipping the washer backwards. You might want to check that first before you condem the transmission. Roller support replacement is not too hard of a job and is very inexpensive.........good luck. Jimmy

 

[patpackrat]

A little background info.....

When I had the brake replaced, it was several months later when the noise started. I thought it may have been a “dry brake” since when it was shipped the packing was full of oil, so I had the guy come back and put some oil in it, which didn’t improve anything. He didn’t have the washer level and he couldn’t come back to fix it. I couldn’t use it, but luckily -- after months using the laundromat -- I finally found a new Maytag guy to come out and level it and (my idea) put new damper pads on. Since the noise was more of a grunting than clanging noise, my thinking was something needed lubricating. (As it was, the pads were still intact after 30 years - just a little dry!) Nothing really got “fixed” other than it running without shaking the roof off, but the washer ran nice and quiet for maybe 5 months, and then the noise slowly began again until it got to where it is now.

Here’s the new question: I have three Maytag service manuals, and with all the troubleshooting info, only one mentions a noise (knocking) during agitation and they say it's due to "an incorrect setting of stop lug for transmission pulley". Each time the washer was worked on, the job required resetting the stop lug. Is it a coincidence? If it’s possible that the stop lug could be the problem, both guys knew the importance of setting it just right, so is it possible for the setting to somehow change on its own -- working its way loose or whatever? (I see from the diagram that there’s also a drive lug).

It just seems strange that both times after being worked on the noise disappeared for months and then slowly started up again. Even stranger is how this grunting/clanging noise would just diminish after the washer agitated a short time. It would make more sense for the noise to get progressively WORSE as the washer ran, not better. Is this typical of a transmission going bad or could there be something else that needs fixing?

I’m ready to replace whatever is needed; I’m only afraid I won’t be able to bribe my newly-found Maytag man enough to come out to the boonie-end of the county again! So, I need to be as sure as possible of what needs fixing and have the parts here for him.

Any thoughts? BTW, did I mention that the washer works great and if I thought no harm would come to it, I would just get myself a set of ear things to shut out the noise!

Pat

PS - I can send copies of the manual pages/diagrams if that would help.