Belt for Speed Queen solid tub, 1973-74

[akronman]

My washer ran perfectly for a year, now a belt is all torn to shreds, Item #23759, the motor shaft to pump belt. I easily found one on Ebay but it ain't here yet. When I get it and tear into the machine, warnings or advice or what to check? This is the mid-seventies style, no clanging solenoids, the motor reverses.
Thanks in advance, this washer has performed flawlessly and is a favorite of mine

Mark

 

[combo52]

Early 70s SQ Solid Tub Washer Belt

Hi Mark, make sure your water pump is not binding up, WPs were one of the most troublesome parts of SQ ST washers.

 

[akronman]

ummmmm

belt changed, all back together, and now NO TUB BRAKING at all, it spins probably over a minute on its own. What did I do wrong? At one point, trying to get a belt back on the transmission pulley, the belt was lodged underneath the part #23 shifter fork, but shifting seems fine.

 

[akronman]

also

another diagram, showing the brake assembly.

 

[gansky1]

Is the tub spinning during the wash phase of the cycle or does the brake hold the tub still?

 

[akronman]

no

no braking at all, the tub can index by natural result of agitation and clothes, I can turn it easily in both directions while agitation occurs, etc. No brake.

I think everything was fine until the ruined belt a week ago, I suddenly noticed no agitation, and the belt was torn up bad. So was it a bad old frayed belt, and now I made a mistake in repair?, or was something wrong with braking, and it tore up the belt?

 

[yogitunes]

SQ ST can be tricky.....finding the right tension can be a bit of a struggle, you don't want it too tight, or too loose....

let me get a chance to look at my books and get back to you.....I know the solenoid version just has a pad that would drag for a braking mechanism, that was located below the fluid drive.....I can't recall this very second what the reversing motor version does....

hold on Mark, I will get back to you....

 

[combo52]

Non Braking ST SQ

The braking system on these last SQ ST washers could be very problematic, I dough that this problem has anything to do with the belt failing or your replacing the belt. That said I can check with my friend Bob to see what can be done, he is the only person I know who really knew these very troublesome machines.

 

[washman]

Crossing fingers

and hoping you can resolve it. Nothing makes me more sad than a fluid drive SQ in a non operative state.

 

[yogitunes]

sometimes don't look a gift horse in the mouth.....in one of these, a not quite working brake is not always a bad thing.....

for the most part the machine still functions.....and its only a matter of the tub coasting to a stop....welcome the world of banging solenoids....

I had a reversing motor version decades ago, which the brake worked too well, during agitation with every stroke it tried to turn the tub back and forth, and this continuous 'squeek' would drive you nuts.....I didn't know enough back then to try oiling the brake to make that stop.....I would rather had a non working brake at that point.....

but we'll get you back on track Mark....we always do....stay tuned

 

[akronman]

working

it actually works, just not perfectly. With the spinning continuing so far into fill, and being a solid tub, lots of the rinse water just "spray rinses" out into the outer tub. Heavier loads make it stop reasonably and stop some water from being wasted. But yes, I want the brake to work. Thanks in advance for help! No crazy rush, we all got Hanukkah and Christmas soon, and I have quite a few other washers to keep clothes clean.

 

[akronman]

Braking works now

I ran a load and now everything works, braking in maybe 10 seconds, indexing maybe 1/2 inch of travel at the most. ????????? All good??????? I have a theory, or maybe it's a hypothesis. When I was dis-asembling to get the pump belt on, for a while I had the motor and fluid drive disconnected from power and belts, but still standing up in the machine(it's a bit&H to remove). When I turned the fluid drive, in one way it was easy as hell, in the other direction there was strong resistance. It made perfect sense (to me) in a reversing motor machine. Later, when out of the machine and laying on its side for overnight, it turned extremely easily in both directions. So maybe it had to get back upright , in the washer, and sit a few days and let 40 year old thick oil inside the drive sink back to the bottom, so now it works? and brakes?

I have no other soild tub SQ to compare it to, but the braking and minor indexing seems just like when I got it a year ago, so I think I will leave sleeping dogs lie.
My theory may be wrong, but posting it here for posterity may help someone else?
Thanks for various help and best wishes, but it's all working and overflowing and wonderful again! And a Merry Christmas to all!

 

[yogitunes]

Mark....

from my service manual it stated that the Spin brake may not hold due to a broken brake spring.......which only meant to disassemble main bearing and check all components....

at this point, were thankful you don't have to dig into it that far.....

I was wondering if you took out that motor/fluid drive and laid it on its side for a while.....

been there, but for me it cut the motor out.....24 hours later, it worked fine.....

this just recalls for me once putting a new clutch in my AMC Eagle......it had a fluid clutch that would not work the first night once all assembled......and for what ever reason, letting it set for 24 hours, and all worked as it should.....just a puzzling thing with these things....

but as for others, just keep these thoughts in the back of your mind should you ever come across this situation......

Happy Holidays.....

 

[akronman]

2nd load done

and perfect braking, and the indexing is more like 1/8 inch, not 1/2. Martin, who knows? I'm sticking with that theory and putting the front back on, job well done. And I timed the braking by counting, 10 seconds. Not scientific, but a working washer.

 

[combo52]

Solid Tub SQ Issues

Yay Mark glad it started working again for what ever reason, but I do not think it has anything to do with laying the motor and fluid drive unit on its side etc. I am familiar with what can happen with a fluid fan clutch on a car but the SQ FD in not at all the same.

If you grab and try to turn the FD clutch in a reversing SQ it will always turn easily one way and harder the other because of the one way helix clutch spring that will slip in one direction and grab in the other turning the pump belt, pump and washer transmission the other.

Happy Holidays to all, John L.

 

[washman]

Glad it is working

Glad to know the Arc-Cuate can still carry the freight.