Hello....I'm New Here So Smack Me If I Am Out Of Line

[austinrat]

Hello all, this is a great forum I found today! It looks like a great place for collectors and information.

I have a Maytag A407 with some problems..Is it cool to discuss them here, in this format?

Thanks for your help if it is...

The question is concerning the fact that the water stopped draining from the Washer and the line is clogged...seems internal.

It was run in the "Soak" mode for the first time in years today and it seems as though something may have froze up or shut and now wont open to drain the water.

Thanks again for ignoring any stupidity whether real or imagined on my part.

 

[lightedcontrols]

Welcome!
First, tilt the machine back and make sure the pump belt is on. There should be two belts under there and one goes to the pump. Try and manually turn the pump by hand. If it doesn't turn, then it MIGHT be froze up from just sitting a long time or it could have something clogging it but that's pretty rare. If it doesn't turn, it's easier to just replace the pump. If it does turn, then check and make sure the machine IS spinning. If the machine doesn't spin, then chances are the motor isn't reversing and pumping out the water. Let me know. Mark

 

[austinrat]

Thanks a lot!

Yes, the drum does spin when the "Spin" cycle goes on...just no drainage.

Thanks for your advice. I will check it out.

 

[knitwits1975]

G'day Austinrat

Welcome to the forum. I've been here almost a year. If you need any help with this machine, I have a repair manual and a scanner. I'll be more than happy to e-mail pages to you. Just let me know.

 

[pturo]

Maytag A408 Drain Problem

Belive it or not, I once had the exact same problem. I finally disconnected the drain hose(take off the front) from the outer tub to the pump and there was a button almost the same diameter as the inside dimention of the hose that acted as an unwanted "check valve" to the drain pump. Pull the clamp and examine the hose to check for debris/blockage if the mechanics and belts are proven to work. Phil

 

[panthera]

Hi and Welcome,

The suggestions so far cover the most common causes. One small warning, hope you don't mind - but I nearly lost my head to a Maytag once: When it spins, that whole transmission is rotating at very high speed inside the skirt. With the back off, you are in real danger of death or destruction.
So be careful.
Oh, other possibility just occured to me. Maybe somebody put a cover over the drain hose or a cork in it or some such while it was in storage - and it fell in, blocking things?
One quick check whether the pump is out (seldom with a Maytag) is to lay the drain hose below the machine. if water flows out then, the problem is either the belt to the pump or the pump itself.

 

[austinrat]

Well, I took off the clamps and hoses and I am on a bathroom break..

Water from the drum flowed thru the pipe and water from the pipe leading out flows thru...

The pump does turn both ways too..

Im going to go look for any blockage around the drum hose connection and then lift her up and check the tension on the belts....they seemed to be ok when I looked last night tho...

Is there a good way to check the pump?

Are replacement pumps readily available if it is the pump?

Thanks for all of your help!

 

[austinrat]

The belt fell right off the motor to pump...Very loose...duh.

The motor and pump are nice and tight to the chasis though....they dont seem to have worked loose.

SO...it does look like the belt...for now.

 

[goatfarmer]

Could be the belt,however,when you tilt a Maytag back,you lose tension on the belts,possibly why it fell off. Also,if you replace one belt,it's recommended to change both,I think they are sold as a set these days.
Pumps are still available.

kennyGF

 

[austinrat]

I put a mirror under it and saw that you are correct, the belts do tighten up and the pump spins...

What concerns me though is that I took off the hose going from the pump to the wall and ran a wash cycle and instead of the drum filling with water as it should, the water drained right out of the pump, never filling the drum.

And also, I placed my hand over the outlet of the pump when it was in spin mode and I felt no pressure at all.

I guess this means the pump is bad?

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Washer not Filling:

Hi! austinrat, it is sounding like the Drain Hose might not be sitting quite high enough, from the hight of the top of the Washer Cabinet, if it just keeps trying to fill, but doesn't fill. The Drain Hose should be at least 32-inches from Ground to the top of a Standpipe or Sink. If it is sitting lower, that might be a possible reason for the Tub to not be filling properly. This is just my 2-Cents worth, but what do I know, according to others, but it is worth trying to raise the Hose up higher to see if that might solve the problem of not filling.

Good Luck, Fun Maytag Laundry Times, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...