Help...Maytag A700

[bingwsguy]

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.

 

[coldspot66]

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.

 

[sambootoo]

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????

 

[bingwsguy]

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.

 

[coldspot66]

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!

 

[coldspot66]

Sambootoo,

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

 

[bingwsguy]

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.

 

[goatfarmer]

Rubber smell is probably the belt slipping.

 

[bingwsguy]

goatfarmer

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

 

[goatfarmer]

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

 

[bingwsguy]

goatfarmer

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

 

[coldspot66]

Bingwsguy,

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

 

[bingwsguy]

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.

 

[mayken4now]

bingwsguy. Change the belts first. 23.99 each. a nice place to start.

Then, let us know.

 

[sambootoo]

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..

 

[coldspot66]

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

 

[fixerman]

Broken gear or stuck agitator shaft.

 

[bingwsguy]

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?

 

[bobbyderegis]

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)