Help- Maytag LA712 motor discontinued - advice?

[waterman818]

Hi- Long time Lurker on this forum. All started 6 years ago when my first washing machine broke. It was a problematic newer model with sensors and was not worth fixing.

I then set out on the search for a direct drive whirlpool machine... However when I found a beautiful set of Maytag machines (LA712 washer with LDE712 Dryer) I had to have them. The person I bought them from said his mom had bought them new in 1985/1986 and the only reason he was selling them was his in-laws gave him a new set. He was very hesitant to sell them and I promised him they were going to a good home where they would be loved. Everybody said I was crazy to buy such old machines, but I wanted something that could be easily repaired if needed.

A few days ago disaster struck. I think I may have overloaded the machine, and I walked into a very smokey laundry room with loud noise. I unplugged the machine and managed to move it outside.I waited til the next day to let things cool down. I opened the machine up, checked for a clogged drain pump but it was clear. I hooked it up in my yard with the hose for further testing. Machine worked fine and was able to run 2 loads back to back. Belts looked to be original but in great condition. No broken pieces or burned marks on the pulley. Regardless I figured for good measure to replace the belts.

Yesterday I put the new belts on. Checked the tension on the motor and it was within spec so I did not mess with any adjustments. Machine filled up just fine but the motor would not kick on to start the spin cycle. Swapped back to the old belts and the machine still would not go into the spin cycle. Waited about 15-20 minutes and tried again and it went back to working normally. It was outside in my yard but with the cover off I could detect a slight burning smell despite no visible smoke. I'm thinking it's the motor that might need replacing? the wires/coils in the motor also look silver? Most photos online they look more copper colored? Not sure if that's how it's supposed to look or if its a result of overheating.

According to some google searches it looks like I need this motor 12002353- which is no longer available. I've checked eBay and only found one for sale. Unfortunately the price of that motor would make this repair not feasible at this time. I've also checked with a few local places that sell used appliances but no luck.

Everyone around me is saying to get rid of this machine and replace it with a newer model but I'm hoping I can still keep this one going considering everything else seems to be in great shape.

Any advice or suggestions on what to do?

 

[qsd-dan]

Verify the motor pulley is turning during the spin cycle and is smoking the transmission belt. If this is the case, the motor isn't the problem.

Most common problem (especially when overloading) is an article of clothing going over the inner tub into the outer tub and getting jammed between them. You'll have to pull the tub cover and look around with a flashlight. This isn't 100% accurate as the clothing can get stuck underneath the inner tub where it can't be seen. Sometimes, it'll make its way into the pump, so check to make sure the pump pulley spins freely by hand.

The other possibility is the stem seal is leaking and fed enough water long enough into the tub bearing to seize it up.

Remove both belts and turn the transmission pulley clockwise (looking at it from underneath). You should feel the pulley getting harder to turn as the brake package spring compresses. Keep turning it and you'll eventually overcome the resistance. The tub should turn counterclockwise mimicking the spin cycle.

 

[waterman818]

Hi gsd-dan, thank you for the response and troubleshooting tips. I did verify the drain pump pulley spins freely. I also removed the lines and blew them out to make sure nothing was stuck in them. All pulleys move freely.

In the instance when the washer won't go into spin cycle, the pulley on the motor does not spin. No belts are getting burned. It'll take me some time to pull things apart to inspect around the tub. Will report back. Thanks!

 

[qsd-dan]

If the motor pulley is seized, the bearings are toast.

You can find a new motor on Ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3240158765.../eHXIZLark8udB3zTXiyXLJA==|tkp:Bk9SR7KYpeWgZA

 

[ragnboneman]

A picture of the motor might shed some light..

Most motors are made of copper wire with an enamel coating.
Aluminum with the same coating will often look like copper.
Why yours looks silver is hard to say, could be thats just the colour...

There should be some string bindings on the motor coils.
Generally done in a butchers knot fashion.
A motor that has overheated will often melt this plastic string ( very old motor might have cotton )

Photo in link shows a motor that has overheated and smoked a set of coils.
Your motor would look a little like this if it has been damaged
But it may not have shorted out
Sometimes an overloaded single phase motor will smoke the " start winding "

A coat of red insulating varnish can extended the life of damaged overheated winding provided they are not burned to the point of shorting out.
Overheating drastically shortens the life of a motors insulation.

Before you replace the motor it never hurts to take it to an electric motor repair shop/rewind shop and ask them to test it and check it out for you.
If its bad they will tell you...
They may have one like it in stock...
Possibly it could use some repairs they can do for less than a replacement...

It never hurts to stop at a coffee shop and get a box of doughnuts and tray of coffee when you present your motor for evaluation.
Doughnuts tend to motivate those guys because little motors don't make the shop any money, but doughnuts at coffee break time make the guys much more interested in you.

https://i.pinimg.com/474x/d4/f8/78/d4f878a9d94ae3763bd4eac3964a93d7--jay-motor.jpg

 

[combo52]

Possible bad motor in a Maytag LA 712 washer

See if the motor runs properly without the belts, also examine the windings as much as possible or smell to see if they are excessively burnt.

The windings in Maytag washer motors in this period of time are aluminum. The motor on eBay referenced in reply number three is not the right motor. It’s a one speed motor. Your washer has a two speed motor.

Good used motors should be readily available. The motor is usually about the last thing to go bad on a Maytag washer of this design and age, but they do occasionally go bad.

John

 

[waterman818]

Hi- Ragnboneman. Great suggestions. I did call a few electric motor shops and even one that specifically did laundry motors. Most flat out said they don't work on washing machine motors. However the one that did asked if it was domestic and when I said yes they told me they couldn't or rather wouldn't do it since the job would start at $550. Coffee and donuts do go a long way though. I might just try that with the remaining shops I haven't called.

It seems like the motor works fine until I apply a certain amount of load then it just seems to quit. If I give it sometime and restart the cycle it will run perfectly fine. Slight hint of a burning smell but doesn't seem to be coming from the belts since the belts look immaculate and I'm not seeing any residue on the pulleys or under the machine.

I attached a couple photos of the motor.

As far as the new motor eBay link provided above, will that be a direct drop in for my current unit? I was under the impression mine was a 2 speed and has 6 wires going to it. I've been finding the single speed motors but those have 5 wires. I'd be hesitant in my ability to do any sort of conversion given I am a total novice.

Really appreciate everyones suggestions and insights so far!!!

 

[qsd-dan]

"The motor on eBay referenced in reply number three is not the right motor. It’s a one speed motor. Your washer has a two speed motor."

Yeah, I just noticed he's selling a one speed motor using a 2 speed part#. Figures, being Ebay and all.

201805 is a one speed part#

201807 is the 2 speed part#

Maytag also used:

201664 as a 1 speed part#

201666 as a 2 speed part#

Then they went crazy with different part#'s starting around 1994 through 2006. Then Whirlpool put their own spin on it later.

 

[combo52]

GE built Maytag washer motor

Hi Keith, yes the windings are gray on your GE built motor because GE spray-painted the entire motor gray, but the aluminum windings can be painted any color most manufacturers painted them to look like they were copper but they were often green or brown or whatever.

GE built fairly decent motors. They tended to be a little noisier than the Emerson Motors, but they are interchangeable as long as you get the right part number Motors speeds, etc.

John

 

[combo52]

GE built Maytag washer motor

Hi Keith, yes the windings are gray on your GE built motor because GE spray-painted the entire motor gray, but the aluminum windings can be painted any color most manufacturers painted them to look like they were copper but they were often green or brown or whatever.

GE built fairly decent motors. They tended to be a little noisier than the Emerson Motors, but they are interchangeable as long as you get the right part number Motors speeds, etc.

John

 

[ragnboneman]

The quote you were given was for diagnosis, rewind and new bearings.
I know I used to do that job for a living and the guy on the phone really does not want you to bring it to him because like I said its a job that does not pay the bills anymore.
But when I was just new to the job this was the kind of job the foreman would give to the new guys to train them on basic trouble shooting.
A job like single phase motors and power tools was something you had to be very fast at or it just was not cost effective to do.

So I'm not going to say it will work.
But if you show up with the coffee and doughnuts and the motor...
Maybe get the wife to do this and, she can give them the sad eyes....
Maybe they will look at it real quick and tell you if its good or bad.

If you look close at the motor you will see it has the end bells welded to the core.
It was not made to be taken apart and serviced.
Not like the old days when an electric motor was a standard off the shelf unit you could service.

Other places to consider...
A Jaccuzi or Armstorng pump dealer, heating and AC places ect.
Some of those guys also service electric motors and may look at and test it for you.
Even an appliance repair shop, he may not have parts for such an old machine but odds are he has worked on enough of them to know a good motor from bad, and maybe he has an old one.
Up here when your washing machine is replaced or scrapped out they take them apart and the shops sell the drums to people for back yard or cottage fire pits.
Maybe they do that where you live too and there could just happen to be another Maytag with a good motor sitting there waiting for the scrap metal man...

You don't know unless you ask ( and bring doughnuts )

 

[neptunebob]

I guess GE doesn't make motors anymore...

Jack Welch got to that one too. Did he just shut the division down or sell to someone else?

Have you taken the motor out of the machine and connected power to it and does it go at all?

Maybe get another Maytag washer that is otherwise broken and take the good motor from it?

 

[combo52]

Throwaway non-serviceable washer motors

This GE motor is actually welded together. It was not considered serviceable, I’m sure somewhere someone cut one apart and re-welded it together. It certainly would not be worth the effort when they’re a dime dozen someday when you can’t find one anymore somebody might try fixing one.

John

 

[waterman818]

Did some messing around with the washing machine this morning before removing the motor to get it hopefully looked at by a shop locally.

I removed all belts and turned the machine to the spin cycle. Was pretty noisy but the motor was spinning. I did get a couple whiffs of a burning smell. Nothing too alarming.

I then put the main belt that hooks to the large pulley pack on and ran the machine in spin cycle. Quieted down a bit and ran for the whole time.

Hooked up all the belts and ran it again- this time no problem.

Ran it again and it quit on me.

Removed all belts and tried to run it, no dice. Motor pulley was not moving at all.

I let it sit for awhile and the machine came back to life. Would that rule out any sort of clog/ stuck article of clothing?

I really appreciate everyones input so far.

 

[swestoyz]

Sounds like either the start winding is weak, and when hot it opens up a short. Or, the start switch is susceptible to heat soaking as well.

It might be easier and most cost effective to find a two speed helical drive Maytag and just grab the motor from it. Any two speed machine from the 70's through the early 2000's should swap out, and being in the LA there should plenty to choose from.

Ben

 

[qsd-dan]

See if you can find a locally owned appliance shop and tell them you're looking for a used 2 speed motor out of a Maytag washer with two belts. They'll probably have a least one machine out in their scrap pile with that motor. Should sell it for cheap, if not free if you pull it yourself. These motor were used from 1956-2006, still too common at the moment to pour money into rebuilding.

If you want to get one the lazy way to show up at your doorstep, here's 2 older round style motors to choose from.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1554339603...HFxAmzDuoRf0zsiCevD1JXTw==|tkp:Bk9SR5i-4p6hZA

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2262574448...YK5wZeLHpsYp5yFWdE/xAwzLU2|tkp:Bk9SR5Tizp6hZA

 

[waterman818]

Thanks everyone. Been calling around. So far no one in the few remaining used appliance shops around me have a 2 speed motor or one they're willing to sell. Seems like a lot have gone out of business unfortunately.

I did find this one on eBay but the alkaline/corrosion on the metal body gave me pause. Not too concerned about the rust on the sliding bracket since I can just swap mine on there. Should I be concerned with the alkaline build up on the metal body of the motor? Please let me know if I am worrying over nothing. I don't mind waiting a few days to see if a cleaner one pops up on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1459223367...CZ8oDcclDl0SICdjhi4J3bprkh|tkp:Bk9SR6bW56ChZA

 

[qsd-dan]

Motor looks fine, the bottom side of the carriage got wet and rusted. Just toss the carriage in the your recycling bin and transfer the motor.

 

[waterman818]

Hi Guys- Happy Friday!!

The motor arrived. Got everything bolted in. Triple checked the wiring and ground to make sure everything was right. I tested the motor without the belts, it came on and sounded great. No abnormal noise. I then hooked up the belts and ran a light load under the gentle cycle.

Machine filled as normal and ran the for the time I selected. However when it came time to go into the next cycle(rinse?) a small puff of smoke came from the new motor and it just quit. I included a photo of where in the cycle it quit.

I do seem to be getting power at the motor using my multimeter. When I try to restart the load it won't even start the fill cycle.

Any ideas where I should look next? Drain plug seems clear when I blow thru the lines and turn the pulley. I can try to remove the top and look around the tub. Does anyone have a good write up or YouTube link that would show this? I don't want to pry in the wrong places and damage something.

As always really appreciate all the help and suggestions I received so far!!