Looking for a Maytag brake removal tool

[stuftrock1]

After 27 years, my Maytag Dependable Care LAT4914AAE has had its very first problem. It’s beginning to really struggle to get up to speed on both agitation and spin. My first thought was the belts need to be replaced, but that didn’t work. I know these old Maytag’s inside and out pretty well, except for one part: the brake assembly. Right now I think the problem is a bad clutch, but the only place it could be is inside the brake assembly, but I don’t know since I have no idea how the thing works. The brake itself seems to be wearing out, as I have noticed the tub indexes slightly and is a little sluggish to stop the tub when it finishes spinning.

Unfortunately, I do not have a brake removal tool and I can’t find one on the internet anywhere. If anyone knows where I could get one, it would be much appreciated!

 

[qsd-dan]

A new brake won't fix sluggish agitation or initial spin speeds. It will fix tub indexing during agitation although it has virtually zero impact on rollover in the orbital transmission models.

Check and make sure the motor carriage smoothly glides back and forth. The glides usually don't wear out (the older rollers do) but the lower carriage channels can get mucked up. Spin the pump belt off and check the pump bearings by gently rotating the pump pulley. It should turn smoothly with virtually no effort.

Lastly, the most common cause of both sluggish and agitation/spin is a tight pump belt adjustment. No 2 belts are exactly the same length which the reason pump belt tension should be checked and adjusted with each belt replacement (one or both belts apply here). Due to the sliding motor carriage and triangular geometric belt arrangement angles, a tight pump belt adjustment causes the transmission belt to loosen. This is why the pump belt needs to be adjusted as loose as possible.

 

[Sudster]

Would you explain tub indexing please Dan ?

 

[Sudster]

Also watch this video on the correct 2  belt replacement

 

 

[stuftrock1]

The pump and motor glide is perfectly fine. Checked those when I replaced the belts. I’ll check the drive belt tension tomorrow.

Question, does the brake assembly also function as a clutch?

 

[repairguy]

No, the function of the brake is to keep the wash basket from moving during agitation.

 

[stuftrock1]

Yes I’m aware of what the actual brake does, but the assembly seems so large just for a brake. Plus I don’t know where else a clutch could be, and I highly doubt Maytag intended for the belts to just slip instead of using a clutch.

The thing is, it was working perfectly fine a few weeks ago until last weekend when it started acting sluggish. It started an extra large load of towels and took a full second to complete one full oscillation before it reached probably around 60-70% agitation speed. It remained that slow until I stopped it for a few seconds and when it resumed it quickly got up to full speed and didn’t have any more issues for the remainder of the cycle. I let it sit for two days and then did a load of regular cottons that was very overloaded. It started up slowly but nowhere near as bad as it did with the load of towels. After that I changed the belts and let it sit all week and did another extra large load of towels earlier today and was much worse. It was completely unable to reach full agitation speed even after multiple pauses and I also noticed the spin was a little slow too.

Like I said, I’ll check the belt tensions tomorrow. But I would still like that brake removal tool because at some point I may be acquiring a mid to late 80’s Maytag that I plan to completely refurbish and sell.

 

[DADoES]

 
There is no clutch mechanism as such.  The motor -> transmission belt slips on the motor pulley during spin acceleration to function as a spin clutch.  Proper function of the motor glides is related, and proper belt tension.

 

[eronie]

The brake is the brake only.
There is no clutch per say.
The belt slips to act as a clutch.
The oil in the transmission is getting thick due to age. Is this machine in a cold area? Colder room temps will make trans more sluggish.
Make sure pump belt is not too tight and motor glides / rollars are not binding.

 

[stuftrock1]

I am actually very surprised that this thing doesn’t have a clutch...

The laundry room is well heated, and I highly doubt the transmission oil is the problem. I am now convinced the problem is the belt tensions, because I simply cannot see it being anything else. I’ll let you guys know tomorrow.

 

[qsd-dan]

There are 2 clutches on these washers. One is the belt/motor carriage and the other is the steel/brass clutch washers inside the transmission.

 

[qsd-dan]

Would you explain tub indexing please Dan?

It's the inner tub rotating during agitation. In stock applications, it's due to a weak pressure spring inside the brake package. Maytag brake packages were serviceable from the 1950's up to the early 1990's and one used to be able to install a new brake spring and carry on their merry way. Maytag switched to a sealed brake package in the early 90's and discontinued internal parts availability.

Here's an example of inner tub indexing.

 

[stuftrock1]

Ok good news! I retentioned the belts and that seems to have fixed the problem.