Maytag 206 with agitation cycle lockup

[roland]

I have a vintage Maytag washer model 206 that we use everyday. Recently the unit locked up during the agitation cycle and it smoked the belt. It appears the pulley drive is locked with the drum in both directions. Is this a probelm with the clutch or trasmission?

Roland

 

[fixerman]

Helical drive Maytags have no clutch. The belts are designed to slip for clutching. First check for an article of clothing getting caught between the inner and outer tub. Otherwise it could be either the agitator drive shaft frozen or the transmission tub bearings or possibly the brake. To find out, Remove the transmission detent and pulley. Then put the detent back on and try to turn it with a pliers. It should turn without much effort. If it does not turn the trans is locked up. If the agitator drive turns then the problem is either the brake is locked up or transmission bearings Seized.

 

[goatfarmer]

Had that problem on an 806 years ago.Same thing Fixerman described,a bad bearing in the transmission locked up the shaft.

kennyGF

 

[roland]

Fixerman, KennyGF,

Thanks for the response.

Performed the procedure by moving the agitator shaft. It was locked with the drum in both directions at first but it unlocked by itself. Put it back together and it works but it made a bit of a unusual sound during the first agitation cycle but went away. Obviously I did not fix it even though I have done 4 full cycles since. Should I go ahead and open the transmission and go fot the bearing kennyGF described or wait until it smokes another belt?

 

[sudsmaster]

Is it leaking oil?

 

[fixerman]

The agitator shaft siezed probably due to a bad seal. The seal is relatively easy to replace if the agitator comes out easily. Just remove the rubber hold down ring then remove the clip and metal washer. Remove and replace the seal. The part no is 0A4298.

 

[roland]

no oil visible

No oil visible but my wife did complain of random oil spots on the clothes. I removed the rubber hold-down clip and pulled the metal washer up but could not figure out how to pull it up through the neck of the agitor shaft because it is is wider that in ID of the metal washer.

 

[fixerman]

Ya godda dig it out with a screwdriver or whatever . Might take some effort and the spring may separate from the seal but it will come out. Sometimes there is a washer that it part of the seal that doesn't come out with the seal. Be sure you get it out before installing the new one.