Maytag A408 putting ick on my clothes - help please!

[earthlyamy]

Oh crud!

As you all might have guessed I didn't get very far in my attempt to adjust the pump. I cannot budge any of hex-head screws in spite of trying Liquid Wrench, and trying to scrape away what loose rust there is. It feels like (since I'm doing all this by feeling underneath) somebody added lock nut washers when they installed the screws, which are also completely rusted. There just isn't enough metal left to get a grip on the things - I can't even tell what size the buggers are! Two screws on the front (one is the grounding wire) fit a 8mm socket, but not the pump screws. Even if I could get the thing unscrewed it looks to me like the pump is already as far to the right as it will go.

Options, anyone? I could cut off the screw heads with my Dremel but doesn't really solve anything, does it? Would a slightly smaller belt (40 - 39 1/2") do the trick if this stubborn thing refuses to budge?

 

[combo52]

A408 MT Washer Pump

Amy you will probably have to cut the screw heads off and get another pump and use some washers and new screws to attach it, or if the belt is that loose compare it to a new new belt as it may have stretched or just get a slightly smaller belt, the pump belt on MT washers is nothing special you could get one at the hardware store.

 

I wish you were closer as we throw away MTs and other washers all the time and you could recycle a few parts to keep yours going for next to nothing.

 

[earthlyamy]

As Dorothy Parker once said, "What fresh hell is this?&#

Okay. I got a 3/8" x 40" lawnmower belt from the auto parts store. Got that one on way easier than the slightly-too thick 40" v-belt from the hardware store. Put in a couple of towels on a small load to try it out after getting everything all hooked up again. Wow! the pump is churning away so vigorously the drain hose almost jumped out the outlet pipe. EXCEPT, no agitation (just mine) and no spinning - on any cycle. What the hell? Shut everything down, tipped it back and had a feel underneath. Shee-it, now the motor pulley belt is all loosey-goosey. What happened? It didn't feel like that when I put on the new green belt. Le gros sigh...

 

[rp2813]

Sounds like the new belt is too tight (refer to diagram above), which is causing it to pull the motor and create slack in the other belt.  The motor is on glides (see photo in your reply #7 above). 

 

[earthlyamy]

what to do

With the pump stuck where it is, what to do about a too-tight belt? It's not THAT tight - I can squeeze the 2 sides together. Should I run a bunch of water only-loads and hope it stretches out just enough to get the motor pulley back in action? It doesn't sound good when it's whirring but not spinning.

 

[danemodsandy]

Amy:

Did you also replace the drive belt in addition to the pump belt?

If you did, I hope you used a genuine Maytag belt. Any other kind of belt will cause problems; a Maytag drive belt is designed to slip at certain points in the cycle, and grab at other times, eliminating the need for a clutch.

If you replaced the drive belt with a non-Maytag belt, this could be the source of some of your problems. The pump belt is, as others have said here, not critical, though its adjustment is.

And as a matter of maintenance, you should replace the drive belt anyway. If it's worn, it could be slipping too much. The combination of a new pump belt that's a little tight and a worn drive belt that's a little loose could be what's causing your no-spin condition and whirring.

A genuine Maytag drive belt is not expensive, and most appliance parts places will have it in stock. Online sources are abundant.

 

[combo52]

A408 MT Washer

You found out why the pump belt cannot be tight, you don't likely need a new main drive belt but you do need a larger pump belt.

 

[earthlyamy]

to danemodsandy:

No, I didn't replace the motor drive belt - both were only 3 years old, so I'm surprised the pump belt needed replacing so soon. I don't think the stretched out pump belt was a Maytag part, so I'll probably have to order a set online. Ain't no nothing-to-do-with-all-my-spare-parts repair people in my neck of the woods.

So, next question: given that I can't move the pump at all, how does one go about changing both belts, which I'm sure I'm going to have to do sooner or later.

 

[earthlyamy]

Allswell - at least for now

So I had to destroy the green lawnmower belt to get it off the pump - there's $13 down the drain. But it just so happens that I found the original Maytag pump belt from the 2009 replacement - good thing we never throw anything away! A little glazed for sure, but I heard from you folks the pump belt isn't as important as the drive belt, so I just threw it back on. And it's all working fine - even draining the tub fully on a regular cycle, something we haven't seen for a couple of years. I also oiled the pump. Once I push the machine back and get it leveled (it's pitched forward about 1/4") it's bound to go out of whack somehow - maybe I should just tiptoe away and leave it?

 

[hydralique]

Congratulations . . .

On your fix, I hope it lasts a long time! Maybe $13 was wasted on the belt, but think of what you learned in return. As has been noted above Maytag used the same basic mechanicals for years and years, during which time they were also one of the best selling brands in the country. That means plenty of old Maytags are still around, all you need to do is start checking out Craigslist or your local recycler newspaper at your leisure. You now know how to do some basic checks on the machine so you can judge what's worthwhile and what's not. If you're not picky about color or features you're bound to find a good machine for very little money - often people just want to make the old one go away if they're remodeling, moving, or having an estate sale.

 

[earthlyamy]

maybe I should look into this one?

$50 in Greenfield, MA. Hubby works south of Boston during the week - I could get him to "pick it up" on his way home tomorrow night ;-)! Maybe we're going to have to invest in a hand truck, too.

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/app/3195287428.html

 

[rp2813]

Get It!

That's a very nice machine for $50.  A high-end Maytag with more options, lighted panel and largest tub.  Prized by many Maytag fans here, including me.

 

 

 

[earthlyamy]

I know, right?!

I'm going to call about it.
Any especially-pertinent questions I should be asking about this model? How do you collectors and fans shop for vintage-y appliances - what do you look for/ask about?

 

[akronman]

questions

ask how quickly you can get it, and show up on time and smile

 

[earthlyamy]

NOS

Just one more question for all y'all before this thread is archived: would 35 years in a plastic bag make Maytag belts go bad? A seller on eBay has some NOS belts - although I haven't confirmed this - so I wondered if the passage of time might make the rubber brittle or crumbly or whatever. Don't want to get the "meh" belts (made in Mexico) if I can get ahold of genuine Maytag ones.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=271057279865

 

[pdub]

The belts in that link are in an FSP bag which tells me they are not 35 years old. If they were truly 35 year old belts they would have a Maytag logo on the bag. FSP is the name Whirlpool uses (Factory Service Parts).

They should be good to use.

Patrick