Maytag A710 - Need help diagnosing a problem!

[yahoover]

I need some service help with this awesome washer!

I am the proud owner of a vintage 1980s Maytag washer and dryer in Harvest Gold. We picked these up at an estate sale for our first home and have been working great for 2 years. The belts were in need of replacement but we have been putting it off, finally did once they began to really fall apart and create some bad smells, the washer also was not running correctly. However, when the belts were replaced, it didn't fix the problem.

It will fill with water, go through the initial agitation, then over the course of the wash sequence, it will attempt to spin the basket but the toggle on top of the motor will 'click' on-off-on-off for about 5sec before stopping entirely through some kind of fail safe. (I believe the problem is during the drain cycle). It never reaches a spin cycle, but will go through the spin-click-drain-stopp phase 3 times before the end of the entire wash.

This washer has been great and I would like to repair it but don't know where to start! Is the problem electrical or is it a bad clutch or bad motor or...

 

[combo52]

Hi Austin, See thread # 82327, Maytag A170 skips drain cycle

 

You will se a thoughtful discussion about another MT owner having a similar problem, if you follow the suggestions there you should find help.

 

John L.

 

[vacman1961]

Did you use genuine Whirlpool replacement belts? Is the motor floating back and forth freely on its base? When the machine spins the motor should pull forward allowing the belt to slip slightly as it is picking up speed and the motor pulls back tightening the belt to get the machine to maximum speed. It looks kind of rusty, possibly the carriage is not sliding back and forth properly,

 

[vacman1961]

Also, make sure there is not a sock or something caught in the upper part of the basket where it meets the tub to prevent the tub from spinning.

 

[cfz2882]

clutch belt pulley

these Maytags use a specially coated "clutch belt"that is supposed to slip as spin gets up to speed-if correct belt is installed and motor bogs and stalls,make sure the motor pulley is clean with no smeared on rubber deposits etc.causing the belt to snatch and grab.

 

[yahoover]

Thank you all for your responses.

Combo52: I have read through forum post #82327, definitely some good pointers in there as well. I certainly hope my problem is not inherent in the wall outlet power as it was there.

Vacman1961: I was not aware of the clutch slipping belt by Maytag. I simply ordered a basic replacement set from Amazon. I may need to order the correct belt set. I checked the bowl for socks/foreign objects but found nothing.

Cfz2882: I think cleaning the pulley wheels is a good place to start. Maybe this will allow the belts to slip a little.

I will also plan to dissemble and clean up the motor mount so that it can move more freely. Ill try these steps before anything

Which parts should I look at replacing first/if any?

 

[yahoover]

I cleaned out the pulley wheels, cleaned the sliding motor base, and checked the bucket for any objects that might be keeping it from spinning. Everything looks good. But when I mounted the new belts again, I noticed the drive belt is too short to allow the motor to slide outboard. I'm pretty certain this is the problem and the increased tension is causing the motor to overheat and stop. I found a genuine Whirlpool belt (delivers Thursday) and hope it fixes the problem.

Thanks again for the advice. I will update once I have installed the new belt.

Austin

 

[yogitunes]

Maytag belts...

drive belt...2-11125
pump belt....2-11124

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Maytag-2-11125-211125-Washer-Drive-Belt-Original-Packaging/164135081964?hash=item26373697ec:g:tFAAAOSwOmted4FG

 

[yogitunes]

are you saying the new belt pulls the motor completely inward?....usually on its sliding track, theres roughly a half way point of give.....with the belt on,the motor should not be all the way backward or forward, there should be a half way point....

during spin start up, the motor slides ever so slightly forward until the water is extracted and the tub reaches top speed....once that spot it reached, you would have to watch very closely, and you will see the motor slide back 1/4" as it grips into the pulley....

do not stand back and expect to see a huge movement forward and back......when this happens.....

for the most part, motor springs lose a bit of their tension over time...depending on when your model was built, it will have two springs, could be one on each side of the motor shaft, or both on one side.....

some have slots for a 3rd spring to be added.....I add a 3rd spring to every Maytag I have...slot or not, a 3rd spring can be added....

I also have the 50hz pulley on mine, which boost agitation and spin speed....but thats for another day, right now we need to get yours operating the way it should...

this is ironic, were stuck in our homes, wishing for a machine with an issue to tinker with.....and you have a machine that needs tinkering....well, through cyber space, we'll get you there...

keep us posted

 

[frank1492]

The other A170 guy (Actually A107)

Your problem does not sound quite the same as mine, but don't rule out a severe voltage drop contributing. If you want more info on how to check yourself for this please let me know.

 

[rp2813]

As has been mentioned above, the Whirlpool belt you got isn't the same as the coated type made by Maytag in Newton, IA.   You can find genuine NOS Maytag belts on ebay, etc. by using the part numbers posted in the picture further up.  Shop around, as some greedy sellers tend to think they're worth their weight in gold.

 

[DADoES]

 
New belts may now be labeled Whirlpool/FSP being that WP has owned Maytag for 14 years.

 

[combo52]

The Current WP Belt Is The Same As The MT Belt

 Thank You Glenn,    And work just fine, the stupid thing now is WP makes you buy a set when only one is ever needed,

 

More wasted rescorces and trash in land fills.

 

For a MT washer to pump out the water and get to full spin speed if takes from 1 to 2 minutes, To get to full spin speed with an empty tub it will take from 15-30 seconds or so.

 

John L.

 

[yahoover]

The genuine Whirlpool/Maytag belt 211125 works like a dream. The problem was, in fact, the set of unbranded belts I purchased from Amazon. Comparing the unbranded drive belt and the Maytag drive belt, the Maytag was maybe 3/8" longer, and had a softer finish to the rubber, allowing the motor pulley to slip a bit on startup and also slide away as grip was increased. The short unbranded belt kept either of these things from happening.

I very much appreciate the help I have received here, it has saved me time, some money, and has kept another appliance from the land fill! I have also come to appreciate my old Maytag washer and dryer more now that I have learned quite a bit more about how them and how washers work generally.

Thank you all again! Now to find another project to tinker with...

-Austin