Maytag Agitator Shaft O Ring

[48bencix]

My Maytag LAT 2500 Washer purchased in 2000 stopped agitating. I replaced the belts and cleaned the pulleys and it seemed to work well. It stopped agitating again and I noticed the Agitator was high in the tub by about 1". I pulled it up and along came the Agitator Shaft. The two O Rings were very thin and broken.

Can I put new O Rings from the hardware store or do I need to order Maytag parts? Will the new O Rings fix it and will that keep the Agitator down, or is there something else that holds the shaft down? I can see that there is a clip inside the Orbital Transmission by looking at the parts diagram, but I do not see any groove in the shaft that the clip would lock into, and I have not seen this transmission taken apart. O Rings are part no. 14. Clip is part no. 16.

 

[48bencix]

Hardware Store O Ring

I went to Emigh Hardware on El Camino here in Sacramento County. This is an old fashioned Hardware Store that has screws and such available one at a time. They have O Rings. I printed out the part picture from ApplianceParts.com and took it along. I got two sizes of O Rings for $.49 each. I tried both and chose the larger because with the smaller ones on the shaft it was fairly easy to remove.

I installed the two O Rings with some Teflon Pool lube. I hope the transmission does not have water in it. I looked down into it and felt the shaft which did not feel water wet.

I have run two loads through the machine with no problems, however I will keep my eye on it. Meanwhile I am shopping for a new set since this set is 17 years old and has had several repairs already. I will be looking at Kenmore and Whirlpool front loaders and top loaders from Maytag Whirlpool and GE. GE is included because they have one top loader that has a warm rinse, the only warm rinse option machine that I know about. I will also look at Speed Queen top loaders.

Martin

 

[48bencix]

Agitator shaft O Ring

Today I did a mixed load and when it was done I noticed the Agitator was up about 1" just like a month ago. I pulled it out along with the shaft and the upper O-Ring was missing. It must have disintegrated, since it was the upper one and the lower one was still there, it could not have slid down into the transmission. So my "repair" was temporary. I used another O Ring that I had already purchased and lubed it with garage door lube this time. Put it back in. At least I have been looking for a new machine and still have not decided. I did not find a rebuild on You Tube of this transmission so I am not sure what to do other than buying a new transmission for this washer, or just replacing the washer.

 

[duke]

Sir,Thats just a maytag performa washer with a very worn transmission that costs more than it's worth to replace. Why not buy a used performa for 50 to 75 bucks from craigslist if you absolutely love them? You could save the other parts for back up. My brother had one that I worked on and I don't recall anything special about them. Visit Craigslist and punch in maytag. Just my opinion

 

[DADoES]

 
It's not a Performa.

 

[yogitunes]

why not choose a set like these.....for 90.00

http://https//sacramento.craigslist.org/app/6038491715.html

 

[yogitunes]

here's another.....120.00

http://https//sacramento.craigslist.org/app/6034887589.html

 

[yogitunes]

or maybe an older set....this may even be a pitman drive....175.00

http://https//sacramento.craigslist.org/app/6045717753.html

 

[yogitunes]

plenty to choose from in your area.....

http://https//sacramento.craigslist.org/app/6037939975.html

 

[duke]

DADoES,

Didn't think anything about calling it a Performa,I just entered lat2500 into this site and made the assumption.Seems to be a confusing issue to many on this site.Give it a try.

 

[DADoES]

 
OK, I see.  It may be labeled as a "Performa" on the console.  What I meant is that it's a 2-belt real Maytag with orbital transmission.  Performas are generally of the 1-belt Herrin/Norge or Searcy/Amana (whichever) mechanicals.

 

[48bencix]

Performa

Dadoes - Yes it is labeled a Performa. It is the Dependable Care Orbital Transmission LAT 2500 model. When I got it Performa also was on the Amanatag models. It had a removable sticker that said Commercial Quality also. Pretty good machine except that the seal failed when it was 7 years old, I had the dealer replace it.

Yogitunes - Thanks for the suggestions, I have been looking at Craig's List and missed some of these because I had Owner set, not dealer and I should look at both. Also I need a gas dryer. I probably do not want something older than what I have, which is from 2000.

If it did not have the dual action agitator maybe the agitator would not tend to lift up, that is what has been happening. Also something in there is probably broken that keeps the shaft inside the transmission.

 

[48bencix]

Might get a DD Kenmore Set

I have looked at a new Maytag Agitator washer, Speed Queen TL and LG front load, all new. I found this set on CL and it is an option. If I can accept the story of the usage it could be a nice set. The set up is familiar to me with it being top load and perhaps it would be better than the current crop of TL machines.

http://https//sacramento.craigslist.org/app/6048361316.html