Maytag motor carriage - Rollers vs Square Glides?

[lowefficiency]

From what I can find, it looks like when Maytag revised the washer motor carriage parts in the 1980s, and replaced the round rollers with square "glides", they considered the two to be interchangeable, including releasing the replacement under the same part number.

That being said, 30 years later, we find that both styles are still available as replacement parts.

For repairs being made today, is there any reason to give preference to one style or the other?

 

[good-shepherd]

round rollers with square "glides"

Square glides were supposed to push out any debris that might otherwise jam a round glide.

 

[lowefficiency]

>> Square glides were supposed to push out any debris that might otherwise jam a round glide.

Interesting that you say that... I had been wondering if the round rollers would perform better (ie: be more forgiving) on carriage tracks that were rough from rust?

 

[yogitunes]

sometimes rollers would develop flat spots....

over time, too much play would cause excessive movement in the tracks...

I guess the flat glides took care of that...

a clean unit with proper lube can be trouble free for years...

 

[combo52]

Round Vs Square MT Motor Track Glides

The square glides are differently an improvement, Maytag used an inferior substandard plastic for these motor rollers    [ and washer lid hinge balls ] from their inception till sometime in the 70s and the plastic would disintegrate. After they went to a better plastic material they never had much problem with either the lid hinge balls or the support glides for the motor carriage.

 

The only real problem after they used better plastics was for customers that were very sloppy adding detergents or ones that often oversuded the washer and would go over the tub cover and splash on the washers baseplate and cause rust and corrosion of the motors track and glides.

 

John

 

[good-shepherd]

rust and corrosion of the motors track and glides.

Was going to mentioned that but my internet connection dropped, lost the post and didn't feel like re-typing the whole damn thing.

Anyway, I've also come across neglected machines where the rollers have seized up and developed a flat spot, mostly due to loss of lubricant from long term leaks or over splashing and the resulting corrosion.

Some people are just slobs with their washers.