Maytag N2L agitator

[yeshuaisiam]

Hi, I am new to the forum. Recently we purchased a Maytag N2L washer from an individual. It has worked fine until we came across a problem.

The agitator part (with a full load of laundry) suddenly started making a "rubber squeak sound" with the shaft that connects to it. (Sound like wet shoes on a floor).

I pulled up on the agitator and it came off the shaft. Inside the agitator hole is something that looks like smooth rubber on the inside, and "slotted" rubber on the outside that connects to slots in th agitator itself.

I do believe that the problem exists in this old (perhaps original) rubber. I'd like to fix it, but have no idea where to look for parts, or if I could just smear the rubber with some kind of epoxy and stick it on the motor shaft.

Any pointers heavily appreciated! I've learned through this washer that I really like vintage appliances.

Also, if anybody has any photos, links, or instructions on the break down/rebuild of this unit (and oil changes) that may come in very handy.

Thank you!

 

[stan]

Hi Christian

And welcome.
There is a older thread here titled " Moving a Maytag E" just type it into the search. It's Larry's thread. He shows the whole brake down on this machine. Yours is a N model, but its pretty much the same design.
The part you may need is a rubber stop ring, and yes, you can still get that part, as well as others.
Let us know, and We'l hook you up with the sources.
However as I read your post, I wondered if you knew that the agitator is supposed to come off? This is so you can clean the lint screen under the agitator (that should be there) after each load.
You don't want to put anything on your agitator to stick it on the post, so that it won't come off! It's supposed to come off? Your rubber stop ring, if its still there, may have gotten push up inside the agitator, disintegrated, or some thing.
If you can show us pics, we can help you get to the bottom of this squeak LOL

 

[yeshuaisiam]

Thak you

Okay thank you for the message. I don't really see a rubber washer at all. I see some kind of slotted rubber thing IN the agitator shaft.

The shaft coming from the gearbox UP through the washer tub area is just metal spinning back and forth.

I'm having trouble attaching photos.... I see the upload JPEG thing, but not how to upload them. It shows my file... Also the area where you change fonts is grayed out. I'll attach several photos in a few messages. I REALLY like this washer. It's a blast from the past, the nostalgia is great. When it worked it also did a much better job than my $1300 LG front loader!

This first picture is the shaft coming from gearbox into tub area.

 

[yeshuaisiam]

Here is a photo of the UNDERSIDE of the agitator. At first I used a slightly weak glue on it (not jbweld) before I found this forum. (That's what you see on the gray looking flake thing on this inside of the rubber.

The rubber part is like a slotted rubber (spline??) looking thing that fits into slotted plastic of the agitator.

 

[yeshuaisiam]

I think these are the photos needed. But I'll share more photos as I try to restore it later.

I really have no idea where to buy parts for something like this. I've looked around but got kind of confused. Thanks again folks!

 

[stan]

Here

Is a couple of pics I mine. Maybe it will help.
It looks like you have not been removing your agitator, and cleaning after each load. And your lint screen is missing in action.
The shaft coming up from the tub should have splines (groves) that interlock with the matching spines inside the agitator.

There are 3 different places I've got parts from, but more often from Phil, at Phil's Maytag service.
His shop # is 607 869-2263, cell 315 246-5518. Email [email protected] He's very nice to talk with, and often times will figure out what you need, and post it as a buy it now on EBay. He also has the service manuals. A owners manuals may help also.

 

[stan]

Inside of

the agitator.
You don't want this stuck to the post. You need to be able to pull it off.

 

[stan]

The lint

Screen

 

[yeshuaisiam]

Thanks so much for this! Yes that is strange that my shaft does not have grooves in it. We have not had it for long though and I don't know the history much. I many need to take a very close look at it and see if people got glues or resins in the grooves.

Thanks again!

 

[yeshuaisiam]

Okay, I may have a problem here. On the first photo I posted, it looks as though somebody may have slipped some kind of circular cog over the grooved shaft! It is smooth and round! Ugg... I have no idea how to get the metal outer housing off. Is this common or does anybody know what this is? (Do you need better photos or can you see it?)

I put a little pressure on a screwdriver under the "cog" looking thing to see if it would come up, but was not sure if it is supposed to..... I put some WD-40 on the top of it (where I can see the grooves), hoping it may penetrate over night.... I really hope it comes off!

I'm kind of wondering if an agitator was ever developed with a metal inner section that slid over the grooves that became detached from the rubber.....

This is my first washer like this, and I've had it for about a week now.... It worked okay at first, then this problem... I would LOVE to fix it, as it is a great machine.

 

[stan]

Christian

Another suggestion, is to clean up that area with some "Barkeepers Friend" I order to remove some of the rust, and take some more pics, to send to Phil. Almost looks as if some modification was made, Phil will know if he can see it.
Or hopefully Geoff (another member) will come along, he'd know too.

 

[d-jones]

A gear puller would probably work on that. The failure of the bond on that agitator fitting wasn't unheard of back in the day. The owner of Ralph's Maytag Repair here in Burbank showed me a contraption he has for reaming the hole and pressing the new fitting into place. He has a drawer full of them(the fittings, not the contraption)

 

[yeshuaisiam]

Woohoo!!! I got it off. Lot's of WD-40, elbow grease, a bit of prying, and a gear puller. Also some prayer, encouragement from cheering sons... haha

Anyway it's off now, I have a nice grooved shaft.

So do I just need the rubber "spline" insert for my agitator now and a lent catcher/guard?

 

[stan]

I think so

Phil sells them, I believe it it inserted into the agitator, so what's int there now may have co come out. Unless your agitator fits now? The lint screen is needed with pump models to prevent something from lodging into the pump. If your is a gravity drain, it not as much of an issue.
I'd like to see more pics of your machine, if possible!

 

[yeshuaisiam]

Uh oh.....

The part I bought from phil doesn't exactly fit. I don't know where to go from here. It fits on the washer itself, but not inside the agitator....

 

[stan]

Christian

I think that whats inside your agitator has to be removed, and cleaned out, and the part Phil sent, has to be inserted into the agitator shaft. Have you contacted Phil to check, or sent him pics?
Also the Maytag guys may come along!
You might get a hold of Geoff here in the forum, he the Maytag wringer go to guy! If you look him up here, you should be able to send him a email, and he may look in on this.

 

[e2l-arry]

You have 2 splines

Been on vacation a few weeks and just came across this thread. The Spline that connects the agitator to the drive is supposed to be part of the agitator. Sometimes they become stuck to the shaft instead. Now you have a new plastic spline. The old ones were the metal and rubber, like the one you got off. It looks like your agitator still has a spline or part of the old one still in it? So the new plastic one can't be inserted. Those are almost impossible to remove without breaking the agitator. The simplest thing to do, since you do now have a cleared slotted agitator shaft, right? would be to just get a new agitator with the correct spline already inserted. That's how they come. See if Phil will let you return the spline and credit it against a new agitator. I bet he will. And you problems will be over!

 

[wringer]

I have

watched and had splines replaced several times. It requires a tool to remove the old one by screwing it out counter clockwise and then another tool that the agitator fits in and the new spline being forced into the agitator. This is the only process I have ever seen or am aware of to change agitator splines. Good luck. I would imagine that Phil may have these two tools since he is a repairman. I agree with Larry about getting another agitator. I am lucky to live near a repair place.

Jim