Maytag Performa/Herrin transmission oil seal question

[norgechef]

I recently picked up a VERY used Maytag Performa washer, made in February of 2004. It was disgustingly dirty, which made me wonder how well it was working, but hey for $25 I couldn't pass it up. After cleaning it to the best of my ability, I did a large load of laundry and realized the tub was spinning while it was washing, which made for a very lazy wash action, it was just one big lazy spin and the clothes maybe turned over twice during the entire wash cycle, so nothing was thoroughly cleaned to say the least.

After letting it wash lightly soiled clothes a few times, the motor emitted a very foul odor like burnt plastic, began smoking and then quit. I ordered a used motor, and a cheap new pump for it on eBay as the old one was making a strange metallic noise.

While I wait for the new parts, I decided to take the washer apart to see why the tub brake was allowing the washer to spin on the wash cycle, and found that everything is covered in thick dark brown transmission grease which is allowing the brake to slip. The transmission works 100%, no strange noises or anything, working perfect, my last norgetag that I sold a few months ago had a brand new transmission and it was making a clunking noise. I figure some are good and some are bad, this one must be a good one, but my question is,

is there any way to seal the transmission from the outside without taking the whole thing apart to replace the o-ring? Because I do not trust myself to take it apart and re-assemble it without ruining the whole transmission. Any advice would be appreciated. Would a silicone sealant work? I just don't want to clean up the huge mess of grease and put the washer back together, just to have it leak more oil onto the brake, making it useless once again.

 

[combo52]

You Need A Another Transmission

Most of these later transmissions were not serviceable, are there even bolts around the cover?.

You probably do not need a motor unless the motor pulley is damaged, the brake is supposed to have oil in it, so this may not be why the washer is spinning during agitation.

 

[norgechef]

The transmission is good

It still agitates, it just spins while its agitating because the brake is covered in transmission oil so it cannot hold the tub in place. The motor is a separate issue, usually they don't even last 10 years, for some reason they tend to wear out pretty quickly on norgetag's, usually going out in a cloud of smoke. I remember seeing a lot of reviews for these washers where the motor was a big issue, along with obvious issues with the transmission.

I just read that you can replace the o-ring/lip seal as it is built into bottom of the transmission where the drive tube is. Hopefully I will be able to fix it without taking it apart. Wish me luck!

 

[runematic]

John, I believe these brakes are supposed to be dry. If they have oil, it's coming from the tranny.

As for the motors going up in smoke, that really hasn't been what we've seen with these washers. It's usually the pump going bad, seizing up and smoking the belt. In turn that smokes the motor pulley. Unfortunately, getting a new motor pulley now means you have to buy the whole stinking motor. I have no idea the rationale for discontinuing the motor pulley as a separate part. So stupid.

 

[dnastrau]

Transmission low on oil

One thing to consider: If the transmission has leaked out too much of its oil, even if you replace the seal the unit may fail from a lack of lubrication. I wonder if these transmissions have a way to top off the oil?

Andrew S.

 

[coldspot66]

If this is a dual drive tranny, they are NOT servicable like the Maytag helical or orbital trannys, which do have a lip seal at the bottom of the drive shaft. Don't waste your time with these washers if it has a tranny issue.

 

[combo52]

Norgetag Washers

Hi Todd, yes you are correct, these are supposed to be dry brakes, but I have seen them oily and it did not seem to cause any real problem. And yes you are correct about the motors, I think that I only ever saw one bad motor in a Norgetag washer, other than the plastic pulley problem, after all it is about the same Emerson motor that is any other washer.