Maytag performa washer

[wvkenmore]

Need some advice about this washer. I forgot to get model #(post later). This washer is from 2003 and been great. I was washing jeans and the spin was not a normal sound. Pulled jeans out and turned to spin nothing.

Went and played with her the next morning, tilted the washer checked belts and underbelly all seemed well. Took agitator out to see if something was jammed nothing. Turned on filled to it washed and then went to spin. Then rinse came tub was spinning as agitator was working. So guess transmission is shot or is it something else.

Any advice be most appreciated as I take care of my aging parents(dads 88 moms 84) and need a good washer that's a full tub of water to get their wash clean.

Thanks for advice......Chaz

 

[pierreandreply4]

i would advise considering a speed queen awn432

hello if you planon replaing your washer i would recommand the new mechanical speed queen awn432 top load washer or the new electronic control model witch gives you the option to program your fav cycle plus you get 3 rinse option

 

[wvkenmore]

I wish I could afford a speed queen and we have no dealer. We only have sears and lowes to buy any appliance from. I have a cabrio and it does not clean very well have to wash 2 times to get kinda clean glad I only paid 175 for it.

 

[kenmore71]

I'm not sure I understand the symptoms that you are describing?

Does it agitate properly? If so, the transmission is fine.

If the tub is moving excessively with agitation it is likely a brake issue.

Has it been making loud squealing sounds at the end of spin cycles for a while?

If it doesn't spin at all but pumps water out then it's either a clutch OR brake issue.

 

The brakes were finicky on these "Herrin" sourced Maytags. Other than that they actually worked reasonably well for a cheaply built machine.

 

[wvkenmore]

Weak agitation and about a min or two into wash cycle goes into full spin while agitating. No noises during spin the last week or so but water was not spun out as well as normal. Washer has been great no repaires till now.

 

[kenmore71]

I can't really make sense of this.

I will leave this up to those who know Herrin Maytags better than myself.

 

[coldspot66]

Bad transmission. Sounds like a broken gear in the tranny.

 

[kenmore71]

Coldspot66, for me and everyone else here who is largely ignorant of how the Herrin Maytags work, can you explain how a broken gear in the transmission would cause the behavior described here?

 

[coldspot66]

Actually I misspoke. I have seen these machines agitate in the spin cycle and not get up to proper spin speed because of agitation in spin. Whatever the agitate or spin problem is, these trannys are not servicable at all.

 

[kenmore71]

Here is some information from the service manual:

 

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Spin During Agitation</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">• Check for thrust bearing misalignment</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Page 7-6).</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">• Check for defective brake package</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Page 7-7).</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">• Check for misalignment of snubber</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Page 7-8).</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Spin Speed Too Slow</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">WILL THE MOTOR RUN? YES -</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Check for broken or slipping belt .</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Check for binding tub seal (Page 7-3) .</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Check for partial engagement of brake assembly</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Page 7-13).</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Check for obstruction between tubs</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Page 5-5).</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Check for proper adjustment on thrust</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">bearing (Page 7-4).</span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span>

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Complete torque test (Page 7-12) .</span>

[this post was last edited: 3/21/2015-16:13]

 

[mrb627]

Just to be clear,

This model machine is what we have referred to as the Norgetag?

Malcolm

 

[kenmore71]

Yes, some here have called it that.

 

 

[lorainfurniture]

Spin during agitation is usually a brake related, or thrust bearing issue.
Agitation during spin means fubar. Or at least the trans is.

This herrin, norgetag machine is one of my favorites from a used appliance dealer's standpoint. They wash well, huge tub, and the newer ones where actually pretty good looking.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Another option would be:

To find a low milage Whirlpool/Kenmore direct drive set. Those are some of the best cleaning most reliable TL machines ever. They are plentiful and easy to fix as well. Most any used appliance shop will have them. Of course there is also Craigslist.
WK78

 

[repair-man]

Is it a Herrin built machine ?

Performas from those years could be Newton built. I sold hundreds of them. I ask this because the original poster said that the "belts" looked good.

 

[lorainfurniture]

I have seen thousands of machines (maybe even tens of thousands ) I don't think I have ever seen a 2 belt (dependable care with the helical drive = Newton?) Maytag with the performa badge. If someone has ever seen one, or has a pic, I'd be delighted to look at that monstrous thing.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

@ Lorainfurniture

Orbital Newton MT Performas do exist. They look like any other DC MT with different graphics on the console. They are not monsterous at all.
WK78.

 

[lorainfurniture]

I kind of imagined some twisted marriage of a helical drive and a herrin. That sounds interesting!

 

[kenmore71]

I have the control panel off of a Performa built in Newton.

LAT2500AAE

serial ends in AJ = May, 2002 

 

[lorainfurniture]

You know what, I might have seen that machine a few times and never noticed the performa label. Thanks for posting the pic!

 

[wvkenmore]

That is the tag my machine has on it. This machine sure was a good one for me. I bought this to replace the 3 year old Kenmore 90 series that could not go more than 4 months without a coupler, clutch, pump ect and that replaced a Kitchen aide that went thru couplers like crazy (my mom was able do washing then and did light washing).
This one is going to go as I don't want to waste time or money since it is trying to agitate on spin. I have a cabrio that can be used , I got a great deal on it new and it has the glass window. Now that the only redeeming quality about it. I does not clean very well and takes forever but until something better turns up. Thanks for the info it was helpfull

 

[electronicontrl]

Herrin Performa and Newton Atlantis

Don't forget the Atlantis.
This was a remake of the Herrin design manufactured in Newton, IA