Maytag showing its age???

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Came to visit home this weekend, and brought laundry with me of course.
Went to do some loads in my parents' LA511, circa 1982.

I've noticed the motor is a bit louder than normal. And during agitation strokes, it sounds like it's laboring.
Could be loose belts, could be something else. I haven't really checked it out yet.

Any ideas?
 
Coldspot is right, it's all about the belts and the motor carraige that act as a clutch. If replacing the belts, ONLY use Maytag parts, they are designed to slip at precicely the right time as opposed to regular belts of the same size.
When the belts get baggy and old and too much slippage, the thing makes the most ungodly sounds.
 
to my detriment the laundry room was too congested and i was on a timetable so i didn't have time to unhook the hoses and tip it over to check this time around.

The belts are not original but i do believe they are at least 12 years old.
Good call on the motor carriage. The next time I'm home and have more time i'll try to check 'em out.

How about the sound of the motor in general? It's VERY loud. It just moans and drones quite loudly. Nothing sounds "bad" it's just extremely loud. Just a very low, loud, consistent baritone drone.
 
i feared that. i'll try the little cheap stuff first. I hope it's just belts or even motor! I can handle replacing a motor.
If its the bearings we'll have to replace it. None of us have the time or tools to do a tear-down like that.

That would suck, my parents (as myself) would probably hate a new washer.

Thanks for the ideas!
 
Just have to replace it...

Remember that a tub bearing & seal job done by a good tech who comes prepared may only ball park around $200-250. Compare that to a new, PLASTIC throwaway washer around that amount and it looks better and better to repair the Maytag if your parents truly like the machine and it otherwise did the job. Done properly, it can help that washer last a long time.

RCD
 
Thanks for the tip.
If it comes to that, I'll flip the repair option toward them.

It really is a workhorse, has been for 25 years in our family of 5 (3 boys).
 
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