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wayupnorth

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Joined
Dec 19, 2011
Messages
4,667
Location
On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine
Hi everyone, Just happened upon this site quite by accident when looking for a fix for my 1984 LA 511 Maytag washer. Never imagined there were others that loved laundry as much as me. But I have a matching pair, bought brand new and so far have been trouble free, BUT now the washer has developed a rat a tat noise when either washing or spinning. I blame it on an old roomate that WAY overloaded it all the time, but dont know. It still runs just fine but is noisy. The sound seems to come from below the base plate somewhere and dont know if it is something I shound fix right now or can wait. They are sort of built into a laundry area that would require a lot of moving stuff to get them out to get underneath. With the new models seeming to fall apart so quick, I'd much rather keep this one going as long as I can. I am on well water and septic, so water usage is not an issue. I have a neighbor with a new front loader that seems to use a cup of water to wash, cant see how that works. I also have my grandmothers early 50's Maytag round wringer as a backup, has the red trim and the pump, still works like new.and is sooo quiet running. But if any of you experts have any solution, I would appreciate knowing. Thanks
 
NOISEY 1984 MT AUTOMATIC WASHER

The pump drive pulley on the motor may be starting to fall apart. MT used a cheap stamped pulley for a while that would do this and they changed back to the better design, good news is that it is an easy worth wild repair. PS your old room mate did not cause this and in fact may have prolonged the washers life by doing big loads as running many small loads does more harm to a washers overall life than overloading a little. 
 
Welcome to the site!

Always great to hear of a new member "stumbling" across this site, as I did too! I am a wringer washer fan as well, and I noticed on your profile, you are into toy washers as well. Take a look at my collection in my Flickr album. I also have a similar album posted here in the member's photo section. I'm always looking to add to it, and would love one of those Wolverine wringer washers, but with the plastic agitator, not the stupid metal thing as most seem to have had. They do come up on ebay periodically.

Regards,
Brad

 
Appreciate the info

The noise actually does sound like it is coming from below the motor when I remove the front. I am guessing it would have to be laid on its side, the belts and motor would have to come out and a new pulley installed. I do have my owners manuals but they do not contain any parts list to narrow down just which part it is. And Brad, you have quite the collection, maybe someday I can start one. Thanks for the insite and it does not seem like it is a life or death situation with this machine.
 
Wow Brad, what a collection! Thanks for posting the link. I liked looking at toy appliances as a child also, but they were cheap, adulterated methadone for my need to see an actual, full size machine, wringer or automatic, operating.
 
"Just happened upon this site quite by accident...."

Same thing happened to me six years ago this New Year's Day. Don't know what I'd do without it. Love the name "wayupnorth."

 

Welcome to Automatic Washer which is also a wringer-friendly club; many of us have them and enjoy using them. You'll be very happy here.
 
Welcome!

The motor pulley (with set screw) part number is 200816 which has subbed to new p/n 6-2008160 under Whirlpool's mad rush to redo all Maytag part numbers. The 511 is a very solid machine and this pulley should be the upgraded one. You don't have to lay her over on her side to change. You can simply lean her back against the wall with a pillow to pad the console and work on it from underneath the front.

Welcome to the family. You, of course, realize that pictures of your Maytag set are required! Well... OK, not >required< but enjoyed all the same... LOL!

RCD
 
Welcome to "wayupnorth"!

Enjoy our site and all the great guys here, Sir! I went to college in Northern Maine! Jason
 
Thanks for the warm welcome and info

I appreciate the welcome and all the info on just how to tackle this. And especially to RCW for the part# and the easy way to do it. Sounds like it is not going to be too difficult after all, I was going to take a photo of them, but naturally the camera batteries are dead. So instead, I did scan the front cover of the original broochure that showed my exact models, only in white, mine are a lovely almond. I tried 3 times to upload the scan but my computer locked every time on the preview page and would go no further, even after almost 15 minutes of waiting. I will attempt it again when I have some more time.
 

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