RIP moms Maytag stacked unit

[askolover]

Well after thirty years of faithful service it finally bit the dust. I've been chatting with John about this unit but I need to post a picture so I'll just put it in here. Long story short. It was doing it's thing like normal until the final spin...bang...water pumped out, motor running, didn't know what the noise was until opening lid to find sopping wet clothes. It pumped out the water but would no longer spin. Parents said it's time to replace. I went down there today and installed their new WP wgt4027hw2 27" Gas stacked set. As I was disassembling the old Maytag set, I had the front off the washer so I set it to spin and watched...nothing moved although it sounded pretty normal. I tilted it back so I could spin the pulley...it spun easily in both directions as did the water pump and the belts were still on and not burned. Then when I set it back down it was like a top...the transmission shaft was falling out of the bottom of the washer and it was sitting on the pulley that had now descended down to the floor. What would cause this failure? Old age? A seized spin bearing causing it to break internally? Ever seen this before? Sure I could find some of the internals on eBay used or even put in a used tranny and I told my parents that. I even offered to take them my asko to use while I fixed the Maytag but they were just ready to change so that's what I did. I'm not going to fool with the old one...but I sure hate to see such a fine quality unit die. They truly do not make them like they used to. I paid $1200 for it in 1994...and according to the calculator in today's money that would be over $2500.

 

[combo52]

Maytag orbital transmission failure

Hi Greg, thanks for showing what happened to Your mom‘s machine, a clip or retainer broken inside the transmission. It’s actually not too hard to fix, but there is a time to give up on it. I’m sure they’ll like the greater capacity and much bigger dryer on the new whirlpool stack.

I don’t know if you saved the Maytag or not, but there would be some good parts on it no doubt, we still have a lot of customers that have the Maytag stacks like that. They’ve always been good money makers for repair business because they seem to have quite a few problems between the washer and the dryer, but they’re usually easy to fix and people keep them much longer than a separate washer and dryer because of the cost and inconvenience of replacing a stack Machine.

John

 

[qsd-dan]

There's a plastic retainer clip that probably broke, very easy fix. If it occurred during the spin cycle, the transmission gears will be undamaged.

 

[askolover]

I am sure I could fix it but Mom had already been without a washer for two weeks waiting for the WP to come in and they were just ready for a new unit. They have plenty of money so if that makes them happy I'm ok with it. I really want to open the trans up to see. I had seen that video and wondered myself if that was the culprit. But why would it come off after 30 years? I can't find that clip in stock anywhere and parts diagrams don't show it or a part number. I'll keep y'all posted if I open it up...I have the washer here at my house. If I had the room I'd keep it for a while. I may call my dad and tell him to hold off on taking the dryer away...maybe I need to make a spot in my shop that's already too full.[this post was last edited: 7/28/2024-19:03]

 

[qsd-dan]

But why would it come off after 30 years?

Plastic...probably broke off.

Part# is 22002341.

 

[askolover]

Is there any to turn the transmission to where it's facing flat forward with the pulley and shaft disengaged? It's turned backwards and the brake is holding tightly.

 

[qsd-dan]

You should be able to overcome the brake spring and rotate the assembly, it just takes some muscle. I can rotate a pitman transmission/tub with a brand new brake package and I wouldn't consider myself strong.

 

[askolover]

Thanks!

 

[askolover]

Well guys I got it opened and apparently this washer doesn't have that plastic clip. It is just like the diagrams I have looked at...there is a metal collar with a long screw pin (parts 8 and 12 in the diagram) that goes thru the shaft and holds everything in place. This pin is broken. This metal pin explains why mother heard a bang during spin. I found the broken piece but there is nothing else in there abnormal. This pin is wpy206629 and can still be found on eBay for $10. So I'm ordering it and will reassemble it and probably sell it if all works properly. I turned the orbital with my fingers and it moved the agitator and I was able to turn the trans around ok to get the cover off so it isn't seized up. The oil is still very clear. My mother is going to be sick if this fixes it...but they didn't want to be without a washer and have to wait any longer. You know how older people are sometimes. I might sell my GE dryer and keep the stack in it's place. [this post was last edited: 7/30/2024-00:48]

 

[askolover]

Of course Murphy's law always comes into play. I took my Allen wrench to loosen the remaining screw head from that collar. The head came off but there is still a tiny piece of threaded pin stuck in the hole! I'm going to Lowe's tomorrow to get an extraction bit to see if I can get it out that way. If I can't get it out the whole washer is dead. That collar is part number 215415 and is NLA. I don't know if any mechanics or machine shops have any tricks to get it out or not.

 

[askolover]

I've been thinking...if that collar is just to keep the shaft in place and Maytag changed it to plastic, why can't I make something out of plastic or metal to hold it in place? I may have to get creative. I really don't know why it broke in the first place. It doesn't appear to hold any power or torque.

 

[askolover]

I drilled out the screw and wrapped the threads on it but I had an epiphany...it's just a steel spacer with a flattened side and hole drilled all the way thru the sides. I've found some on eBay the right size. All I need to do is make a flat spot and put the holes and threads in it. If the old one doesn't work out this will be my option. I'm hopeful I can get the old girl going again! A cheap fix pretty simple. I may sell it for a low price.

 

[askolover]

Well the screw pin came in $10 on eBay and I have reassembled the parts inside the tranny. Everything seems to function the way it's supposed to and it's glued with thread locker as it was from the factory. Here's a pic of the collar and screw pin. I don't know at what point Maytag changed from collar and pin to collar and clip. All the diagrams I've found show the collar and pin setup.
I'm amazed at how simple the orbital trans is. WP should have kept that design, just my 2¢ worth. I just might sell my GE dryer and keep this in its place. Sometimes one needs an old fashioned top loader for certain items. I wouldn't have access to hot water out there but cold is available and so is gas. A couple more questions...do I need to get all traces of the old sealant off the trans cover and housing mating surfaces before I put on new? I'm waiting for the thread locker to set before I put the oil in and cover on. And should I put any kind of lube of any kind at the top of the trans/bottom of tub where the bearing is while I have it on its back? Seems fine as it is but it is 30 years old.

 

[qsd-dan]

Great job tackling this fix.

You don't need to remove every trace of sealer but try to get most of it. Clean both surfaces with brake clean or another solvent that does not contain oil.

It would be worth lubing the damper pads if you want to keep it around, especially as a daily driver. Wouldn't hurt feeding some turbine oil to the pump if you have that on hand.

Also wouldn't hurt taking the dryer apart and cleaning/de-linting it. Check the condition of the blower, drum rollers (lube with turbine oil if they're ok), idler pulley, belt, seals, and front glides. Drill and feed turbine oil to the front/rear wicking's of the motor if you're feeling energetic.

 

[askolover]

Thanks for the info. I had just tackled the dryer four days before the washer quit. The glides were surprisingly in very good shape, I put zoom turbine oil on the rollers as well as a new belt, and I ordered a new blower fan which has since arrived. The dryer is still at my parents' house but I will be bringing it here shortly. They wouldn't both fit in my truck at the same time.

 

[combo52]

Hi Greg, great job on the transmission repair, that was a really clever transmission design that Maytag came up with. It was much less expensive to build, and it eliminated the very dangerous counterweight that was used on the older Pitman transmissions. I don’t know how many people lost arms from those.

The performance of the transmission was much better also the short quick stroke didn’t cause the fabric damage of the long stroke design.

Did you go ahead and replace the motor in the dryer? I thought the dryer needed a new motor if you did not replace the motor , I could send You are complete used motor assembly so you wouldn’t have to struggle with the pulley. I still have a lot of those and we’re not using as many as we used to.

John

 

[askolover]

Thank you John, since I took it all apart and cleaned it up really well mother said the dryer hasn't been acting up anymore (knock wood). I don't know what changed but it's much happier at the moment. So I will hold off for now. Even if I keep it it won't be a daily driver by any means. But you will be my first call of or when it does konk out completely.

 

[askolover]

I've been learning a lot by repairing this Maytag unit. I got to looking at the transmission cover as I was preparing to put it back on the unit and couldn't help but notice how heavy it is. Then I noticed some crimp like divets on the inside in the groove. Then I noticed the interior does not match the exterior press markings and I came to the conclusion that this is some sort of counterweighted cover. I'd be curious to know what they put in it to make it so heavy.

 

[askolover]

Well I have the dryer and washer connected and can properly test it out. I haven't put any water in it yet but it spins just fine. I think Mom misses it...she doesn't like new technology and her new WP unit is a lit more electronic than the MT unit.