Speed Queen AWN412 Idler Pulley Separated From Bushing?

[oldschool88]

Working on a 2012 Speed Queen AWN412 for a volunteer organization, their machine has a ticking noise during agitation and was not spinning at full speed. Cabinet floor full of black belt dust, belt is de-laminated. When I rotated the pulley by hand, it slid down the bushing as shown in the pic below. I slid it the rest of the way off the bushing by hand with no resistance.

This is my first Speed Queen repair. Is this normal, or has the pulley failed?

 

[repairguy]

The pulley has failed. I worked for a speed queen dealer 20 years ago and this was a common failure. They were also known to seize. I would replace the belt and complete idler assembly.

 

[oldschool88]

Thanks much, part # 959P3 kit in stock at my local parts store and I’ll grab it in the morning.

Do you apply any grease to the pulley shaft and pivot arm bushing? Looks like good use of white lithium grease, but I’m an amateur.

 

[repairguy]

No grease on pulley shaft and maybe a small amount on the pivot point if the factory grease is dried or gone.

 

[oldschool88]

Thanks again! The bushing is not seized to the shaft, rotates freely and has slight play. I’m guessing this is wear, and the resulting tilting of the pulley causes the belt delamination?

 

[repairguy]

Speed queens have always been known to go through belts. It would probably run for a long time with the idler separated from the bushing, but since you found it you will give the new belt as long a life as possible by replacing it.

 

[oldschool88]

I’m matching up an automotive V-belt if I can find one in the right dimensions, and testing that instead.

 

[rp2813]

Ah yes, another belt-eating SQ.  Our '97 Raytheon Amana chewed through them regularly.  I always knew when it was yet again replacement time because the machine would start making this "chickita-chickita" sound during agitation.

 

Never once was the pulley/idler identified as the problem.  We kept extending the extended Sears warranty because it was just easier to have the job done by a pro, and we had no confidence in the machine.  Belt replacement wasn't easy like on a Maytag, which is ironic because Maytags rarely if ever needed their belts replaced.

 

Between the belt issue and the piss-poor rinsing, along with the dryer that toasted everything, we dumped that pair, bought a big Duet pair and with that our TL washer days were over.  Thanks Amana -- you fostered two more FL converts!

 

[yogitunes]

you CAN NOT use a regular automotive belt for this application, it must be one that can slip-clutch, best to stick with a manufacturers one.....

most times on ebay, you can get a whole package of idler, spring and belt all in one...

Raytheons built machines were the ones who had the biggest issues with eating up belts...especially ones with the recirculating pumps.....

rare to see an Alliance chew through one that fast......most times recommended to replace every 5 to 7 years depending on usage....

 

[oldschool88]

Heard loud and clear on the belt. I just finished installing the new idler arm & pulley assembly and new belt using the Alliance kit. That was an unpleasant job compared to my Maytag experience. Test load completed and no more clicking noise during agitation (old pulley separated from bushing and was bumping the arm), nice and quiet now. I applied high-temp bearing grease to the idler arm pivot per the kit instructions and advice here. No grease on the pulley axle.

Drum is secured with foam and bubble wrap for the trip, new set of SS/PVC hoses will be picked up in the morning. Thanks everyone in this thread and others for the advice and info!

 

[repairguy]

Glad you got it going.

 

[oldschool88]

Thanks Repairguy! Really wish they’d put a hex head on that pulley axle shaft, that locking nut was a challenge getting on with only a screwdriver slot. There must be a trick I didn’t figure out. I put a screwdriver in my vice and the axle on a wood block to position everything, but it was still a fight until the nut threads conformed. A tech in the field wouldn’t likely have all that. What’s the secret?

 

[repairguy]

I always put the nut in the box end of a wrench and tighten it with a flat head screw driver. It definitely takes two hands and a little coordination.

 

[oldschool88]

Update: I took it to the shelter yesterday and installed and leveled it, wow this washer is smooth during agitation and spin. We ran three full loads while I was there (they had built up a backlog while the 4 year old dead washer was down) including a lot of towels and bed sheets. I held the lid switch manually so we could watch the action, very little wobbling during high speed spin. My Maytag Atlantis doesn't have an upper balance ring by design, and the difference is striking.

I pulled the front cover after the 3rd load and found no belt dust on the cabinet floor, belt showed no wear marks other than the part # lettering on the back/flat side being very slightly worn (from the tensioner pulley I assume). I'll re-check it when I'm back next month.

We hit an issue with a small amount of suds overflowing from the standpipe at the end of both wash and rinse draining...no problem with full water flow during drain, just the foamy suds at the end. Plumber will come and see what he can do, probably extend the standpipe a bit higher, we put a bucket under the piping in the meantime.

Sound level of the SQ is a bit quieter than my Maytag, making me want to replace my 15 year old motor (only factory powertrain part left in it).

 

[rp2813]

My step-daughter and son-in-law bought a SQ pair a few years ago for their new house.  The washer drains into a standpipe, and they have had ongoing issues with suds bubbling out of it.   Due to cabinets above, the pipe could only be extended so far, plus, at some point the drain hose wouldn't be long enough anymore.  Even one of those accordion type suds suppressors on the end of the hose didn't help.

 

There are no plumbing issues.  This seems to be a washer issue.  After our Amana pair replaced a Maytag A206 and DG806 set, the difference in pump power was remarkable.   As soon as spin drain launched on the Amana, the water shot out of the hose like a cannon compared to the reserved CF/M rate of the Maytag.  I think that's the reason for the standpipe sudsing issue with Speed Queens.

 

It sounds like you got that SQ operating at optimum level.  These machines operate fairly quietly under perfect conditions, so as long as the volunteers don't seriously overload it, there shouldn't be any issues for at least a couple of years.

 

[Chetlaham]

When I use to much detergent in my Speed Queen some foaming at the hook up does take place. Not a lot though. Its just one of those quirks that I like, don't ask why lol. I also like when the machine stops agitating, the drain hose makes a gurgaling sound. The way I see it these are opportunities to make memories- your not going to find many machines with such a powerful high performance pump. GE FF comes to mind, but that might actually be it.

 

[oldschool88]

Factory suds blocker.

I found that Speed Queen thought of this suds issue: https://speedqueen.com/got-suds/

As the used AWN412 didn't come with this adapter, I bought one for $6 and will be going up to the shelter today to install it. Hopefully this will stop the suds overflow and we can remove the 5gal catch bucket...will report back with outcome.

Pic of the adapter is here: https://www.pwslaundry.com/i-7455217-speed-queen-36878-washer-adapter-standpipe.html

I'll also pull the washer's front cover and check belt condition after a week of hard use. I had cleaned up all the accumulated black belt dust from the cabinet floor during the belt & tensioner repair, so any new accumulation will be easy to spot.

 

[combo52]

Rubber Standpipe Adaptor

This helps but does not eliminate suds backing out of a standpipe.

 

John

 

[rp2813]

Ditto what John said.  I had one of those suds blockers leftover from our Amana, which drained into a laundry sink, so I gave it to the kids for their SQ and they still had suds coming out of the pipe -- just not quite as much.