Squealing Sound, Burnt Rubber Smell, Maytag A Series

[flemingantiques]

Seeking advice on an issue my Maytag A108 is having. Occasionally throughout this winter there has been a screech or squeak from the machine as it came to a stop. My basement is cold, I figured the drum brake was just noisy. But today, I had a small load in and the machine started squealing or howling you might describe it, combined with a strong burnt rubber smell. I opened the lid, and when I closed it the drum was stuck, I could hear the motor humming under load. I opened and closed the lid a couple times and it came back to life and finished the wash without incident. What might the problem be? What components (other than the obvious belt) should I be looking at? Could my transmission be seizing up? Thanks for any advice.

 

[flemingantiques]

Adding to this: I got under the machine and turned the transmission counterclockwise as noted in other posts. It spins very easily. Makes this all the more perplexing, what held up the motor?

 

[flemingantiques]

Adding one more time: the drain pump seems very hard to to turn in the counterclockwise way. Could that be what’s binding things up?

 

[DADoES]

 
Possibly.  Some pumps can be oiled by removing a plug-screw, add a few drops of turbine oil, replace the screw.

Remove the front panel, check that the motor isn't stuck, tension springs or carriage rollers broken/missing.  The carriage plate must move freely against the spring tension.

Check condition of the belts, and that the pulleys (motor, transmission, and pump) are clean of residue.

The transmission belt must slip on the motor pulley during spin acceleration to function as a clutch.  You haven't perhaps recently replaced it with a non-OEM "lawnmower" belt?  OEM Maytag/(now WP) belts must be used, the transmission belt has a fabric coating to faciliate proper acceleration slippage.  There's a specific procedure to adjust belt tension.

 

[qsd-dan]

Sounds like the pump bearings are locking up. You'll have belt residue around the pump pulley from the belt slipping if this is the case. The belt will also be glazed. That's an easy fix, replace the pump.

New pumps available now are aftermarket. Their quality is unknown.

 

[combo52]

Burning squealing noise, Maytag dependable care washer

This could be a number of things as others noted. The water pump should certainly be checked. The main drive pulley should turn freely, counterclockwise, and freely clockwise once you overcome the resistance of releasing the brake.

Something is likely wrong. You may have a pump that is locking up, you may have something caught between the wash basket in the outer tub. You might have a top transmission bearing seizing.

You need to do a little bit of diagnostics to see what’s going on take both belts off see if the pump turns easily both ways check the main drive pulley to see if it turns easily counterclockwise and also with a little resistance turns Clockwise and turns the wash tub easily take the front off the machine look for signs of water leaking above the transmission and leaving stains inside the cabinet this might indicate top bearing that has got water in. It is seizing up.

When does this happen? Does it happen as soon as the washer starts to agitate or does it happen when the machine starts to drain and spin?

You won’t be able to turn the wash basket easily at any time in this washer it takes a fair amount of effort overcome the brake

John L

 

[flemingantiques]

Replying to you all and thank you for the help! I believe it is the pump and I have one on order. It turns hard one way more than the other. I will replace the belts too. They are Maytag units and I don’t know how old.
Everything else seems fine no signs of leakage at the top of the transmission/bottom of wash tub, it’s sound freely/correctly depending on direction. I’m pretty sure it’s the water pump. It’s only happened once and not since.

 

[flemingantiques]

Apparently you have to be an upgraded member to even delete posts….
I spoke too soon it just stuck again. When it’s stuck there’s a squealing sound and the smell of burnt rubber, and it sounds like the motor is running. However the augur isn’t moving. If it was just the pump stuck I would think the auger would move so maybe it is the transmission sticking.

 

[combo52]

Just take the pump belt off let the machine fill up and agitate and see if it agitates properly. That’ll tell you if there’s a problem with the transmission, of course you’ll have to tilt the machine back a little bit and put the belt back on to get it to drain.

John L