[RickCaylor]

Hi,

I love to try and repair my own appliances, while not always sucessful.

My Amana 3.3 Cubic Capacity unit starting getting to where it would not aggitate like it used to in the wash cycle. As time went on, I started also smelling a burnt smell. Not real strong and not like it was the belt, but I did nothing about it.

Today during a wash cycle, smoke came rolling out of the machine and after draining the tub, I got into the front of the machine and found that the belt had burnt badly and broke. I checked the pulley's and the Motor spun freely, the main drum pulley, seemed to spin good and the Tensioner seemed to spin freely as well. So I went and got another belt and after replacing the belt, this is what happened:

Machine started fine and filled with water and the wash cycle worked good. The aggitator worked well and moved better than I had remembered for a long time.

Then the water drained and it was getting close to the Rinse cycle and suddenly the smoke started rolling again. With the front panel still off, I could see that the belt was not moving, but I am not sure if it should be moving at this stage. The smoke seemed to be coming from the Transmission area, as the smoke was rolling up into the tub and was coming out from under the lid, before I could dedect any smoke in the motor and belt area. After turning the machine off and unplugging, I tried touching the belt with my fingers to see if it was just the belt smoking and maybe I could not tell it. It did have some very hot spots, but the smoke did not smell like burning rubber of a belt. It was more of a mechanical smell, that I have never really smelled before. Not quite like a burning clutch, but a bit simular.

Would anyone here have any suggestings on what or where I might go next?

How can I determine if it is the transmission?

I will greatly appreciate any comments or suggestions on what to test or try next.

Thanks,

Rick


EDIT: UPDATE TO MY ORIGINAL POST:

Hi,

I did some more work on my washer and after taking the agitator out of the drum, I found some tough lint wrapped around the post and after removing it, the washer now works properly and no more SMOKE.

It is still quite loud though and I read in another thread that another person replaced the MILK STOOL BEARING, after having a simular problem.

Partselect.com - Maytag Appliance Parts And All Brands of Appliance Parts

Has anyone here done this job and is there anyway to check that particular bearing without doing a teardown?

If I do go ahead and do a teardown, how can I tell if the transmission is actually bad?

This machine has done a lot of heavy loads and with Tom's advise of getting a new machine, if it is the Transmission that the noise is coming from, I think is good advice, as the transmission seems to be in the price range of 240.00. However if the transmission is good, as the machine is now working again properly and it is just a bearing below the transmission, I would not mind investing a hundred dollars in parts and a few hours of labor.

Thanks in advance for any answers.

Rick

[kayakcrzy]

Rick, your transmission is lockiong up. It is time to buy mama a new one. If you need me you can reach me at my web site at ApplianceEducator.com Tom

[RickCaylor]

Hiya kayakcrzy,

Thank you for your oh so kind reply. In your experience, if the rest of the machine, "LOOKS" to be in good shape, is it worth the expense and labor to replace the transmission?

Signed: SMOKEY

[kayakcrzy]

No when you tear it down, you will at least have to replace the tub seal, transmission, and belt. I would replace it. Tom ApplianceEducator.com

[RickCaylor]

I have continued to trouble shoot this machine, as it looks to be in such good condition, besides this problem I am now having. After taking the agitator out, it did find some really tough blanket lint that was about a couple of inches long that was under the agitator. I removed it and replaced the agitator and now the machine works again.

All cycles work properly. No More SMOKE. It is just that the noise that it makes, sounds like a bearing is worn out, somewhere just below the drum or below the transmission.

This machine has really been used a lot, as we had an old Great Dane and we were having to wash her bed and blankets a lot during her last days with us. So the machine did have to deal with many, many Large and Heavy loads.

I have read that another person had a simular problem and he replaced the Milk Stool Bearing, Partselect.com - Maytag Appliance Parts And All Brands of Appliance Parts, and while this was a 2 to 3 hour job, it fixed his machine as he said, it had been crushed, due to heavy loads.

Would anyone here have experience with replacing this bearing?

Is there any way that I can check this bearing, or tell if it is actually a problem with the transmission, either with or without a teardown?

What are the chances that it is just a bearing and not the transmission?

It would be worth it to replace the MilkStool Bearing, but the cost of the transmission at around 240.00 would not really be worth it, as Tom has pointed out.

Thanks,

Rick

[RickCaylor]

Hi,

I did some more work on my washer and after taking the agitator out of the drum, I found some tough lint wrapped around the post and after removing it, the washer now works properly and no more SMOKE.

It is still quite loud though and I read in another thread that another person replaced the MILK STOOL BEARING, after having a simular problem.

Partselect.com - Maytag Appliance Parts And All Brands of Appliance Parts

Has anyone here done this job and is there anyway to check that particular bearing without doing a teardown?

If I do go ahead and do a teardown, how can I tell if the transmission is actually bad?

This machine has done a lot of heavy loads and with Tom's advise of getting a new machine, if it is the Transmission that the noise is coming from, I think is good advice, as the transmission seems to be in the price range of 240.00. However if the transmission is good, as the machine is now working again properly and it is just a bearing below the transmission, I would not mind investing a hundred dollars in parts and a few hours of labor.

Thanks in advance for any answers.

Rick

[kayakcrzy]

Rick, did you not get my responce> Tom ApplianceEducator.com

[RickCaylor]

Good Morning Tom,

Yes, I received your first response and I Thank you for it.

I also went to your web site and have asked for your recommendation on a new machine.

Thanks again.

[kayakcrzy]

I understood what type of bearing you were talking about, but maybe there were certain words that could be misconscrewed. If you need me you can reach me at ApplianceEducator.com Tom