Washing machine won't spin

Washing machine won't spin, or drain. We have a Maytag washing machine.

Model MAV5000AWM
Style Y7909215 (Herrin Style)
New in year 2000

Past two or three washings we heard a clattering noise (similar to cards on a bicycle wheel) as the unit spins or drains. Friday the unit totally died and popped a circuit breaker in the process. Would not restart. Several retries and it hums and circuit keeps popping.

Pulled motor and did bench test. Gives a hum and nothing. But the motor spindle moves freely and smooth by hand. All belts and pulleys on machine turn freely by hand and in both directions, turning the tub and /or agitator. Drain pump can be seen moving through the plastic housing.

Put a new motor ($150) in and nothing. No agitation, spin or rinse. Tub fills but that's all. Timer seems to work and proceeds through the cycles but no action takes place. If I try turning it off the light plugged into the same circuit will flicker for a split second showing current is flowing into the machine. Lid switch seems to be working but not sure. That's going to be my next replacement.

Anybody have any ideas as to what I can look for ?

 

Model # does not work.
A 15 year old washing machine and your trying to repair it, hmm.

 

MAV5000 is a valid model number, Maytag Atlantis model. If the lid switch was bad, the timer motor would not work. Sounds like a faulty timer to me (internal contacts).

Whirlpool 22002715 Timer - AppliancePartsPros.com

 

last 3 letters i found were aww or awq

 

The last three letters is just the version, voltage and color

 

Thanks Fairbanks. I'm going to verify that the timer works. I let it cycle through but only a little bit. Is there a way to bench test the timer? Would you be able tell me the contacts to apply house current for testing on bench? Thanks.

 

How did you bench test the motor? Did you apply power to both the run and start windings simultaneously? You have the wiring diagram, testing is pretty straight forward unless you have no experience with this. If that is the case, it's kind of fruitless to try and walk you through it. With the new motor, does it just hum like the original one or are there different symptoms with it?

 

Yes we did apply power to both and only got a hum. The new motor make no noise whatever.
I did find this service manual on line this morning. This should help and walk me through it.

http://repair2000.com/Library/maytagatlantiswasher.pdf

 

Today I did a complete continuity check on both the lid switch and the timer assembly. The lid switch checked out fine. The timer cycles checked in terms of showing closed or open during the proper cycle as I turned the timer accordingly. However, upon applying current the timer motor does not advance, nor does the machine agitate, rinse or spin cycle operate even if manually turned to those cycle locations on the selector. My only conclusion is the cycle selector must have power from the timer motor to initiate the operation. My next move is to buy a new timer motor assembly.
Does anybody concur or have other ideas?

 

In your first post, you said the timer proceeded through the cycles, now you say it doesn't. If all timer contacts checked ok, why would you replace the timer? Sounds like a lid switch problem. Your not getting power to the motor or you have an open neutral.

 

I was wrong in my first post. I thought it was moving. The lid switch checks out with a continuity test. The tub fills with water when the timer is set on one of the wash cycles. But does not move beyond just a fill. The timer motor does not make any sound. I suppose I could do a lid switch bypass. I meant to do that but forgot in the rush of yesterday being Father's day. I'll do that first as a final test.

BTW...thanks for you input and comments.

 

Disgusted and broke! It's been two weeks now. I replaced the motor, lid switch and the timer. Still nothing. The tub fills, timer goes through its' cycles the tub will not agitate or spin. Everything checks out electrically (continuity testing as per service manual). Ready to throw in the towel (if I had a washing machine to throw it into!). I guess my next move is to lick my wounds and buy a new machine. Maybe try to sell new parts on e-Bay at reduced cost.

 

It's finally fixed.

I don't know if I should feel stupid or proud. I do feel lucky and a certain sense of accomplishment. That and the fact that I don't need to buy a new washer.

It was the pump!

So lets add all this up.

New motor: $150.00
Return of new motor -$150.00
Lid switch $ 40.00
New timer: $ 80.00
Pump: $ 20.00
Total: $ 140.00

Although the pump, motor and drum moved freely by hand, apparently the bearings were worn so that when the motor engaged and moved to put tension on the belt it seized and would not run.
Even when I took the pump out it moved freely but did make a little bit of noise and a small amount a scraping along the edge. It was then that it dawned on me that the pump was the sole source of trouble.
So I figure I got a new timer and lid switch and pump which should pretty much make it a near new machine. Another 20 years.

I must thank my wife for insisting that we keep that old Hoover portable all these past 35 years. It bought us time for me to fool with the darn washing machine. I'm surprised the seals were still good and the hoses were not rotted out.

Speaking of such here is a video of how this little Hoover works. It' might be similar to the Staber top loader axial machine that Furd mentioned. Only this might be considered a mini model. The point I want to make about this machine compared to today's top or front loaders is the amount of water used. Notice that this uses a full tub of water. That is what gets clothes clean. Not just the speed of agitation or the speed of spin and rinse. This is what put my wife off of the current washers on the market.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resi...nt=video%2cmp4

 

I didn't realize it was a portable. Cute little machine. Really throws those clothes around.
Here's to another twenty years.

 

Water pump common problem but with no noise would not of guessed it.