Hi, My 3 year old Maytag SAV5710AWW top-load washer just gave way on its belt (it stopped working and smelled like burning rubber so I took off the front panel to find the belt severed & burned). Motor itself and all 3 pulleys looked to be good. Per Washer_tech's solution suggestion, I replaced the drive belt (PN 27001006 after market part) and installed it with the three T20 torx screws removed on the pump. I looped the belt as illustrated below then screwed the pump back up: ......*** .....*...*..(A): Transmission pulley .....*(A)*..(B): Tension pulley .....*..*....(C): Motor pulley .....*.* .....**(B) .....*.* .....*..* .....*(C)* ......** HOWEVER, when I ran a test cycle (@ mini water level, no extra spin, regular wash), the washer looked fine initially (water IN -> 1st Spin -> Drain), but then during the Wrining cycle, washer started making a high pitch ing-ing sound (like motor running in hyper) and gave off a burning smell (mechanical burn not rubber). I did not find anything wrong with any of the pulleys nor was there any electrical wiring damages inside the control panel nor was there piece of clothing caught btw the agitator and the tub. I know that burning smell and screeching sound has many causes other than the bad belt but I'm now clueless about WHAT. I now know that the belt itself was not the culprit - something else caused the motor to run hyper eventually burning out the rubber. Any idea on other root causes that I should check out and how to get at them? I've heard that motor itself or the sensor may also cause such symptoms but I don't know what steps to take. Pointing me to some Diagrams would greatly help. I'd appreciate FixYa's expert help again! -dealmaster3
A lot of people may be searching for help with horrible sounds and burned belts for Maytag and Admiral washers only a few years old from Home Depot etc. They used a cheap pump that has a corrugated sheetmetal ring that holds the bearings. Well as it runs the vibration and friction cause it to slip down and grind on the pulley as well as not turn easily. If you put the washer on it's back and turn the small pulley and it turns with a gritty feel or you can actually see a loose metal collar type ring thing that looks like a cookie cutte; then you have a bad pump.
There is a small access panel on the back of the washer. Three screws and two spring clips on the hoses and you're done (use big pliers on the hoses). Put the belt back on (just push motor to one side, it's not tight), then check for leaks and reinstall the cover. VOILA! You can find the pump on ebay for $25 or your local GE parts dealers for $50.
It does it at the Drain/spin cycle
Elmer,
My (ancient...but workhorse) Maytag A512 just started to smell and not agitate during the wash cycle.
The Wash Cycle starts but the agitator won't agitate and it starts to smell, then I move it to rinse and get the same thing...BUT...the spin cycle runs great and the pump removes all of the water.
It's weird as it doesn't seem to be the motor or transmission.
I changed the belts as the old belts were worn and cracking but intact. Thought maybe they were stretched. Still the agitator doesn't work and it starts to smell during the start of the wash cycle.
Thanks for any suggestions.
You may very well have a bad thrust bearing in the transmission puley or a worn spin bearing. Either one of these could have caused the belt to overheat and break.
Try this. Start the machine as normal. Does the wash cycle work as it should ? Drain/spin cycle ? Rinse cycle ? Determine wich cycle the machine is in when the high pitch sqeal begins then shut it off.
Will wait for you answer
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Hi vest6,
Thanks much for your advice. I ended up hiring an appliances repair shop and they did determine that the problem was a bad spin bearing which caused the spin cycle to put excessive strain on the belt later making it burn & break.
This job took about an hour and half since the technician had to disassemble the whole tub assembly to replace the bearing (called triple something) and cost me $200. This was back in early Sept.'07.
In mid-Dec.'07, the washer stopped during the wash cycle again and started to make that burning smell again. I immediately noticed that the belt got cut again (almost severed), so I called in the repair shop (since they gave me a 1 year warranty). Technician said that nothing seemed to be wrong except that the belt was cut off - he said this time the belt did NOT burn since he could tell that no smudged burn mark was present but belt simply got cut here & there.
He suspected that we were abusing the washer by using Delicate/Handwash cycles on regular cotton clothing which may have caused the spin motor to overwork & overheat, cutting the belt. I argued that the belt was Bad quality - we've been using the same setting for 3 years w/o any problem and it only took 2 months for this NEW belt they replaced to give way. He replaced the belt with a New one at no cost. Washer now seems to be operating fine but we're worried that there may be other root cause(s) to this washer that may eventually cause it to break down again. If it does, we'll be switching over to a high quality Front loader.
If there's anything else I should be checking, please let me know. Otherwise, thanks much again for your expert tips and Happy New Year!
I had the same problem with a broken belt. Replaced it with the part # from the thread and but it all back together. The wash cycle worked just fine but and or the rinse cycles do not work. I hear a high pitched now, and the motor is not spinning.
Thanks for the help
J
I bought my washer 3 years ago and the damn thing is making a high pitch noise and smell like rubber burning.I think that these washer has a defect.Before i bought this washer i had a Moffet washer and the thing lasted me over 12 years and paid only 450.00 for it and now i buy this thing for 900.00 and last only two years there is something up with these washers.
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