Maytag LAT9334AAE Agitation Issue, need help.

Washer Repair
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[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]I have this old, but trusty maytag LAT9334AAE washer machine and i’ve had it for many many years. Recently, we used it and since the load was too large, something happened. I went into the laundry room in the house and smelled this unpleasant burnt smell… The kind of burnt smell kinda like it was from plastic or maybe rubber, not COMPLETELY sure though, it’s hard to describe, but yea there was smoke and you could smell something burnt. So here’s the deal…

After that wash, I noticed the smell, and later someone else started to use the washing machine… Water loaded into the machine fine, then started agitating for a minute. After a minute of agitating, I hear it start making a small constant sound that was unusual, but it was also making the washing machine shake a bit more than it is supposed to… Not uncontrollably shaking, but still, shaking a bit.

I know that there has to be something wrong with it, I mean, it did smell burnt before and now it’s making the extra "sound" that it wasn’t making for the last ten years. Anyway, I put the washing machine in spin mode without water inside before, but spin mode was flawless, no surprises, spin mode was normal.

That’s it. I think I might take this challenge in fixing this washing machine myself since I found so many resources online. So anyway, any help, ideas, tips, or anyone that knows what I need to replace or fix would be greatly appreciated. On a very tight budget, can’t afford to buy a new washer right now, and I don’t want to really hire someone to fix it, and end up finding out its a repair that would be way more than what I can afford… Someone told me that if it were the transmission, it would be around $300 to fix it, and if it were something with a motor, it would be around $120.

If anyone has anything to share, or any ideas, no little help is too little. Thanks!

Pictures are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41130278@N04/sets/72157625276493050/

I can see that the belt is somewhat messed up, and I think that’s the only problem… Feel free to ask any questions to help me diagnose this problem. The belt is cheap, doesnt even cost $10 to replace. I just hope its not a bigger problem.
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I’d say you need a new belt. Don’t forget to clean the motor pulley up. It no doubt has burn rubber sticking in its "V". I usually clean it up with a screwdriver and then polish it with a piece of scotchbrite or very fine sand paper.

The belt is a cloth covered belt and it needs to be able to slip on the motor pulley until the basket is up to speed in the spin cycle. So any rubber still stuck in grove will cause the belt to stick instead of slip. Causing it to burn up.

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Okay! I got everything installed it seems to be working, although I want to know if I should really lube it or not.

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Oh, and there was no rubber sticking anywhere, It was on the floor. Bits of rubber was on the floor.

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If you’re talking about lubing the belt? Absolutely not. Its supposed to be as clean as possible. Thats why I said to clean the motor pulley too. The belt has to be able to slip until the clothes basket is up to speed. Good luck with it.

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Yeah, I didn’t do anything to it. Okay, one problem fixed, another problem arised. I replaced both belts and now agitation is fine, spin mode is a little out of control. I think it might have just been the off leveling cause when I pushed the washing machine down it was fine, but I originally smelled a bit of burnt rubber at first. I heard that it may be okay at first but the thing is that it still is a bit shakey after I still hold it down.

I uploaded a video on youtube, :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auubtP-5y8I&feature=player_embedded