MAYTAG Appliance Parts
Welcome to your Maytag Washing Machine Parts Resource
RepairClinic.com Help Video
- How to Find your Maytag Washing Machine Parts
- Different Types of Maytag Washing Machines
- How Maytag Washers Work
- Tub
- Central Agitator
- Motor and Pump
- Fill Valve
- Timer and Selector Switches
- Clutch and Brake Mechanism
- Motor Coupler and/or Belt
- Keeping your Maytag Washing Machine Well-Maintained
- Maintenance Calendar
How to Find your Maytag Washing Machine Parts?
If your washing machine is not working properly or it is broken, you will have no problem finding the right part. All you need to do is visit RepairClinic.com. RepairClinic.com specializes in finding the exact part for your Maytag washer through its easy but very powerful appliance part search tool, the PartDetective.
RepairClinic.com can assist you in properly diagnosing your washer for electrical, plumbing, hardware, or other problems, and they have all the washing machine parts you need at www.repairclinic.com.
Different Types of Maytag Washers
Maytag washing machines come in three different styles.
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| Front-Load Maytag Washer | Top-Load Maytag Washer | Maytag Washer/Dryer Combination |
How Maytag Washing Machines Work
Washing machines come in two major styles: front loaders and top loaders. They have some common characteristics, but there are a number of differences in the way they operate.
Tub (or Inner Tub)
This is the part of your washer where you put the clothes to be washed. This inner tub has hundreds of small holes that allow the water to flow through to an outer tub which is solid and holds the water. Top loaders have an agitator at the center of the inner tub. Front loaders do not have agitators; they spin and allow gravity to do the work as the clothes tumble and bounce.
Central Agitator
The agitator on top loading washing machines pivots clockwise and counterclockwise--about three-fourths of a revolution--plunging the clothes through the water so that they can be washed. The clothes keep moving from the top of the tub to the bottom and then back again. This motion allows the detergent and the water to reach every part of dirty clothing and to loosen the dirt. Agitators are not present on front load washers.
Motor and Pump
In top loader washers the motor is what drives the agitator. In a Maytag front loader the motor is what creates the movement during the wash cycle and spins the clothes during the damp dry or spin cycle. In both kinds of washers the pump removes the water from the tub and lifts it out to the drain.
Fill Valve
The fill valve - a part about the size of a coffee cup - is also called a "water inlet valve." The fill or inlet valve controls the entry of hot and cold water into the machine. The fill valve has three major components: a hot-water solenoid, a cold-water solenoid, and a mixing valve body. The inlet or fill valve is located at the place where the hot and cold water from the house are hooked up to your washer.
Timer and Selector Switches
Timer switch is usually the largest dial on your washer's main control panel. Some switches are mechanical devices much like a simple clock; others are completely electronic with a digital readout. The timer runs in a pre-determined pattern - by providing electricity to all the components of the washer at the correct time and for the correct length of time.The Start switch is usually part of the timer knob; when you set the timer to the proper cycle, you either pull or push the knob to start the cycle. Selector switches or knobs have different designs from one washing machine to another. Maytag selector switches let you adjust a number of different settings. For example, they adjust the water temperature, spin speed, timer cycle, etc. Normally, the washer completes the cycle selected on the timer, regardless of how you set these switches and knobs.
Clutch and Brake Mechanism
Washing machine motors can start up and reach full speed in a second or less, which is much too fast for many of the components the motor drives. For this reason, most washing machines use an automatic clutch to dampen the effect of the motor starting up.
On some washing machines, the clutch is just a combination of the drive belt slipping temporarily on a pulley and gradually tightening. On other units, the clutch uses a drum-and-pad combination of components, more like something you would find in a car. When the lid is raised on a top-loading washer, some functions cease to operate. The spin cycle stops on all machines because the drum is brought to a rapid halt.
Motor Coupler and/or Belt
A few types of Maytag washing machines connect the motor directly to the transmission by using a coupler - connection without a need for a belt. The coupler is a rubber disc half-an-inch thick by one-and-a-half inches in diameter, sandwiched between two plastic sprockets. A number of other washing machines use belts to connect the motor to the transmission or pump. A belt is a black, rubber, rope-like component--usually a loop of about twenty-four to thirty inches long. The belt provides a desirable "weak link" in a washing machine. This means that if the tub or agitator were to become stuck or jammed, the belt is more likely to fail; this would preserve the transmission and other critical components.
Keeping your Maytag Washer Well Maintained
Water-Fill Hoses
The rubber water hoses that came with your new washing machine may leak or burst as they get older. It's a good preventive maintenance practice to check these hoses periodically for any sign of wear or weakness. Frequently, there is a small blister that forms in the rubber of the hose, and this could rupture. Maytag manufacturers recommend replacing these hoses every 5 years. An even better alternative is to replace the rubber hoses with high quality stainless steel fill hoses, which are more rugged and longer-lasting.
Leveling
When your washing machine is not perfectly level (and this means that all four legs need to be touching the floor) it can rock back and forth, bang loudly , and even begin to "walk" across the room. This is not good for your washer. The machine can also cause damage to anything in its proximity. To fix this problem, use the adjustable front and/or back leveling legs on your washer to adjust the machine to the proper height. After that, tighten the lock nut up against the body of the washer to keep the leg from rotating.
Most washing machines have "self-adjusting" rear legs. You set these legs by tilting your entire washer forward onto its front legs (with the rear legs three to four inches off the floor) and then setting the machine back down. In most cases, the legs will adjust automatically. If they don't adjust automatically, you may need to tilt your washer forward and hit on the rear legs with the handle of a hammer to loosen them. This procedure is easier to accomplish with a helper.
Surface Cleaning
Your washer has either a painted steel or a porcelain-coated steel cabinet. To clean its surface, it is perfectly safe to use a little dish detergent and a damp rag. For stubborn stains, if the surface is porcelain, you can safely use some non-abrasive cleanser.
Maintenance Calendar
October 2010
Check your washing machine water fill hoses for any damage: cracks, blisters, corroded fittings, leaks, etc.
Damage is a sign of aging and a breakdown of the rubber material. Blisters signal rupture in the inner lining of the hose, which presents danger that the hose may burst at any time. Corroded fittings mean that the hose has leaked or is presently leaking. If you do not replace the hose right away, you may find, due to rusting, that the corroded fittings are virtually impossible to remove later.
Replace the hoses if they have any of these weaknesses. In general, washer water fill hoses generally need to be replaced every three to five years, regardless of whether there is a visible defect.
For best results and peace of mind, use stainless steel fill hoses.
Check to make sure that your washer is level and sitting on a well-supported sub-floor. A leading cause of washing machine failure (and of customer complaints) is a unit that bangs around unbalanced after many loads.
It is also important to check and make sure that no water is dripping into the washer when it's turned off. If water is dripping in, even a little, it is a sign that the water inlet valve is defective and it should be replaced immediately.
