Washer timer knob doesn't affect the control

[psm321]

Hi all,
I have a Maytag washer, model MTW5870TW0.  Recently, the control knob (part 13 in the diagram I link below) doesn't seem to actually move the "plate" (don't know the proper term for it -- part 14 in the diagram) behind it that has the pointer to current cycle when I turn it.  Once in a while, it'll move it a tiny amount, but that's rare.  I can still move the "plate" by itself with some effort, and it does seem to work correctly when I do that, but obviously that's difficult to use as a permanent solution.  I would appreciate any suggestions as to what might be wrong, what to look at, etc.

Thanks in advance!


Model MTW5870TW0

[Repair-man]

Replacing the bad timer you have is easier than you might think

 To open the control panel, slide a putty knife or old ALO CD under the console at either end to release the clips holding the panel down. Both corners have one. The console will the lift forward and flip over so you can access the timer, etc. The timer knob and the escutcheon (dial. pointer, etc) come off after you pull out a small tab on back of the old timer, which releases the  knob in front so it can be removed. The timer can be then removed and replaced by lifting a plastic tab on the left side of the timer which holds it to the console facia.

Timer for this model- click

[psm321]

So I take it from your reply that you think the timer is actually bad?  I had figured it was something with the knob or how it attached to the timer since manually spinning the escutcheon still worked.  So I should replace the timer and knob/escutcheon, or just the timer?

[Repair-man]

Yes, the timer is what you are turning when you manually rotate the dial. Ordinarily, the internal motor of the clock inside the timer will do all the turning so you don't have to stand there

[psm321]

Yes, the timer is what you are turning when you manually rotate the dial. Ordinarily, the internal motor of the clock inside the timer will do all the turning so you don't have to stand there

Sorry if I misinterpreted your reply, but I think from reading it that I was unclear in my initial post.  What I meant to say is, turning the "knobby" part of the control knob (part 13 in the diagram), doesn't do much if anything, but once I use the "plate" part (part 14) to turn it, everything works like normal.  I don't have to stand there the whole time the washer is running, manually rotating the plate.  The timer or whatever does turn that, and once started it goes through the cycles and stops like normal, with the indicator moving as it should.  It's just that the "knob" part doesn't turn the "plate" part when initially trying to set/change the cycle.  I'm obviously not as much of an expert as you (hence my posting here), but that's what makes me think that the timer mechanism itself might not be broken, but either how part 13 attaches to part 14, or to the timer.  Feel free to tell me that I'm wrong though

[psm321]

I should mention, the knob part does work for pull/push for starting and stopping

[Repair-man]

Ok, so now you have to remove the knob so you can inspect the gear teeth under the knob where it is supposed to mesh with the dial pointer. Open the console as mentioned above, pull out on the small round pin on back of the timer to release the  knob  in front. There are matching teeth on the dial pointer which also need to be looked at. Let us know which are worn, or both, and we'll provide a solution.

[psm321]

Ok, so now you have to remove the knob so you can inspect the gear teeth under the knob where it is supposed to mesh with the dial pointer. Open the console as mentioned above, pull out on the small round pin on back of the timer to release the  knob  in front. There are matching teeth on the dial pointer which also need to be looked at. Let us know which are worn, or both, and we'll provide a solution.

Thanks!  One small (hopefully) question: there are tabs in the back of the machine (which seem really easy to access/open, not requiring an AOL cd or anything like that) on the left and right where the panel is.  Are you referring to those, or something in the groove between the forward-most white part of the control panel and the rest of it?  (I suspect you mean the second, but I don't want to end up opening the wrong thing!)

Thanks again!

[Repair-man]

If you can open the upper part of the back panel without difficulty, please do  so. You only need to expose the back side of the timer control to pull the release tab.

[JWWebster]

Keep in mind you have the latest version of a washer that has been around for a while. I have pix of older models and access to yours is done in the same manor. However instead of the screws holding down the control panel it is now done with spring loaded clips. Slide a putty knife under each ennd and release the control panel and it can then be flipped up like older models.TAKE A LOOK HERE

[psm321]

Hi,

I got the knob off, but I don't see any teeth.  I do have an additional bit of info now though.  When I manually spin the pointer dial, it turns the rod that the knob was on with it.  But when I turn the rod that the knob was on, it doesn't turn the pointer dial (except a little bit occasionally).  Do I need to remove the pointer dial to see more? (I couldn't figure out how and didn't want to force it)

[JWWebster]

Get another knob. Yours is stripped

[psm321]

But the rod doesn't spin the indicator dial even without the knob on it?  It looks like the knob only is a control for the rod...

[JWWebster]

weird

[psm321]

Would it help if I posted pictures and/or video (just to make clear what I'm saying, in case it's ambiguous, and to help figure out what "style" of knob assembly it is)