Maytag A608 Repair

[dondee]

Older Maytag Model 608 Washing Machine (about 30 years old) is making a grinding noise from underneath.  At first noise was intermittent and the noise would go away on stopping & restarting, and I could run several loads without noise. Now noise is constant and stopping and restarting does not help.  Is this likely a gear stripped, bearing?  -- dondee

[theoldstoveguy]

Does it make the noise in spin or aggitation?

[dondee]

Noise is now on all settings.  Managed to run it to get water mostly out for now.

[theoldstoveguy]

Check the pump,1 inch in on both sides at the bottom of the front panel are 2 screws ( 1 ea. side), remove and grasp the panel mid section swinging the bottom away from cabinet, the panel will come off. Then tip the machine back and remove the belt from the motor to pump. turn the pump, bad bearing? That is what is more common lately. I have seen a few motor pulleys separate and get noisy but pump much more common.

[dondee]

You nailed the problem!  It was the pump that was the problem!!  Thank you!  I drained the water, laid the machine on it's back and removed the 2 belts. Couldn't tell for sure whether the pump bearing was at fault by just hand turning the pulley, so I put that belt back on and turned the machine on for 2 sec. Very clear from the noise that that was the problem.  I was able to get a new pump from an appliance parts supply house 15 miles away ($77.49). There are 3 small screws (not 2) that hold the pump in place.  I installed it -- very easy installation actually.  Machine is now running, noise free, and good as new -- and for a lot less than the price ($800 to $1000 maybe ??) of a new one.  Thanks again for the suggestion and for pointing me in the right direction.  -- dondee (in Ohio)  

[theoldstoveguy]

25 Years doing Maytag and Maytag Red Carpet Service helps. By the way,the 2 screws held the front panel on. That is what I was trying to describe so you could get to it. Glad you got it, I try to save as many as I can. That machine is no longer made and in my opinion it was the best washer EVER made.