MAV6200AWW Maytag Atlantis Washer not spinning

[NJFrustrated]

Model Number

MAV6200AWW

Brand

Maytag

Age

More than 10 years

Maytag Atlantis washer. Agitator works: washes okay, but after rinse does not spin out excess water. Pump is functioning as water is removed from basket. When in Spin mode, I try to turn the drum/basket, but it is locked and frozen. In the past, I was able to rotate the drum endlesslessly counter-clockwise. If I rotated the drum clockwise, it would lock and then the Spin mode would start to work. When it did spin, it sounded a little like a small airplane was taking off.

Now when the washer is off/at rest, the drum is locked/frozen. I used to be able to rotate it. It seems to be washing okay, and the agitator is working. Do you think it is a problem with the brake being locked or is it broken, or a thrust bearing? What would it act like if the transmission were bad?

Again, the no matter on/off, or what mode the washer is in, I cannot rotate the drum....it is like the drum is locked by a brake. Should I be able to rotate the drum freely?

Any hints/tips are very greatly appreciated. Didn't need this to break now. I've been unemployed for 9 months now, and we cannot afford a new washer. I would like to try and save this thing. Any idea how much an appliance company would charge to inspect and repair?

 

[ChevyGuy]

Tilt the washer back and prop it safely, remove the belt, pop off the plastic dust cover from the transmission (center) pulley, and rotate the transmission pulley to test. Clockwise rotation is agitation, counterclockwise is spin after the brake is released...report your findings.

See the video listed in the Thrust Bearing Kit on appliancepartspros.com linked here:
12002213 Thrust Bearing Kit


At 03:10 in the repair video you'll see how the pulley and cam operate when things are working properly. Compare to yours.

I'm in Parsippany NJ and glad to help if you're not too far away. Not an appliance tech, but Atlantis washers are in my family and I'm batting 1.0 on repairs.

 

[NJFrustrated]

Hi, have not been able to this yet. Will try tomorrow. Thanks for your help.

I looked at the video, and will compare when I try tomorrow.

 

[NJFrustrated]

BTW: since you're a Chevy guy...what kind of car do you drive? I used to be, but sold them years ago. Had 69 Camaro and Novas.

 

[ChevyGuy]

'82 Camaro and '19 Silverado. Let us know what you find when testing the pulley rotation, Jeff or one of the pros will likely have more & better diagnostic info based on what your pulley and brake are doing. They do this for a living, I just fix my family members' Atlantis, Performa, and Ensignia (same powertrain, different controls).

 

[NJFrustrated]

Hi, just tried to run a load...and don't understand why, but the rinse cycle worked. Any idea why this would be intermittent? I was going to push the washer over and try your recommendations this weekend, but other things came up. May get to it during week, otherwise on weekend.

Why is the drum still locked? Why does the rinse work all of a sudden? Still feels like a brake is on or something. This is maddening.

 

[Jake]

Did you remove the transmission pulley and check the thrust bearing?

Jake

 

[ChevyGuy]

Hi, just tried to run a load...and don't understand why, but the rinse cycle worked. Any idea why this would be intermittent? I was going to push the washer over and try your recommendations this weekend, but other things came up. May get to it during week, otherwise on weekend.

Why is the drum still locked? Why does the rinse work all of a sudden? Still feels like a brake is on or something. This is maddening.

Just for clarity, the outer drum is the solid-surface outer cylinder and it does not rotate. The inner tub is the perforated-surface inner cylinder that the clothes go in. It only rotates during spin, when the motor is actively driving the transmission pulley counterclockwise. At all other times...powered off, or in agitation (clockwise rotation) the brake is set and the tub can not rotate.

The washer only has three operating modes:

• fill: water valve(s) open releasing water into the tub & drum.
• agitate: agitator oscillating, brake locked and tub stationary.
• drain&spin: water pumped out discharge hose, brake released, agitator and tub rotating.

At any time when it's running, it's doing one of those three things. When you state that the rinse cycle worked, do you mean that it agitated and then drained & spun the stuff out correctly?

When you do the check (*unplug electrical cord*, tilt washer back, remove plastic dust cap, rotate pulley clockwise and verify smooth rotation of the agitator with no grinding, rotate pulley counterclockwise and verify brake release per the video followed by smooth rotation of the transmission housing and tub) you'll have a better idea of the problem.

Skip to 3:10 in this video to see what I'm describing for brake release: