[mechanic]

I was trying to replace a belt on this washer and inadvertantly loosened the set screw on the upper Drum brake which allowed the springs to extend, is there a correct proceedure for bringing this brake back to its correct position so I can retighten this set screw?

Thank you in advance for your help.

[sidfink43]

This is a pretty old belt driven Whirlpool that unfortunately we almost never work on. There is a service manual for this machine that you can buy but I did not see your issue addressed in it. Here it is.

Part number: AP3884815



if you want to get it. Maybe someone else can post the info you need.

[mechanic]

Thank you for your help sidfink43, I have just ordered the manual. I have put the new belt in but as suspected it no longer has a spin cycle and I beleieve its because the brake is no longer gripping stong enough to spin the drum. If anyone else knows how to adjust this brake correctly please help, meanwhile I hope I can get some info from the manual. again thanks for the help.

[richappy]

That setscrew goes in a hole in the spin tube. Only way to fix this is to remove the tranny, pull off spin basket and remove spin tube. You will need a vice to compress the brake housing to put back the set screw. Rather long and difficult job, but doable.
An easier way to fix this is to pry down the spin tube, pry up the brake housing, and allign the set screw with the hole in the spin tube. Then push up the spin tube, support the spin tube with boards, and have someone push down on the washer till the hole lines up with the set screw.
There is also another way to fix this. Turn the belt and pull up the spin solenoid till the slide bar drops down the brake. Squirt some oil on the brake, then move the belt till the slide bar pushes the brake up. Remove the set screw and turn the spin basket till the hole in the spin tube is visible in the set screw hole. Put back set screw, job is finished!!
I really doubt the repair manual would have this sort of info. Also, if you use light oil, or none at all on the brake, it should burn off after some time in use.

[richappy]

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[mechanic]

richappy, thank you for your reply, I will try what you recomend this weekend and hope I can get the brake setscrew back were it belongs, and hope I get my spin cycle back. again thanks it is very much appreciated.

[mechanic]

richappy, thanks for the info on getting the setscrew back in wihtout taking the machine all apart, it worked like a charm! everything works now and spin cycle is good. couldnt have done it without your help. im glad that sidfink43 recommended the manual since it help me understand the operations of which selenoid control the spin cam. the book is good but doesnt go into any detail on reparing any major things like the brake issue you helped me with or tranny repair. anyway thanks alot it helped me out.

[sidfink43]

Great, kudos to richappy for that great explanation and to you for getting it done. Thanks for the update.

[richappy]

We are all glad you got this fixed, it is really a good feeling to get something fixed without a lot of grief/money.