I Think That My Brake Assembly Is Locked. After Lying The Machine On Its Back, Removing The Front Cover, Checking The Motor, Which Is Good And The Springs Are Fine, I Then Removed The Belts. The Orbital Transmission Is All But Impossible To Rotate Either Clock Wise Or Anti Clock Wise, Even With The Use Of A Small Strap Wrench. The Clock Wise Direction Is The Hardest Direction In Which To Turn, Or Should I Say Attemt To Turn, It Is Tight!!

Before I Try And Remove The Brake Assembly, I Know It Will Be A Bear, I Want To Certain That The Brake Drum Is Indeed The Problem.

Suggestions On How To Isolate And Analyze The Brake Drum Being Bad.

Thanks,

John Jordan

THANK YOU,magician59, FOR YOUR RAPID RESPONSE TO MY POSTED QUESTION.

I RE-INSTALLED THE DRIVE PULLEY AND ALIGNED THE DRIVE LUG WITH THE PULLEY LUG AS DESCRIBED IN CHAPTER 7. MAYTAG "NEWTON" MACHINES, PAGES 13 AND 14.

PER YOUR SUGGESTION I TURNED THE PULLEY COUNTER CLOCKWISE. (THE MACHINE LYING ON ITS BACK, FRONT CABINET COVER REMOVED AND THE FRONT FACING UP, LOOKING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MACHINE I TURNED THE PULLEY COUNTER CLOCKWISE)

THE PULLEY WAS EASY TO TURN BUT I SAW NO MOVEMENT OF THE ORBITAL TRANSMISSION OR ANY OTHER MOVEMENT, AND AS SOON AS I TURNED THE PULLEY CLOCKWISE AND THE DRIVE PULLEY TOPPED OUT ON THE HELICAL SHAFT I COULD NOT TURN THE PULLEY BY HAND ANY FURTHER. THE TRANSMISSION JUST WOULD NOT TURN! I TRIED 10-15 TIMES, COUNTER CLOCKWISE--CLOCKWISE, WITH NO RESULTS.

SO, DOES THIS MEAN THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY AS I SUSPECTED OR BUY A NEW MACHINE? I HAD MUCH RATHER SPEND THE $50.00 ON A NEW BRAKE ASSEMBLY THAN $XXX.XX FOR A NEW MACHINE.

THIS MACHINE IS VERY, VERY CLEAN. THE WASH DRUM HAS NO PITS OR RUST SPOTS. I REALIZE THAT ANYTHING THAT GOES ROUND AND ROUND WILL EVENTUALLY DIE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS MACHINE HAS GIVEN A LOT OF YEARS OF SERVICE AND ITS TIME FOR A LITTLE REPAIR WORK TO BE EXPECTED. I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT I DON'T ORDER THE WRONG PART DUE TO MY FAILURE TO ANALYZE THE PROBLEM CORRECTLY.

WORDS OF ADVICE AND OR MORE SUGGESTIONS EAGERLY SOLICITED.

THANKS AGAIN, magician59,

JOHN JORDAN

Most of my experience with Matag machines would influence my decision to spend the money for a replacement transmission, since what you have is a Dependable Care model. Especially since you say it's clean. I personally believe it is worth the expense; It will outlast anything on the current market.