Maytag Loud Clicking When Spinning

Washer Repair
1

I have a loud clicking / ratcheting noise in my Maytag Washer that I am having trouble diagnosing. It is a single-belt design. I recently replaced the water pump because the bearings were bad (would not turn at all), we did 4 loads of laundry with no problem, but now we have a new very loud noise that sounds like a machine gun. Here are my diagnostic steps:

  • Washer on, spin cycle → makes loud clicking noise, but spins normally
  • Turn drum from the inside → no noise
  • Remove the belt and run the motor → no noise
  • Turn transmission by hand → no noise, no unusual feeling
  • Turn pump by hand → no noise, no unusual feeling
  • Turn motor by hand → maybe some slight clicking, no unusual feeling
  • put the belt back on and pull it by hand → quiet clicking in the motor
  • take off hose and inspect the new pump → no debris found
  • turn washer on and place hand on pump → did not feel any vibrations

It’s hard to hear where the noise is coming from, but I put my ear on the cabinet when I still had the front on and it seemed to be from the motor side. It seems to be the motor is making the noise, but I find it suspicious that it makes no noise when not under load (no belt) and that I just replaced the water pump. It seems to be an odd coincidence that two things would go bad in one week.

I do not know if it does it in the agitate mode because we just started hearing it in spin mode.

Do you have any ideas?

2

Try running in normal cycle and listen during agitation mode. Does clicking noise occur then? The motor operates in reverse during agitation, so if its the motor you should hear something then as well.
If only in spin mode I wonder if something is between inner and outer tubs.

3

I just tried it on an agitate cycle and it still makes the noise. I also probed around with a hose with the other end at my ear to see if I could pin point the location. Nothing obvious. It’s probably the new pump. I’ll pull it out and see if I can tell if something got lodged in the fins. I’ll also see if the company I bought it from wil exchange it. I doubt they will.

4

True, a paper clip, bobby pin or something could be lodged in the pump and the impeller might be hitting it when it spins, the pump spins in both agitate and spin mode.