Any ideas regarding a malfunctional washer?

[Relztrah]

With all the brain power in this forum somebody out there must have an idea of what is going on with my washing machine. Here's the situation. It's a Maytag Model Number LAT8604AAE, Dependable Care+ Heavy Duty washer. It has lived up to its name for 15 years. Recently, however, I've noticed that it fills normally, the timer continues to tick away, but it doesn't agitate on the normal setting. I don't know if it would rinse and drain or not because I don't let it get to that point.

The strange thing is that it works normally on the Delicate setting. Go figure. So what I'm doing for now is washing all clothes on the delicate setting which works, but I would prefer the normal setting which has a more vigorous agitation.

Any ideas?

[PrntRhd]

It is either (more likely) the mechanical timer gone bad for the normal agitation selection, or the motor windings for the normal agitation gone bad (bad motor). Appliance repair parts suppliers can tell you how to determine which is the bad component.
If you don't have a parts supplier in your area you will have to bite the bullet and pay someone to do the repair, but it should still be worth repairing that classic washer. The replacement washers with the Maytag name are not as strong...now just another brand under Whirlpool's corporate umbrella.

[PhilXP]

I can fix Microwaves, computers, TVs, DVD players, VCRs, and other electronic devices. I can also solder wires. Too bad I have no experience with washing machines.

[Whyzman]

The fact that it works on the Delicate setting kinda eliminates the lid switch as a culprit. The timers apparently are still contact point devices similar to the old contact points in an automobile. The points are actually electrical switches and can become corroded.

I happened to find this great thread with an excellent picture through a Google search. From my own experience with these timers I'd put my money on a bad timer...http://www.handymanwire.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=278958&an=0&page=429

[classicsoftware]

Sounds to me like the belt is shot. There is a belt like a fan belt that may be strong enough to spin the delicate cycle and not strong enough to spin at higher RPM's.....

[PrntRhd]

If it did not spin the belt is always the weak point, but the agitator is the issue.

[PtBetsie]

My washer was "fixed" long distance by a Sears repair person who walked me through the process. For appliance help I find repairclinic.com and gardenweb.com (homesite choice) to be very helpful. The latter has an laundry forum and that is where I found the helpful Sears man

[Whyzman]

My money is still on the timer... But, you could do some testing to see if perhaps it might be just a bad set of contact points interferring at that one spot. You you might want to try is rotating the dial past the first wash cycle to the spin or rinse and see if it will go.

What I'm not sure of is whether a one bad contact might interrupt the ability of the other cycles to perform... It is true that if a belt is weak it could be a problem for the agitation. Usually, you would hear the belt whining if it is still capable of rotation. On yours there are separate belts for the pump and drive/tub belt. It could be broken and lying on the bottom. I would suggest pulling the lower front panel off and having a look.

Here's a parts diagram that shows how it is attached. http://www.partselect.com/ModelFrames.aspx?ModelID=98980&ModelNum=LAT8604AAE&mfgModelNum=&ManufactureID=1&Selected=35571&Position=2&mfg=Maytag&Type=&Mark=1