Maytag Belt Repair

Safety First

• Maytag washers and dryers are residential appliances that are powered by up to 240 volts of electricity. Always unplug the washer or dryer from the wall outlet before servicing it to prevent serious injury or death. When repairing a Maytag gas dryer, close the gas valve on the gas supply line. Turn off the hot and cold water supply valves behind the machine before repairing a Maytag washer.

Dryer Belt Repair

• Repairing or replacing the belt in a Maytag dryer requires the removal of the front and bottom toe panels. These panels may be held in place with screws or metal retaining clips, depending on the model. Remove any screws securing the panels to the dryer cabinet. If you don't see any, insert a putty knife into the space above each panel and press down on the metal clips to release them. If the belt slipped free of the belt track, guide it back into place. Examine the belt and replace it if you find any cracked or worn areas. Install a new belt by slipping it over the drum and moving it into the belt track. Route the belt over the motor pulley at the bottom of the drum cabinet, then bring the belt back around and hook it onto the idler pulley.

Washer Belt Repair

• Accessing the drive belts in a Maytag washer requires tipping the machine onto its rear panel. Before you do that, cover the floor behind the washer with an old towel and disconnect the drain and water supply hoses from the back of the appliance. While the washer is on its back, remove the screws securing the front panel to the cabinet. Remove the transmission and pump drive belts from their pulleys. There are three screws holding the pump to the washer base. Loosen these screws, but do not remove them. Slide the pump to the left. Hook the new transmission belt around the center and motor pulleys. The pump belt goes on next -- hook it around the pump and motor pulleys. Once the belts are on, it's time to set the tension. Slide the pump to the right and tighten the top left screw. Pull the motor to the left and loosen the tightened pump screw until the tension on the transmission belt is tighter than the tension on the pump belt. Then just tighten all of the loosened pump screws.

Warranty Information

• Maytag washers and dryers usually come with a manufacturer's warranty that covers the cost of certain repairs for a specified period of time. Most appliance warranties expressly forbid unauthorized self-repairs, meaning that repairing the belt in your washer or dryer might void the agreement. Consult the terms of the warranty for more information.