Almost done getting my LA512 shipshape and installed. Just a question about belts now. I'm going to replace them, but I noticed a place that said to only use genuine Maytag belts. Any particular reason besides company profits? Unless they have some kind of special formulation (a la Kevlar-jacketed like some variable transmissions use), a Gates or KS of the same length, width, and profile depth should be just fine.
GTO(John)
Any good brand of belt should work. If it was a power take off from a turbine on a Boeing 747, I'd take the precaution. The Maytag pump is not a particularly critical application.
profits? Unless
Hi,
Not unless you enjoy replacing the motor!!
The Maytag belts are cloth and they slip and act like a clutch when the washer is running....esp in the spin/drain mode! Regular rubber belts will grab too quickly and kill the motor.
Sorry if this doesn't appear in the thread, my newsreader didn't pick up anything for a couple days.
All right, so the Maytag belt is a cloth jacket belt so it can slip. In there anything special about it? It looks like a normal cloth belt to me, no more clothier than the average one. Off-the-shelf belts can be bought in either cloth jacket or open (rubber) side.
GTO(John)
The cloth part is special. Other than that you will have to ask Maytag if they have any other special goobers in there!!
Good luck with the repair!! :) jeff. Appliance Repair Aid
Turns out Gates has a list of belts for various Maytag models on their site, and it seems to point to the average cloth-jacket belts. Looks like there isn't any voodoo going on.
GTO(John)
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