Cult of Nurse's wrote:

We have this old Whirlpool belt drive washer. I think it is a 1977. The
date code on the motor (presumably a GE) says 437 so I peg that as the
43rd week of 1977, though I can be wrong...

Anyway, to describe the events leading up to the failure, I did one load
of clothes and noticed that the final drain, before spin, took an extra
long time. At the next load, during the final drain, the laundry room
filled with smoke coming from the washer. The clothes were still wet, I
had to bail the basket, etc.

This washer is Whirlpool Model LAB4900, a case where the controls are
located on the very front of the chassis rather than on a panel at the
rear, belt drive, three port pump that recirculates water.

I removed the motor for inspection. It appears to be good, no melted
wires or any sense of over-current. The motor has a centrifugal switch
and seems to lack a start capacitor; the part number is FSP 362947 which
does not cross to anything on the web.

After removing the motor I noticed the condition of the belt because it
was very slack and could naturally conform to its condition. It
exhibited wear down to the plys over an area and also a 'bump' or kink
in the spring of it which indicates a jammed overheating of the belt. I
am going to replace the belt.

The pump seems to rotate freely. I have exercised the unit in wash,
spin, and drain and it now seems to work again so I think that it was
just the belt that generated the smoke.

My questions regarding this oldie a

1) The pump has clips. Should I open the pump up and see what is in
there. I suspect that a 'shag' carpet may have introduced too many fibers.

2) What is the deal with the motor and the centrifugal switch. Will I be
able to find another? The speeds are 1725/1140 RPM. If it is the motor
giving out at the end of the wash, can I replace it with an Emerson or
GE belt drive rated?

3) The unit has spent some time on its side and oil has leaked out of
the transmission. What if I drill a hole in the case, fill with oil and
seal hole with a pop rivet?

Thanks in advance for all your help!
if you take the water pump apart by removing the three clips you
probably will not get the pump to go back together straight and the pump
will leak... it happened to me on a washer built in 1972... the first
time the pump went out i took it apart and it went back together OK.

the second pump the parts would not meet correctly seems they changed
the design.. the third pump it did not have clips, seems the cap was
glued onto the pump.... i had the washer for 30 years and finally got
rid of it when the motor burned out and figured it would cost too much
for a motor to fix it... just hope the second one last as long as the
first one....