How To Replace Your Maytag Neptune Front Loader Bearings
Posted: Monday, March 31, 2008
by Jeff Hartman
http://www.neptunewasher.com
When it is time to replace your Maytag Neptune bearings you will know it because it will scream while in high speed spin mode... Once your Neptune is screaming you will want to use it as little as possible so you don't damage the spinner which passes through the bearings and connects the inner tub and pulley together.
Below is a picture of a failed Neptune bearing.
Here are the steps you can take to replace the bearings for a fraction of what you will pay a service man to do it. Maytag wants you to replace the whole outer tub for a price of $500 for the outer tub alone! Note: The outer tub price just recently doubled. Things You'll Need:
- Bearings (2)
- 12002022 Seal kit
- Tools
- Snap ring tool
- Wheel bearing grease
- Silicone Sealer
- Heat gun or hair dryer
- Elbow grease
- Unplug Neptune for safety!
- Disassemble front of machine, Remove rear access plate.
- Carefully slide belt off of large pulley as you slowly rotate pulley.
- Remove large pulley bolt (9/16" ratchet) and pull pulley.
- Use a large hammer and carefully pound out the spinner shaft / inner tub assembly. Note: You can reinstall the flat washer and bolt so you can pound on the spinner support shaft without damaging it. A new bolt and washers come with seal kit
- Pry out the old worn seal and plastic white "A" clip (on earlier lip seal machines) on the inside of outer tub.
- Clean up the front bearing using a drill powered wire brush and clean the weep holes.
- Spray penetrating oil on front bearing and Remove snap ring on back side of rear bearing (note: newer models may not have snap ring).
- Heat bearing housing then use pilot bearing puller to remove the rear bearing first.
- Pull out spacer and clean it up using the wire brush.
- Clean the rear-bearing race with the wire brush.
- Heat bearing housing again and pull or knock out front bearing.
- Clean the front bearing race with the wire brush.
- Clean out all of the weep holes and remove the seal (large steel washer on earlier lip seal) off of the spinner support shaft near the three arms and clean bearing areas with the wire brush.
- Add grease to both bearing races, heat bearing housing and install rear bearing first by tapping it in evenly as far as it will go. Reinstall the snap ring if it had one.
- Heat the bearing housing and keep bearing spacer centered and tap or draw front bearing in so it clamps the bearing spacer between the bearings.
- Wipe off the excess grease.
- Install plastic white "A" clip (if you took one off) on front bearing. The flat side of pads go towards the seal.
- Install some silicon sealer around the front bearing race (if pitted).
- To install earlier lip design which is the thinner of the two seals. Tap seal into bearing housing as far as it will go. Split the seal by pulling on the large steel washer and put the steel washer on the spinner support shaft and work it all the way back to the three arms. The rubber side of steel washer should be towards the three arms.
- The revised lip seal design is the thicker seal and it uses the 'O' ring. The 'O' ring goes in the groove in the spinner support shaft.
- Install inner tub & spinner - The split seals will meet back up.
- Reinstall the pulley using the new bolt and washer that's included in the seal kit
- Reinstall belt. Note. If you replace the 12001788 belt... it will be very tight getting on the first time.
- Reassemble remainder of machine With these steps you can replace your Neptune bearings and save some serious cash!
Please take a look at my other Neptune related articles for important issues you should know about.
About: We at Neptunebearing.com provides online information for Maytag Neptune Owners to help keep their washers running reliably. For more information about your Neptune washer, visit .
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Top-level comments on this article: (9 total)What size bearings do you need for the repair?Check out 'neptunebearing' for the bearing and seal kit plus you can watch a video on how to change your Neptune bearings. In addition, I offer the Neptune bearing tool used in the video for rent for those folks who don't want to use pipes and hammers to get the bearings out. Attention! All Neptune owners... DO you have the defective door latch wax motor that will fail and damage your machine control board? See 'neptunewaxmotor' and find out! Jeff
Where can I find the 'C' clip installer / remover tool? Search on the web, but couldn't figure out what the right one is. Thanks
Jeff, how do I determine which seal to use. This is the second time the bearings have been replaced and the first time they were replaced, maytag seals were not used. So I don't have the originals to refer to. My machine was purchased in 1998 and is a Maytag MAH3000. I purchased this repair kit from you and I have completed the bearing replacement. I just need to make sure I use the correct seal. Also, I have a fairly pitted bearing housing so I was going to use the silicon sealant. Any suggestions on type.If you have the Maytag 12002022 seal kit you will use the 'earlier lip seal' which is thinner than the revised lip seal. You will also need to use the plastic 'c' clip. Instructions should come with the 12002022 seal kit.Any quality silicon sealer should work on the bearing housing end that is pitted.
Where can I buy the seals and bearings?Ebay for low prices - Neptune - $15 for a pair for bearings and $36 for seal kit free shipping.
DIY: go to w w w mlittle appliance neptune bearings com for great repair ilustrations
Jan 2012
I see that this was originally posted about 2 years ago now, but what I was wondering about was how long do the replaced bearings last? The repairman told me that because of how the bearings are molded into the tub, that replacements will work themselves loose and in the end will probably only work properly for a year or two... So does anyone have long-term experience after replacing the bearings?Thanks!
great article my name is ANDREW I repair maytag NEPTUNE WASHERS would love info on getting bearing replacement toolHi Andrew, you can purchase the Neptune Bearing ToolKit at w w w neptunekits c o m.
Have you considered servicing local laundromats? I know of folks buying used Neptune's from stores like Best Buy, HH Gregg and rebuilding them to resell. Just some ideas...
Jeff
Hello, I have a maytag neptune MAH21PDAWW. the bearing is shot, when i took it apart everything felt to the floor. I took out the bearing, spacer, clips and all. But my big question is. Do i need to take the bearing cylinder that is attached to the tube itself. It looks like is part of the tube itself from the back measures 2.5" and in the front measures 3" It has the groves for the front and rear bearings. I don't know if that part needs to come off or not. Any help would be greatly appreciated. thank you. Ed.Hi Ed, No, the aluminum bearing housing stays in the tub. See neptunebearing dot com for more information on the replacement Neptune bearings and seal kits. Your machine will use the standard Neptune bearing and 12002022 seal kit at the top of the order form. You can also rent the special tool kit which includes the bearings, spacer, seal and a DVD with step by step instructions.
I would inspect the spinner support shaft for any scoring where the bearings sit. You can replace your spinner support and they are available from w10181639 dot com and they include the seal kit as well so if you purchase my bearing and seal kit or rent the tool kit you can send back the 12002022 seal kit for a $40 refund which helps pay for your new spinner support! I hope this helps! Jeff
my neptune is way past being loud when it spins. it bumps and makes noise during the wash cycle and sounds like it is going to fly to pieces when it spins. The machine no longer spins efficiently. A couple of years ago I upgraded the drive motor and board under the warranty. The basic question I have is, could damage to the machine be too severe for repair. I just dont want get the parts ordered and on hand just to disassemble a machine that needs to be junked. thanks in advance.The good thing about the solid door panel Neptune's is that you can replace the spinner support (spider) if it is damaged. I would inspect the front of machine for any damage that may have occured due to the basket knocking when you take it apart.
Another place damage can occur is on the backside of outer tub where the large pulley can rub and wear through the tub. If it is up high you can use epoxy to patch it but if it is near the bottom of tub it may be harder to seal.
I have a DVD that shows the disassembly that is shipped with the Neptune Bearing and 12002022 seal kit as well as the special tool kit rental program which also includes use of a DVD. Click on my link to get more information...
So how do I order this bearing kit???Hi Scott, You can get the bearings from my main Neptune washer link above the article then there will be a section just for the bearing failure... Thank you, Jeff
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