You open the washer lid or door after running your washer only to discover the items in the wash load are not appearing to have moved and are soaking wet; or worse, the items are still sitting in several inches water. Why is this happening? If your washer model utilizes a drive belt, it's very likely the belt has worn-out or has broken.
What does a washer belt do?
Not all washing machine drive systems are the same. Some top-load models are considered “direct drive”, meaning the motor will use a drive coupler to agitate or spin the tub and operate the drain pump, or the washer will use a stator and rotor to accomplish this. The use of a stator and rotor is easily the most common drive system for front-load washer models. Still, there are many top-load and front-load models that rely on a drive belt to rotate the bathtub and operate the drain pump.
The belt is looped around an electric motor drive pulley and a tub pulley or an agitator drive shaft. To begin the agitation cycle, the control will send voltage to the drive motor which drives the belt which, in turn, rotates the tub or oscillates the agitator. For many front-load washers, a motor control board will regulate the total amount and polarity of the voltage delivered to the motor in order to affect the speed and direction from the tub. Once the agitation cycle is finished, the water will need to be drained from the tub. To accomplish this, the washer control sends voltage to the drain pump which pumps water out the drain hose to some free-standing laundry tub or standpipe. With respect to the model, the drain pump may also be driven by a belt mounted on a motor drive pulley. On some top-load washer models, the motor will drive the pump by spinning within the opposite direction than it did throughout the agitation cycle. During the drain cycle, or soon after, a brake releases and also the motor and belt will spin the washer tub. The faster the tub spins, the more effectively water is removed from the clothes or linens.
So, as you can see, belt-driven washers depend on the belt through the wash, rinse, drain, and spin cycles. With time, the drive belt can wear out, break, or slip on the pulleys, producing a washer tub that won't agitate or spin, and, potentially, a drain pump that will be unable to pump water from the tub.
How to replace a washing machine belt
Fortunately, replacing a washing machine belt isn't that complicated once you know how to connect to the area where the belt is located. While the disassembly procedure will differ with respect to the washer model, here are some general steps you can follow if you need to replace a belt on a top-load washer or a front-load washer:
Top-load washer belt replacement
- Before you begin any disassembly, unplug the washer's cord.
- You may also need to shut off water supply to the appliance and take away the water inlet hoses if you need to move the washer.
- Some models will require you to lift up the washer's main top. You need to secure the lid with tape before doing this. You can insert a putty knife into the gap between the main top and also the front panel to release the spring clips securing the top. Lift up the main top and support it.
- Next, you will have to remove the front panel. On some models, the panel is locked in place with spring clips, however, you will often need to unthread mounting screws securing the panel. Fully detach the panel.
- If your model has two front panels, you ought to be able to just remove the lower panel because the drive belt is located at the end of the tub.
- For some models, you can access the drive belt by tipping the washer forward (resting the leading of the appliance on a towel or blanket – for this reason you would have detached the water supply hoses earlier) and removing a belt cover.
- Reaching under the tub, depress the idler pulley, if applicable, to release the tension on the old belt, if still intact, and take away the old belt from the pulleys. Or rotate the drive pulley as you pull off the belt.
- When installing a new washer belt, keep the grooved-side facing inward as you loop the belt around the motor shaft or pulley after which onto the drive pulley. Rotate the drive pulley to completely align the belt.
- If applicable to your model, replace the belt cover and return the washer to the upright position.
- Otherwise, replace the front panel or the lower front panel and secure using the spring clips or screws.
- If required, lower the main top, and snap it in place.
- Reattach the water supply hoses, if applicable.
- Plug the washer's power cord back in.
Front-load washer belt replacement
- As using the top-load washer, unplug the front-load washer's power cord before any disassembly.
- Since virtually all front-load washer belts are located behind a rear access panel, have an assistant help you to move the appliance from the way.
- You may need to shut off the water supply and detach the inlet hoses before you remove the rear panel.
- Unthread the mounting screws securing the trunk access panel and remove the panel.
- Rotate the bathtub drive pulley while pulling the old belt up and out. You may want to notate the exact position of the belt on the motor shaft pulley, if still intact, before removing.
- Keeping the grooved-side facing inward, align the belt around the motor shaft pulley then loop it onto the tub drive pulley. Rotate the tub drive pulley to fully align the belt.
- Reposition the trunk access panel and secure it with the mounting screws.
- Reattach the water inlet hoses, if applicable, and turn the water supply back on.
- Move the appliance back against the wall.
- Plug the washer's cord back in.
Where can I buy a belt for my washer?
Since Repair Clinic.com stocks original manufacturer parts that match typically the most popular top-load and front-load washer models, including those built by Whirlpool, LG, Samsung, Hotpoint, Maytag, GE, Kenmore, Amana, Bosch, and Frigidaire, the web site is an excellent resource for getting a replacement washer belt. Importantly, you will have to identify the exact belt that matches your particular washing machine. To do this, enter the full model number of the appliance in the Repair Clinic website search bar. You can then select “Belt” from the “Part Category” filter and the specific kind of belt you need using the “Part Title” filter (if more than one is available). By using the full model no . for your search, you'll be able to locate the best belt for your washer, together with every other matching part including pumps, agitators, lid switches, water inlet valves, drive motors, plus much more.
