Ride the "Rock 'n Roll Train"

Hi Neptuners! While you are repairing your Maytag Neptune maybe you would want to listen to some rock music? AC/DC has a new album coming out October called 'black Ice'. 

It's been 8 years or so since they recorded new stuff... You can hear the new "Rock 'n Roll Train" track at www.acdc.com. 

It plays when you go to the website. I like it ;>) and look forward to hearing the rest! 

Black Ice has 15 tracks! I will have to bring my wife out when they have the Black Ice tour... We enjoyed the Stiff Upper Lip tour in Cleveland and in Columbus, Ohio a while back. 

Go Brian, Angus and the boys! 

For all of your Maytag Neptune needs see www.neptunewaxmotor.com or www.neptunebearing.com.

Until next time...

Is the Tony Tool rental available in Canada?

Since I started renting the revolutionary Maytag Neptune bearing replacement tool, the Tony Tool, I have received a number of requests to ship the Tony Tool kit to Canada. 

Presently, I only offer the tool kit rental to the United States since the tool kit would have to pass customs and a duty would have to be paid for the $425 value both ways? 

Does Canada have an duty exemption process for tools crossing the border that will be returned? The other issue is the transit time. It would take at least a week to get there which ties up the tool too long compared to the 2 - 3 days required with the Priority Mail here in the states. 

It might be more time / cost effective for someone in Canada to offer the Tony Tool for rent? If you would like more information on the Tony Tool, see www.neptunebearing.com.

Until next time...

Maytag MAH3000AWW MAH4000AWW Neptune Washer Does Not Spin

Here is another blog question regarding the Maytag Neptune no spin failure taken from the appliance junk site... 

"This Maytag MAH3000AWW Neptune washer would not spin. During the spin cycle the door lock light would come on and the main motor would run, but the washer just would not take off and spin. This is often a simple and easy repair, but not cheap. You can help save yourself some money by doing the repair yourself. The first thing you will want to do is disconnect the power to the washer. Simply unplug the power cord. Next remove the three screws on top of the control counsel. With the three screws removed you will be able to tip the control panel forward and look at the electronic control board behind the timer. Most often then not the resistor marked R-11 is burnt up. If this is the case you will need to replace the machine control board. The reason the R-11 resistor burnt up is because the wax motor in the door lock is also bad, so you will need to replace it too. This same “No Spin” problem also happens with the MAH4000 series Maytag Neptune washers." 

Here is my response: If you replace only the R11 and not the Q6 triac then R11 will smoke again and you can cause further damage to the control board. The Q6 triac must be replaced when R11 burns! The http://www.appliancejunk.com/ forum does not know this because they are not experts on the Maytag Neptunes. 

I also don't like how parts suppliers hide the real Maytag part numbers so you can't compare prices... This is typically deceptive marketing and usually indicates their prices are inflated. You can get the R11 and Q6 repair kit along with the wax motor at http://www.neptunewaxmotor.com/. If after you replace the R11 and Q6 and the machine will not fill with water then the control board will have to be replaced.

Here are some control board numbers: MAH3000 serial number starting with (10 to 16) - 12001725 MAH3000 serial number starting with (17 and up) - 22002988 MAH4000 - 22002989 MAH5500AWW - 22002989 

If you have a 2000 stacker series please contact me and I can look up your control board part number.

Don't forget that the older MAH3000's have two more wax motors in the dispenser area that will eventually fail, too. If your serial number starts with (26) then you should be OK since Maytag incorporated the bleach and softener functions into the water valve assembly.

Until next time...

The International Space Station

Well, we've all heard about the International Space Station or ISS. 

Did you know that the ISS travels around 17,200 miles an hour? 

Wow, I could get to work really quick at that speed! You can now look up tracking info on the Internet to see where the ISS happens to be over the Earth or even look for the next time you can see the ISS in the sky over your city... 

Here is the NASA link: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/ 

I wonder if the ISS has a Maytag Neptune front loader on board? If so, they better order a replacement 12002535 wax motor for the door latch from www.neptunewaxmotor.com.

Until next time...

Taken from another Blogspot blog

I did not see a comment button on your blog Jeanne so I thought I would respond to your blog via my Maytag Neptune Washer blog. 

"For the past 11 years, I've had a front loading clothes washer. I had a first generation Maytag Neptune until last week. Buying a new washer was not a planned household expense, but the old one had recently gotten REALLY LOUD, which meant it was starting to fail. 

I was warned by a repair person that it would start to leak soon because a bearing needed to be replaced. After finding out that it would be $900 to repair it, it was apparent that it was time for a new washer. I replaced it with a Frigidaire Affinity. The reason I'm writing about this, is to share with anyone with a top loading washer, how little water a front loader uses, how gentle it is on what you're washing, and how much cleaner everything gets.

 

A top loader can use up to 40 gallons per cycle, but a front loader uses 7-10 gallons per cycle. An added plus with my new washer is that it sucks the water out of everything you washed so well, that it is now taking half the time to dry each load. It used to take 40-60 minutes in the dryer, per load, but now, using the same setting on the dryer, it takes about 20 minutes. Nice! Not only does my front loading clothes washers help with a lower water bill, an unplanned benefit will also be a lower natural gas bill due to less dryer use. Posted by Jeanne Williamson on Friday, August 08, 2008 Labels: art supplies, something to think about " 

Hi Jeanne Williamson... You could have fixed your Maytag Neptune for about $85.00. In addition, you can get the new bearing and seal kit from www.neptunebearing.com. They even rent the revolutionary Neptune Bearing Tool Kit which makes the bearing replacement about a hour or so job! 

Don't forget to replace your door latch wax motor if you have a MAH3000, MAH4000, MAH5500A or a 2000 stacker series Neptune or your control board will be damaged. See www.neptunewaxmotor.com for details A.S.A.P.! Sorry you purchased a new machine at a great expense... 

Please tell all of your relatives, family and friends about the Neptune bearing kit and the door latch wax motor information.

Until next time

Neptune Bearing Tool Anouncement

I wanted to let all you Neptuners know that I just acquired another revolutionary Tony Tool to rent out.

This brings my fleet to six Tony Tools. By knowing this information when your Maytag Neptune bearings start squealing in spin cycle simply check out www.neptunebearing.com for the bearings, seal kit and the Neptune Bearing Tool Kit rental. 

In the end, you will save a lot of money by not replacing your Neptune's expensive outer tub and even labor because the tool helps you complete the bearing replacement in about an hour or so! 

A service tech will quote you between $900 and $1100 to replace your outer tub just because the seal and bearings are shot! Don't forget to change your door latch wax motor, part 12002535, if you have the MAH3000, MAH4000, MAH5500A or the 2000 stacker Neptune before your control board is damaged. 

Every Neptune that shipped with the original wax motor will fail... See www.neptunewaxmotor.com for details.

Until next time...

UPS Tracking Number 7059187205

Warning! If you get an email with the 'UPS Tracking Number 7059187205" in the subject line from 'UPS' don't open it. 

I received this email after our IT guy notified us of it. I sent this email to my home email address and my McAfee virus software did detect it. 

Here is what McAfee reported to me: ****************** McAfee VirusScan******************************* Alert generated at: Monday, July 21, 2008 5:03:34 PM ****************************************************************************** 

McAfee VirusScan has detected a potential threat in this e-mailsent by "Jeff Hartman" The following actions were attempted on each suspect part: The attachment "ups_invoice.zip" is infected with one or more Trojans: Generic Downloader.ab. This attachment has been quarantined. 

So, when receiving emails you don't expect... Don't open them especially if it is a .zip or .exe type file.

These are tricks folks play to download bad software on your computer such as trojans and viruses. 

Thank goodness the Maytag Neptune front loader is not attached to the Internet... Although, I've seen the web enabled frigerator that connects to the Internet so I imagine it is only a matter of time before everything is connected. 

So when your Maytag Neptune gets a virus and won't wash your clothes please see my http://www.neptunewaxmotor.com/ or http://www.neptunebearing.com/ sites for a cure.

Until next time...

Neptune Control Board resister R43 bad

Q. This is a Maytag washer/dryer stack. 

I press the washer start button. The door lock goes on, the machine makes filling noise, then a minute later it stops. The door lock light remains on. I've tried starting just the rinse/spin cycle, and the same results. 

The repair guy made a service call and reported the machine suffered a power surge that fried the control board. I think his diagnoses is suspect since he did not look at the control board. After he left, I pulled the main control board and found R43 fried. I also found NO evidence of arching or wire damage on the other parts of the washer. 

I've read other posts about Neptune control board resister failures and their causes. I did not see any information on R43. The wire diagram indicates that the "end of cycle signal" inputs to R43. I'm going to install a new control board, but worry it will again fail. Thanks for your help. 

A: Here was my response: Replace door latch wax motor 12002535 too.  When replacing the Maytag Neptune Machine control boards on the stackers, MAH3000, MAH4000 and MAH5500A Neptunes make sure that you have the latest door latch wax motor. It should have the black actuator pin. The defective ones have the brownish actuator pin (matching the wax motor body color). 

When the wax motor fails it will the overheat Q6 triac. This will cause Q6 to short out which applies 120 VAC to the center lead (gate) of triac which burns R11. R43 can also burn when the wax motor fails. It is an 18K, 1/4 watt, 5% carbon type resistor. 

See MAYTAG NEPTUNE WASHER R11 Q6 REPAIR KIT + 12002535 WAX MOTOR for disassembly pictures and a video on replacing the R11 and Q6. 

If you have R11 burnt, STOP! don't keep trying to start machine or you can further damage control board or even damage the motor control board located near the floor. You will want to cut out R11 and Q6, making sure that no Q6 pins can touch to prevent any further damage. 

After Q6 and R11 are clipped out you can try to start machine. Everything should work except the door will not lock and you won't have the spin cycle. If the water flows correctly, and the timer works normally then your board should be repairable with the Q6 and R11 repair kit offered on the mentioned site above. 

If the water does not flow then your control board suffered more damage and will need to be replaced and these may be available on same site as well.

Until next time...

A blast from the 80's Tech Revisited

Wow, I just took a trip back into the 80's... What a ride those years were with advancing technology? See http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/80s-tech4.htm to see for yourself. I was in high school when a lot of this technology was emerging and I found it to be fascinating... and expensive at first. 

They failed to mention my first computer, the Sinclair ZX81. It was a kit I purchased for $99 and built that I learned 'Basic' programming on. The Sinclair basic was 'token' based, which is a little different than the regular basic and it was designed to save memory. When you only have 4K bytes (before the 16K ram pack) you had to use memory sparingly. 

I wonder if the Maytag Neptune front loader will make it into the 90's Tech Revisited article? 

Speaking of Neptunes, if your Maytag Neptune needs TLC then see www.neptunewaxmotor.com and www.neptunebearing.com for repair information, parts, moral support, etc.

Until next time...

Learn how to repair your Maytag Neptune front loader too!

Here is an email I received today: 

"Hey, Jeffrey- Got the package Thursday, repaired and installed the board on Friday, works likes it never was broken. Thanks again for making this information, remedy, and yourself so accessible. People like you don't just make the world go 'round, they make its washers go 'round, too. Very best regards and a million thanks, Chris V. P.S. You might be hearing from me in the near future about the bearing kit..."

Chris just finished up repairing his Maytag Neptune front loader with my R11 & Q6 + 12002535 wax motor repair kit. His Neptune failed due to the defective door latch wax motor (Maytag part number 12002535). Every Neptune that shipped with a door latch wax motor will fail and blow the machine control board. 

See www.neptunewaxmotor.com to see if your Neptune will fail. You can also repair your Neptune bearings, too, thanks to my Neptune bearing and seal kit. Plus I offer the Neptune Bearing Tool Kit for rent to really save you time. See www.neptunebearing.com for details and you can watch the free video on how to change your bearings.

Until next time...

I'm ready to explode!

I wanted to post to my Neptune blog and finish up some last minute tasks and then I will turn off my computer. I promise… 

I usually don’t find myself taking a break because I have so much to do. It seems there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done. When you wear the sales, purchasing, shipping, tech support hats for a small company (plus I also have a 40 hour full time manufacturing Engineering position during the day, spouse, 3 children, 3 ,6 and 19 years old) the time seems to fly by and everything does not get completed. 

Don’t get me wrong… I enjoy running my Maytag Neptune parts company. People often ask me how did you get involved with the Neptune washer? Here's my confession... Actually, I kinda accidentally fell into it when a co-worker had a problem. 

Her innocent Neptune failed to spin the clothes and she had a repairman come over to look at her Neptune. He quoted her $450 to replace the machine control board and door latch wax motor. She got frantic and told him to get lost and that she would take the control board to a guy at work to look at. 

That guy was me… I looked at the board… R11 was fried. After investigating and doing some research I found that there were a lot of R11 & Q6 burns happening. So after I repaired her control board I put together the R11 and Q6 repair kit. This was almost 3 years ago. Side note: I designed a home nite lighting system I am working on to get to market and it seems the Neptune repair kit business has kept me so busy that I don’t have time to work on the lighting system. I absolutely love this concept and would love to see it in every home because it offers safety, security and convenience. Maybe I will plug the system in a later post… so stay tuned. 

You could imagine that while helping Maytag Neptune owner’s with the door latch problem I started to get more questions like can you get other Neptune parts, what would cause such and such to happen, etc. It snowballed from there. 

Now, I offer replacement machine control boards, motor conversion kits, door boots, every Neptune part at very good prices since I have low overhead. For example, I sold over 1,000 wax motors (part #12002535) in 2007 alone! 

Recently, I partnered up with Tony Yeager, who created the “Tony Tool” which is designed to remove and install the Neptune bearings. This tool kit runs $425 and is designed for service techs. I had the idea of tool rental so I asked Tony if I could purchase a tool kit to rent out to Neptune owners. He reluctantly did so and now I have a fleet of Tony Tools helping Neptune owner’s save time and money replacing their bearings. Tony has put together a fabulous 13-minute video that shows exactly how to take machine apart, replace bearings… 

I was selling the Neptune bearing & seal kits just fine before offering the Tony Tool. Mechanically inclined folks were using pipes and hammers to get the bearings out. Now, with the tool kit almost anyone can change his or her Neptune bearings. Check out www.neptunebearing.com. 

I plan to keep adding new services to the Neptune business because I believe in continuous improvement and diversification. I also look for ways to improve efficiency as I am a one-person company and need to reduce the time spent on tasks. 

I hope you enjoyed this post as I revealed where I came from and maybe I will reveal how the Target Security company name came about in a future post. Have a safe and great 4th.!

Until next time...

Does the Space Station have a Maytag Neptune Front loader...

Here is a link to a video of some of the important activities on the Space Station. http://youtube.com/watch?v=tZlxmB0HEIo 

I wonder if they use a Neptune to wash their clothes? If so, I wonder if they have replaced the door latch wax motor, part number 12002535, so they won't experience what other neptune owners are experiencing with the R11 and Q6 failure? 

Now, it seems as these machines age the bearings start to fail and need to be replaced. The tale tell signs that your machine is not orbiting properly is:

1. Small water puddle on the floor under Neptune
2. Spin cycle noise that is out of this world
3. Rust marks or lines on your clothes

If your machine's bearings are failing goto www.neptunebearing.com for relief...

I just added another Tony Tool for Neptune Bearing replacement

I just wanted to inform you Maytag Neptune owners that I just added another Tony Tool to the rental pool... So if your Neptune's bearings are drowning in friction... See www.neptunebearing.com for more information. 

Happy Father’s Day!

This one goes out to all of the fathers out there... including myself! 

I read where Father’s Day was created way back in 1909 which is before any commercial greeting card companies existed… I assumed the greeting card or flower industry created Father’s Day so they could increase their sales at this time of year. 

Sonora Smart Dodd is the brainchild behind Father’s Day when she was grown and married. Her mother had died while giving birth to her and her dad raised her and her four siblings on his own. You have to remember that back then most widowed fathers would have given their offspring to other relatives to raise. 

Spokane Washington held the first Father’s Day observance the following year. By 1924, the custom had spread throughout the country, and Calvin Coolidge made the first presidential proclamation in support of Father’s Day. President Richard Nixon made Father’s Day permanent in 1972, nearly 60 years later, when he requested that Congress pass a joint resolution making the third Sunday in June a National Day of observance in honor of fathers everywhere. 

Here are some tips for a great Father’s Day. 

1. Breakfast in bed 

2. No ties please… 

3. A handwritten gift certificate for a future event to share some time together 

4. Create a scrapbook commemorating “Life With Father” over the past year 

5. Put off the Maytag Neptune repair until next week 

6. Your special ideas…

See http://www.neptunewaxmotor.com/ for details on repairing your Neptune front loader washer. I just updated the http://www.neptunebearing.com/ website with a free Neptune bearing replacement video you can watch. 

In addition, I offer the special Neptune bearing puller / installer called the Tony Tool for rent to dramatically reduce the time it takes to replace your bearings. The bearing job takes about 1 to 1.5 hours using the Tony Tool. 

Check it out tomorrow since it is Father’s Day…

Until next time...

Maytag Neptune service technicians are feeling left out

It seems that Maytag Neptune service technicians are feeling left out because they are offering Neptune front loader owners an outrageous quote to repair the Neptune bearings. It’s really not their fault… they are slowly finding out that Maytag misled them about replacing the expensive outer tub which has the new bearings pressed in for around $450 and that there is a better solution! 

Who in their right mind would repair a Neptune when they get a quote to fix the bearings for $850 to $1100? They can go buy a new front loader for not much more than that… 

For those service technicians who would rather make some money doing a bearing replacement via a reasonable time and materials quote I just put up an offer for you on my www.neptunebearing.com website. 

Your customers will have a smile on their face when you show them the latest bearing replacement technique you employ as opposed to the outrageous outer tub replacement technique!

2021 Update: The Tony Tool is no longer available.

Warning: How can 1 cent cost you $40.00?

This is a reminder that the U.S. Postal rates increase from $.41 to $.42 for a 1-ounce letter sent First Class on Monday, May 12, 2008. 

This can be very important to know because if you send out payments on bills, such as credit cards and you apply the $.41 stamp your payment will be returned to you! 

On most credit cards, the late fee can be $35 - $45! Ouch! However, if you have not had any late payments in the last six months most credit card companies will forgive a late payment and credit you the late fee but you have to call and ask for it. While you have them on the phone ask them if you can get any lower interest rates on your credit card account. 

Don’t forget to call all of your credit card companies and ask for an interest rate reduction every six months or so. It can’t hurt and it could save you some money.

Until next time...

Mother’s Day gift ideas

Here is a list of Mother’s Day gifts you may want to consider… 

Of course the last one concerning the Maytag Neptune Front loader washer she will really appreciate if you prevent a certain Neptune failure that causes the laundry to stack up! 

The door latch wax motor on the 2000 Stackers, MAH3000, MAH4000 and the MAH5500A series Neptune’s will fail causing damage to the machine control board. The wax motor part number is 12002535 and you can replace this part in about 10 minutes and prevent the no-spin failure. I have photos to help you take the Neptune apart on my site http://www.neptunewaxmotor.com/. 

If you wait too long, the machine control board will have to be fixed with my R11 & Q6 repair kit, or the control board will have to be replaced along with the wax motor or it will damage the repaired (or new) board again. If you have the MAH3000 Neptune you should consider replacing the (2) additional wax motors in the dispenser area that control the bleach and softener because these will fail as well. 

Do your mom (or spouse) a huge favor and replace this wax motor asap and keep her laundry pile to a minimum! 

1. A Day at the Spa 

2. Jewelry 

3. Perfume 

4. Flowers 

5. Gift basket 

6. Candy 

7. Take out to dinner 

8. Car detailing 

9. Maid service 

10. Maytag Neptune preventative maintenance 

 Note: These are not in any particular order of popularity...

Until next time...

Got The Maytag Neptune bearings out

"Finally got the bearings out. However it is clear to me you gotta take the tub completely out!

Pulled the outer bearing almost all the way out with the modified puller, pounded it out the rest of the way with a steel pipe, turned the tub around and pounded out the really bad inner bearing with a 2 inch pipe and my log splitter. 

Hope this info helps someone." 

Sounds like a lot of work... Maybe you should have read my Neptune Bearing ebook and video which is loaded with tips to help you get the bearings out... Oh yea... you do not have to take the outer tub out to replace the bearings ;>) Jeff

Until next time...

More Maytag Neptune chatter... from Internet.

I watch blogs and forums to see if folks are talking about the Maytag Neptune... 

Here is one quote from savvydollar.org: " Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:24 pm Post subject: I've had a Maytag Neptune since 2000. It's been involved in a class action lawsuit. I like the way it washes and spins the heck out of the clothes. That way it takes less time to dry. Trouble is the computer has broken and the door latch switch has broken and something else. Good thing my DH is an engineer and very handy, otherwise this very expensive washer would've been in the dump many years ago! The other thing is you can put a TON of clothes in them and they use WAY less detergent and water than regular washers. They are a great idea, just stay away from Maytag. The next thing that goes on mine will be the last straw! It will be out the door...HTH_________________Jeanette Collopy" 

Wow jeanette, you and every Neptune owner will have trouble (if you have not had any yet...), The door latch wax motor is the most common failure and you can prevent it if you replace your wax motor before it fails. My site http://www.neptunewaxmotor.com/ specializes in the Neptune front loaders. The machines that will have this failure are the 2000 Stacker, MAH3000, MAH4000 and the MAH5500A series. 

The MAH5500B series is not affected because Maytag replaced the wax motor with a real solenoid to lock the door. There is a new chapter with the MAH3000's and that is there are two more wax motors in the dispenser area that control the bleach and softener. When these go they will trip the circuit breaker. 

Luckily, the machine control board will not be damaged but the timer contacts that control these wax motors could be. See http://neptunewasher.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html for a photo of a melted down wax motor from the dispenser area. 

The next part to go after your Neptune gets older will be the bearings, I have a fix for those as well. You will notice that your Neptune will get louder in the high speed spin cycle to where you can't even share the same space as the Neptune. Folks have told me they were quoted $950 - $1,300 for this repair but with my kit you can get going for under $90.

Until next time...

Maytag Neptune Wax Motor Vs. Toy box Lid

Here is another video I made to demonstrate the power of the Neptune door latch wax motor, Maytag part number 12002535. 

The original wax motor with the brownish-orangish actuator shipped in all 2000 Stackers, MAH3000, MAH4000 and the MAH5500A series front load Neptunes. If you have one of these defective wax motors please replace it asap! 

What it does is over time it will draw too much current and overheat the Q6 triac that switches voltage to it and this will cause a R11 resistor to burn out on the machine control board. The symptom is that the Neptune will no longer spin your clothes out and the door locked light will not come on. These are the classic symptoms of the Q6 & R11 failure. 

Again, the door latch wax motor is the root cause and must be replaced with the new design wax motor, which has the black actuator tip. See http://www.neptunewaxmotor.com/ for more information. Now

enjoy the Neptune wax motor Vs. Toy Box Lid video!