I LOVE the Maytag Neptunes. They really are great machines. However, I have found that my Duet does just as good of a job if not better in all situations. It seems like it is at the point of no return though. Use your Speed Queens with confidence and save for a nice new pair!

SEA SEA , I should have included that it is an AWN412 and we were told it is four years old. I understand that it is the most basic model but I actually don't use many of the extra features.

Mine is a AWN432, so a little different. Likely, the difference is mine has the cycles that don't get used, while yours has the cycles that you are probably accustomed to, or something close. If that's the case, I *hope*, yours still offers a permapress cycle with true tap water temps and a gentler agitation speed. Mine uses cold water after a squirt of warm or hot. I only use prewash/soak and heavy duty cycles on mine. I say, good for you! : )

I think the difference between the 412 and 432 is the 432 has the extra rinse and the 422 doesn't.

I have the same Neptune. Did you try a new belt.

No sparky they did not replace the belt. They said it looked ok.

That doesn't matter. It can be stretched and still look ok. I would change the belt. If that doesn't help then change to your SQ. I have a friend who had a Neptune (16 years old)and the bearings went bad. Tech told her to get a new washer and he recommended SQ top load so she bought one. She said she wishes she had fixed the Neptune because she is not really pleased with the SQ. If I were going to get a new front load washer I would either get an LG or Electrolux.

I agree with Sparky. It sounds like a loose belt. These old machines are made to repair. I'd definitely try a new belt.

I agree sparky and Mama, I'm ordering a belt. It's worth a try.

Sad so many Neptunes were dismantled for parts after one failure. I bet there were machines that were less than 5 years old getting parted out because the tech automatically condemned them. Yes you just had to have one of many other models from other manufacturers that ended up being just as buggy as the Neptune was. Ill keep mine for as long as it will run and I can find parts for them. But honestly havent needed any parts between rebuilds.

Well, the deed is done. The belt did not fix the problem. Since our family needs clean clothes I consented to switch to the speed queen. The first two loads were quite successful. The clothes seem to have gotten a thorough wash. I will say the towels seemed a bit more wet than from the Neptune but it is a top loader. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I was able to wash in a load and still have them all submersed. Thank you all for the very helpful feedback and opinions.

Sorry that the belt didn't fix your problem.

18 years was a good run. Hope you get that from the new one.

Ford, what do you think was wrong with above Neptune? Maybe the motor? Mine is older too so I wouldn't be surprised with a problem at any time.

Well belts are usually thrown off from misalignment, moisture, tension issues, or pulley failures. It may have been a bearing failed again causing excessive out of round motion, water leaking out on it, cracked pulley on the drum, motor bearings, motor mount bushings. Just too many possibilities without seeing it while it spins with the belt on. You could pull the rear panel off and watch it while spinning and get some ideas. That belt doesnt have a lot of adjustment and there were 2 different belts released for it over the years it was manufactured. I remember one on my 4000 model was so darned tight even adjusted all the way out. Had I known at the time there were two different belts I would have tried a different one. I ended up buying the 7500 and giving the 4000 away though. I rebuilt the 7500 when it hit 10 years of use and have had no issues at all with it before and after the rebuild except some hard water deposits on the first drum.

Dont sweat the motor too much. I have a few of them. LOL