Would a bearing on a Maytag clothes washer freeze up so that all you hear is a humming sound accompanied by an odor of electrical burning when you turn it on? If not a bearing what else should I check out? Can I tell if the bearing is bad by turning the pulley?

ront, November 2008

Take the drive belt off. Try turning the pulley by hand. If you can't turn it then something on machine is seized. Also, with drive belt off turn on the machine & see if the motor still buzzes and will not start. If so then the motor is the problem. If motor starts & runs ok without the belt on then the problem will be in the machine. Don't run the motor for more than about 10 seconds though. That hot wiring smell is the motor overheating which will eventually damage the windings.

Lincoln Appliance NZ, November 2008