1955 Maytag back in service!

[westytoploader]

This weekend I pulled the 101P AMP back out to replace the leaky fill flume hose and noticed that the oil clutch had been leaking as well. Per Greg's advice, I siliconed the rubber stopper on the clutch, and that seems to have solved it! For some reason it started to occasionally clickety-clack again when trying to shift into spin, so I also cleaned the spin collar with WD-40 as suggested in the other thread. The collar does move quite freely; I watched it shift into spin and the noise was caused by the collar bouncing up and down slightly (within the limit of the stop bolt) before locking into place. I'm not sure exactly why this is happening but it spins after 1-3 clicks and doesn't do this every time. Before, it was clicking simply because the collar wasn't dropping down fast enough, but now it is. I'll be monitoring this closely and have the bottle of oil nearby in the future; could be because the machine just needs to be used...after all, it did sit for 40+ years!

The machine is now installed back in the Studio and washing away again with no leaks! I ran two loads through today (towels and sheets) and plan to do more tomorrow...that Gyrafoam action is very powerful, makes for some great waves, and is definitely fun to watch! Not to mention, of course, this machine behaves and sounds completely different than your normal Maytag! Gotta love that solid/perforated tub and the direct shift into spin...

The pictures of the towel load are linked here. Here's how it looks now!

--Austin

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?photoshow=65@Ready%20to%20wash--AMP%[email protected]&dir=/COLLECTIONS/WESTYTOPLOADER/

 

[westytoploader]

Lights on and ready to use!

 

[westytoploader]

Interior, showing the solid tub with the perforated liner...

 

[tlee618]

Great Job Austin!! I am glad that you have it up and running. You have to love those machines. It is so neat the way the Maytag badge lights up in the center. Terry

 

[Unimatic1140]

Austin this is just great! The machine looks beautiful. Look at this diagram, the collar that moves up and down that you are referring to is part 'D', is there a chance that part 'C' the trip lever is sticking slightly and not allowing the collar to drop down all the way for a second or two?

 

[appnut]

Austin, glad you got the major issues resolved and she is back where she belongs. I can't wait to use her. I've never been around an AMP.

 

[polkanut]

The amount of work that you have put into this machine is amazing. I hope that it gives you many more years of service. Surely the appliance gods are smiling.

 

[lesto]

Awesome machine, Austin. I've never had the opportunity to wash in an AMP. Some former neighbors had a 49 just like Robert's but that banging spin solenoid and brake used to scare the hell out of me when I was a kid. I hope to see your collection sometime.

How does your 55 activate the motor after the tub is full? The metal cap on Robert's 49 floats way up with the water and is flushed with the agitator top when empty but the older AMPs like yours where the chrome cap is already above the red gyratator don't seem to float up that much. Just curious.

Les
ps... say hi to your mom for me.

 

[toggleswitch]

Good news Austin...Glad you were able to tinker and fine-tune this awesome machine of yours.

 

[tomturbomatic]

AMP water level

Les, it's actually the older AMPs that have the chrome plated brass float that moves freely inside the barrel of the Gyrator. The improved water level sensor was a rubber diaphragm covering the opening in the top of the agitator. The diaphragm was attached to the underside of the chrome cap. Trapped air in the barrel was forced upward as the tub filled, pushing up against the diaphragm which raised the cap slightly against the round button attached to the water level switch in the lid; the same basic operation as the free moving float. Before this newer system came out and with it the adjustable water level switch, only the bottom of the line automatic with the timed fill allowed for operation with less than a full tub of water, unless maybe you used the suction cup end of a child's bow and arrow set or dart set and stuck it to the top of the float so that the machine sensed a full tub of water when it was not full.

 

[westytoploader]

Hi Les,

You definitely need to come down and play with it...LOL. The pressure cap does rise about an inch or so to trip the switches; when it's spinning the water out you can see it drop down to its original position.

What I've found with this cap is that on the "Low" or "Medium" levels, unless I open and close the lid again, it will not push up strong enough to shut off the fill mercury switch, but starts agitation just fine. On the "Normal" water level, it will not even start agitating. There are no holes in the diaphragm, and I've put silicone around where it attaches to the agitator before replacing the cap. But it's not a problem since I'm there watching the machine anyway--at least it agitates with the lid closed now! Before I sealed the cap it wouldn't even do that. I wonder how effective that "can" float is?

--Austin

 

[pturo]

1955 Maytag

I just love the economy of it's styling and the cloud-lift dashboard to a higher and then lower level. Maytag just built great machines, and form followed function, and that turned into great,lasting design.

 

[geoffdelp]

I'm Inspired!

Austin ... just a beautiful machine!! I am very inspired by your work; good job!!!

I took a look at mine this past weekend; we were in the 70's and I was "itching" to get back into it. I had my family for dinner yesterday and had yard work to do Saturday so my AMP was "teasing" me in the garage.

 

[oldwasherguy]

70s?

we hit 90 here in ladson this weekend.thats unusual this time of year even for charleston.

 

[geoffdelp]

Don ... Unfortunately, 50's are the normal highs here in Central MN for April so 70's was like "June" weather for us!!

POR 15 paints need higher heat and humidity to adhere properly; that's what I'm waiting for!!! Could not get it done before the end of summer/early fall last year.

 

[oldwasherguy]

well if it needs heat and humidity just load it up and bring it to my garage and we should have no problem especially when june rolls around.lol. don

 

[geoffdelp]

Don ... I'm tempted to take you up on that offer! I've been anxious to get this machine completed; I've had it for almost a year now and it's just sitting there!!

Minnesota will have its share of heat/humidity pretty soon! I will just have to stay organized to get this completed. I've got a full summer coming up here at home and the AMP is one of those things at the top of the "to do" list!!

 

[westytoploader]

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for the compliments...what do you have left to do on your 101P? Were you finally able to free that stuck agitator?

About the "no-spin" situation you had on your machine: did the tub make a slight clicking sound, or did the solenoid engage and that was it? I've oiled the trip lever, collar, you name it with no results, but it does it only intermittently. I watched the collar and it seemed to rise (making the noise) then drop back down for spin. Strange...mind of its own I guess!!

And I wondered why POR-15 worked great down here...

--Austin

 

[geoffdelp]

Hi Austin ... no, unfortunately, the agitator still won't come out. But, I was able to get it to agitate and to spin last summer. The agitator now turns freely; even after below zero weather this winter (I was playing around with it last night)!!

Yes, the tub made a slight clicking sound when it was trying to go into spin. After turning the T-key over, all I heard was the "clunk" of the solenoid and then it would go into spin. It ramps rather slow as I assume it needs to do that to throw the water, then it picks up speed.

The only things I have left are the water valve, painting and then putting all back together. I hope I remember how to get it back together; it's been a while!!

I've been really anxious to get this done.