1964 Maytag Washer

[HelenMarie]

A few years ago we got help to fix this machine when it had a problem. If I post it on craigslist, I doubt it would be appreciated for what it is. We'd gladly give this machine for free to someone who will use it. We are going to sell in the next year, and expect the best way to do that is with newer appliances. If we ever can get a vintage set once we've relocated, we'd do vintage again... But with a dryer. This machine came to us from the original owner and has been in regular use since then (2007.) It runs! It washes! The only thing it does we don't understand is drain automatically if you turn it off (so no soaking whites unless you keep the agitator on and remember to turn the dial back before the cycle is over.) We're in upstate New York about an hour from Syracuse or Rochester.

 

[ea56]

Just a thought, but have you tried unplugging the machine to do a long soak, rather than turning it off at the timer? Maybe it won't drain if you try this.

 

[phmorrow]

Its probably a syphon drain

I have an early 70s 806. when it pauses for a spin you can hear the water syphoning out of the machine.

 

[DADoES]

 
Siphoning won't occur if the drain hose is arranged and connected properly to the household plumbing.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Maytag had enough of a problem with syphoning that syphon breaks were available to correct the problem and were included on later models on the back at the top below the control panel then the drain hose continued from the T-shaped, I think, plastic piece. My description is not good and I apologize in advance. I have one that is no longer in use at home, but have not looked at it in a while.

In several brands, if the tub is full of water and the drain connection in the wall is low enough, like so it won't be visible behind the machine, a syphon can occur. Neighbors had to correct that problem with a mid 50s Kenmore which would lose water during agitation due to syphoning. Another neighbor's GE V-12 would syphon in the pause between agitate and drain.

 

[philr]

Another neighbor's GE V-12 would siphon in the pause...

So there were GE washers with a neutral drain before the mid-nineties?!

 

[tomturbomatic]

No, the washer paused to allow the motor to reverse and, in that long pause, I could sometimes hear the water syphoning out before the spin/drain started.

 

[philr]

Yes, I understand that! But that still is a neutral drain!

It couldn't happen in a solid tub Frigidaire unless the water bellows is bad!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Well it drained down a little bit during that interval, but if the standpipe had been higher or if a lower water level was selected, it would not have syphon-drained at all. It was not the full gush of water you would hear if the pump was operating. It was a trickle; more like you can sometimes hear a baby boy peeing in a diaper if you are close to it, not that there is not force behind that.

Norge 1-14s with the perforated tubs held the tub brake for part of the drain then the tub started spinning slowly for the "Extract" part of the cycle with the long spray rinse so it had both a neutral drain and a spin drain.

 

[akronman]

siphon

I have a Maytag A608, and on the highest water level and with me not paying attention to if the drain hose sort of slid into the tub, it will drain so quickly during pause that the water level switch kicks back on and start to refill!