1966 Maytag's First Power-Fin Agitator

[scrubflex]

Does anyone have any these earlier designed power fin agitator...spare and or extra?

 

[scrubflex]

oops!...any of these...

 

[scrubflex]

original power fin agitators for deep tub washers...anyone?

 

[gansky1]

All gone...

Rare as hen's teeth those early ones are, they were only used for a couple of years before they went to the open column design that lasted through the end of that style into the 80's.

 

[bajaespuma]

While we're at it...

Were those first turquoise Power Fins like the agitators on the A702's that had that baffle underneath the agitator that diverted water from inside the column where the lint filter sat down into the bottom of the tubs?

Also, those small lumpy vanes in between the vanes, did they do anything or were they just "there"?

 

[tomturbomatic]

Ken, Is this a reference to Lumpy Rutherford?

 

[scrubflex]

well I mean this style...

If I am not seeing things, these 'flexible fins' of this 1966 blue-turqoise power fin look NARROWER than the later and last style.

(My 1985 A712 fin edge is 2 3/8"H)

View attachment scrubflex++7-16-2010-15-36-16.jpg

 

[gansky1]

Here's a quick scan of the '66 Maytag washer with the first of the power-fin agitator. You can see the added "fins" on the skirt of the agitator, there were channels that water was moving through while agitating. Under this first Power-Fin was a similar construction as the black Gyrafoam agitator.

 

[gansky1]

Where's the rest of that brochure??

Ok, here we go ;-)

 

[gansky1]

[No message]

 

[gansky1]

[No message]

 

[gansky1]

[No message]

 

[scrubflex]

Here is also another 1966 Maytag Washer brochure...

this one has a revised blue-turqoise power fin agitator I'd like to have. These are some scans of thus brochure.
This the front page...

View attachment scrubflex++7-16-2010-17-36-0.jpg

 

[scrubflex]

906 washer

View attachment scrubflex++7-16-2010-17-43-47.jpg

 

[scrubflex]

906 dryer...notice the agitator is referred to the "new power fin agitator"

View attachment scrubflex++7-16-2010-17-44-44.jpg

 

[scrubflex]

components I

View attachment scrubflex++7-16-2010-17-48-17.jpg

 

[scrubflex]

components II

View attachment scrubflex++7-16-2010-17-50-14.jpg

 

[scrubflex]

there are more scans but, this is last page.

View attachment scrubflex++7-16-2010-17-54-0.jpg

 

[pdub]

Great scans Greg!

Thanks for posting. Always fun to read.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Thanks for the scans, Greg. I think I'll be off in search of a shower and a cigarette...

I have the 906 dryer in coppertone but am really looking for the matching CA906 washer. Alas, it has proven to be elusive so far...

RCD

 

[scrubflex]

Soooo, what about the '66 new power fin agitator?

 

[a440]

Awesome Scans!

Thanks guys!
I did not see anything on the Gas dryers.
What the the BTU's for the Gas Halo of Heat Dryers?
Thanks
Brent

 

[gansky1]

Gas! Careful, you'll upset Jean...

18,000 on Natural gas.

Anyone know what the "keep warm" burner (pilot) rated?

 

[scrubflex]

Thanks anyway Greg, appreciate the scans and of the other power fin.

 

[bajaespuma]

OK Tom, I'll bite

Now I'm curious. Who was/is Lumpy Rutherford?

 

[polkanut]

Lumpy Rutherford was a high school friend of Wally Cleaver's on "Leave it to Beaver".

 

[yogitunes]

Don't you think the black agitator gave better wash action compared to the turquoise flex fins?....just seems in theory that the flexing would decrease the wash action.....

 

[mrcleanjeans]

Yes,the black agitator washes a bit better. The Power Fin came out,because the flexing reduced strain on the tranny and motor, thus the long long life of the washers! You cannot stuff these machines and expect good results. Of course, that goes without saying. One should not do that anyway and expect good results, it's just that some other designs would be more forgiving in that respect. But these are still GREAT washers as long as the load is not too heavy!

 

[yogitunes]

I know the results of overloading....but it's just the issue when it comes to these machines "lasting" so long....every repairman I have ever come across say the same thing....under normal conditions, these machines will "give in" to the load to spare the machine, the concern is not doing it "job", but to save the machine from wear and tear....a good thought in one way, but the thought of a machine holding out on cleaning clothes for which it was designed doesn't seem right....

thats why I think the lid switch was designed to shut off the whole machine when the lid is opened, so you never see what is really happening...outside of the safety factor...

Most other machines out there operated with the lid open, you can see results of the wash action.....

unfortunately, Maytags will give in to a full load of water with no clothes in it, may not be much but there is slippage on the belt, I have tested this many times by applying extra pressure or an extra spring to the motor, then the speed picks up....

don't get me wrong, Maytags are nice machines, I have a few, but for heavy duty use, I would tend to stick to a GE FF.....then onto a kenmore/whirlpool....but I think this leads more to a tightened belt compared to one on a spring tension, designed to slip in place of a clutch...pros and cons in both cases....

 

[gansky1]

The flexible fins were a supposed to be bit easier on the clothes and compensate for heavy loads compared to the black Gyrafoam action, especially for the larger, deeper tub in the extra-capacity washers. Whirlpool experimented with stationary fins on their large capacity machines and nicknamed them the "Golden Gobbler" for how it ripped up fabrics in lare loads. The agitator strokes-per-minute actually went UP (9 per minute more) with the change to the Powerfin. The sliding motor & belt-clutch system takes the strain on the machine from overloading, etc. I had someone call once that said they crammed a queen size comforter in their standard capacity 'Tag (1977 408) and for some odd reason now the washer wouldn't spin. I suggested they take out the comforter, cut it in half and then try again. (to the coin laundry with that!) Once they got that out of the washer, it worked perfectly for another 7 years until the timer went out.

For a short time, Maytag made the BOL WashPower washers with the black bakelite and slower stroke, eventually changing over to all Power-Fin.