1971 Maytag Porta-Washer M0D. A50

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Thanks to Martin (yogitunes), I got the heads up on this washer. Just a hours drive from Brooklyn (now there's a switch, I usually drive a lot further for an appliance). It has been sitting in a kitchen, unused for decades. Thankfully it wasn't located in a damp basement. Supposedly it worked the last time it was used.  I gave it a quick wipe down since it was quite grimy. The tubs are still dirty with, looks like old spices that have fallen in through the years. As a nice bonus I got the operating manual that's virtually mint. Serial number 393807 MQ (1971, July) making it 50 years young.

 

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I haven't tried it yet. Want to open it up and see how are things inside. If it checks out, I'll try it outside in the terrace in case something leaks.

 

[gizmo]

That looks lovely.

don't forget to take photos of the inside for us.

 

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Absolutely Chris.

 

I know the belts are either broken or will soon be.

 

Agitator belt is part number 251021

 

There is a reproduction available on ebay for $23.99

 

[repairguy]

Congrats! I see it worked out after all.

 

[bradross]

Great find!

I remember as a child of about 10 years old, seeing these in a department store, and REALLY wanting one! It would have been an expensive "toy", and my parents wouldn't buy it for me, of course. Years later, I bought a second-hand Hoover AND a Simplicity/Speed Queen Super-Twin. I guess that made up for it!

 

[ea56]

Congrats on your score Louie! You’re gonna love this little dynamo! I thoroughly enjoyed the A50 that I had from ‘77 to ‘81. It was fun to use, quick and really did a great job washing in a very short time.

Eddie

 

[electronicontrl]

And the instruction manual!

You have the soft cover in color to boot!!!!!
So happy for you, Louis!
(Nice find Martin)

 

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Thanks guys!

 

 

Like every other A50 I have seen, the plastic top has oxidized with time. Other than using hydrogen peroxide, are there other methods that can whiten the top?

 

[yogitunes]

save time/money and make your own belts....

 

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Hey Martin. How can you make your own?

 

[yogitunes]

O-Thane cord and a slug.....

1/4" works best....

I think it runs about $2.95 per foot, and the slug is .75.....

I get it from a local Vacuum/Sewing shop.....across from one of the Habitat/Restores you and I visit...

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?38231

 

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Thanks Martin...

 

 

But I decided just to purchase the belt ready made. I'll be posting pictures soon.

 

[swestoyz]

Congrats!

Louis, this is such a fun save. I had one years ago that ended up with another member. It's one of the few machines I wish I had saved, delivery cover and all.

Ben

 

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Thanks Ben!

 

 

Well I opened the back cover, and that's that. Hopefully the new belt arrives today.

 



 



 

Looks pretty decent for a 50 year old machine.

 

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The spinner belt looks OK, but I would still like to get a back-up. I read somewhere that replacing that belt is quite involved.

 

Spinner belt part # 251023

 

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I also decided to order a diverter valve, as a back-up.

 

Part # WP204313

 

[egress]

we use this sort of stuff https://superiorbands.com/material-handling/polycord/
to make belts at my robotics club. you cut it and join it with a special iron, though i believe a heat gun or soldering iron could work too. it looks very similar to the old belt, albeit not as crusty. it can be easily made to any length.

 

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Thanks for the link Marco!

 

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Finally arrived...

 

 

But too damn HOT to work outside.

 

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The new belt has been installed, tight fit, it helps if you soak it in hot water first. The old belt literally disintegrated.

 

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

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Started up immediately. Smooth and quiet. I decided to try it with water, detergent and disinfectant. Seems to work perfect. After disinfecting, a real load with clothes will follow.

 



 



 



[this post was last edited: 7/17/2021-11:23]

 

[yogitunes]

Nice....

come on....you know we want a video

 

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LOL! Martin...

 

 

Yes I know. I'll be making one with laundry. 

 

I didn't know in order to drain the wash water, it goes through the spin dryer to be pumped out. Boy does that spin fast! When the water finishes to pump out it develops a high pitch whistle. I guess it's because the spinner basket is empty.

 

[yogitunes]

I believe the spinner is rated at 2000RPM's.....I thought it was written in the manual, but I can't find it at the moment....still their very quiet compared to a Hoover....

wonder if your set up is different than mine.....yes, it uses the spinner/motor/pump unit to pump out the wash side, but usually the diverter valve allows the wash tubs water to go directly to the pump...

got to love those two heavy duty motors that operate this unit.....plus its a regular full size automatic pump used in these......compared to the tiny units used in a Hoover twintub...

sort of an over flow built in.....if the wash side is overfilled, it will spill over into the spinner.....just above the black bar to the right is the opening...

surprised these didn't offer a Spin/Rinse setup.....you wash and spin a few loads, drain the water and refill with fresh, then Rinse and Spin again...

 

[yogitunes]

even as an experiment....

take a load of towels from one of your toploaders.....

may have to split in to 2 loads.....

but run them through the spinner side.....for about 5 minutes each

put a bucket under the drain hose to measure.....

I usually get almost a gallon of water extra squeezed out....

 

[ea56]

Louie,

I’m so glad you have this bad boy up and runnin! You are gonna love it! He spinner is the bomb. There is nothing else that I know of that will extract more water than an A50 spinner. I always kept the drain hose in the back slot when spinning out the wash loads so I could re use the wash water, but when doing the final spin after the rinse I let it drain into the sink. Have fun with this new toy.

Eddie

 

[yogitunes]

a lot of times, these portable machines cost more than their full size counterparts...

but that was mainly due to the 'specialty' need....if space, electrical, plumbing was an issue, you could still have a set at home...

 

[ea56]

I can’t remember exactly what I paid for my A50 in ‘77, but I recall that it was less than a Whirlpool portable. Somehow the amount of $297 comes to mind, but thats just a guess, I no longer have the receipt. And since I was replacing a Whirlpool portable(convertible) that bit the dust after only 3 1/2 yrs of use I wasn’t keen on buying another one anyway.

I never regretted buying that A50. It was the perfect washing machine for me at the time since I moved frequently from one rental to another and most of them didn’t have plumbing for an automatic anyway. The A50 was adaptable to any situation and did a great job cleaning, was fast and fun to use.

If thats all I had room for today I’d be more than happy to have another A50 as a daily driver.

Eddie