Thanks for the link Marco!
1971 Maytag Porta-Washer M0D. A50
- Thread starter Ultramatic
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Thanks for the link Marco!
Finally arrived...
But too damn HOT to work outside.
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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.
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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]
Nice....
come on....you know we want a video
come on....you know we want a video
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.
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.
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...
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...
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....
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....
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
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
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...
but that was mainly due to the 'specialty' need....if space, electrical, plumbing was an issue, you could still have a set at home...
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
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
paul54
Member
I love ,mine too!
Just wondering where you ordered the diverter valve from Ultra matic? Thanks. I got my machine from a collector in PA. He was going thru my town a few months later and kindly dropped it off. I foolishly sold my original but kept the dryer. I still have and use it! Wish it had a low heat setting. Anyway, I just want to know about the valve. I heard they are hard to find. Thanks. PS Got all my belts made real cheap from McMAster Carr. Life savers!
Just wondering where you ordered the diverter valve from Ultra matic? Thanks. I got my machine from a collector in PA. He was going thru my town a few months later and kindly dropped it off. I foolishly sold my original but kept the dryer. I still have and use it! Wish it had a low heat setting. Anyway, I just want to know about the valve. I heard they are hard to find. Thanks. PS Got all my belts made real cheap from McMAster Carr. Life savers!
Hey Martin I did your experiment...right after the final spin on the Kenmore, I put in a few towels in the spinner of the Maytag. Got almost half a quart of water. Those 2000 RPMS really make a difference! Of course that translates to less drying time in the DE806.
Eddie, I LOVE this machine. This will definitely be in service for small loads. I figured out how I can make a semi-permanent hook-up. I still will roll it away when done, but being so compact, it easily goes into a closet. And it's built like a '68 Fleetwood. No wonder it's so damn heavy.
Hi Paul, I ordered it here according to the part number:
Maytag #WP204313 Washer BODY-VALVE - Residential Maytag Laundry Parts
Big discount parts sale on Maytag washer part #WP204313 BODY-VALVE online at Alliance Laundry Systems Distribution the #1 Maytag laundry parts supplier. Shipping specials on all residential Maytag washer repair parts and replacement parts.
www.pwslaundry.com
Louie, I knew you were gonna love this A50! Anyone that has an appreciation of well built and well thought out appliances has to love the sturdy simplicity of the A50. I wish that I had kept mine.
When I bought a new Maytag Fabricmatic in ‘81 I gave the A50 to my sister Mary who had a newborn and lived in a little apt. over a garage. David and I loaded the A50 into the trunk of my ‘67 Buick Skylark 2 dr HT and lashed the trunk lid down with an old belt. My sister never appreciated the A50 like I did. She sold it to a friend and since she needed the money I didn’t get mad at her, but wish she’d have told me to come pick it up instead. It was still like brand new in ‘81when I gave it to her.
Coincidentally, my brother Joe lived with me for a while when I had the A50 and he loved doing the laundry in it, was simply fascinated by it. I’d come home from work and he’d have the A50 rolled up to the kitchen sink doin the laundry. It was nice the have the help.
Eddie
When I bought a new Maytag Fabricmatic in ‘81 I gave the A50 to my sister Mary who had a newborn and lived in a little apt. over a garage. David and I loaded the A50 into the trunk of my ‘67 Buick Skylark 2 dr HT and lashed the trunk lid down with an old belt. My sister never appreciated the A50 like I did. She sold it to a friend and since she needed the money I didn’t get mad at her, but wish she’d have told me to come pick it up instead. It was still like brand new in ‘81when I gave it to her.
Coincidentally, my brother Joe lived with me for a while when I had the A50 and he loved doing the laundry in it, was simply fascinated by it. I’d come home from work and he’d have the A50 rolled up to the kitchen sink doin the laundry. It was nice the have the help.
Eddie
Well Eddie a least your brother appreciated it. They still pop-up every now and then. So who knows, maybe you can get one. I think you see more Hoover Twin Tubs than Maytags. If I'd had more room I'd have a Hoover and a Speed Queen. Those Speed Queens are rarer than a hens tooth. Never seen one out in the wild.
As I had mentioned earlier the top of the A50 has yellowed with age. It has a few cracks but they are small, hardly noticeable. I think I am going to go the hydrogen peroxide with UV light route. I only get 9 hours of direct sunlight in my terrace and I don't think that would be enough, so a UV light is preferable.
We should make a census on how many members have a A50 Porta Washer.
repairguy
Well-known member
I’ve always wanted one but have never seen one in southeast Texas. Glad you’re enjoying yours.
Thanks Melvin! This one is a keeper.
I've also wanted an A50 but I've never seen any here in Ontario. When I was in my teens, an elderly woman friend of my family that lived year round across the lake from our cottage, had an A50 and ever since then I have wanted one. The neighbours next to her had a Hoover twintub and my grandmother had a Simplicity twintub. Of the 3, I liked the A50 the best.
Gary
Gary
