Maytag washer frustration and then....

[turquoisedude]

Yes, it's right there in my profile - I want a matched Maytag washer and dryer set, preferably a late 50s set in Turquoise or Pink... Well, earlier last week a set in white turned up just north of Montreal. I missed it.. Two days later, a mid-70s set in Avocado turned up for a mere $50. I missed that too... I was inconsolable or as hubby said 'a proper little git'... Then, out of the blue, a neighbour in Ogden brought me this foundling...

 

[turquoisedude]

This neighbour knows that I am a washer collector and had left me a message about a 'an older Inglis washer with a dial in the centre'. When I heard that, I was sure he meant a Maytag... And sure enough, when it was brought to me, it turned out to be a Maytag A206. Not in great shape comestically - that centre dial is barely legible...

 

[turquoisedude]

And the tub had a good amount of crud in it... BUT the tub looked pretty solid!

 

[turquoisedude]

The outside cabinet was dirty, but it wasn't that bad...

 

[polkanut]

Hey, at least it's a starting point. Congratulations on another machine added to your growing collection. What did hubby say about this one?

 

[turquoisedude]

So I vacuumed the debris out of the tub, then tried to give the drive pulley a spin. It turned smoothly... I had nothing to lose, so I tried plugging it in. The motor started up immediately and the agitator turned. I figured a water test was in order!

 

[turquoisedude]

And with water in, the washer ran fine!!

 

[turquoisedude]

So, I cleaned up the cabinet a bit... What a difference!

 

[turquoisedude]

Trouble was the tub just reeked!! I suspect the former owner used swamp water for laundry... I figured a run with hot water, detergent and bleach was in order. And wow, what a difference that made!

 

[turquoisedude]

So, what to do next? Well, the Inglis is still down, so...

 

[turquoisedude]

I figured that the 'Tag can be the 'understudy' for the Inglis until I get a new motor... I tried a load of sheets and blanket used to protect the 1959 Kelvinator range and refrigerator set that I parted with this weekend...

 

[turquoisedude]

The waher cycled through the wash-drain-spin-rinse-drain-spin perfectly. I had been warned that the washer had be decomissioned dbout issues with the hot water solenoid, and I had observed some weirdness during testing, but by golly, the solenoid shut off fine when I tested the washer in the basement! Here's a view during the final spin...

 

[turquoisedude]

Results - I would say this is a pass!

 

[turquoisedude]

Displaced 'orphans' are jealous... The Inglis needs that new belt and motor and the Westy is waiting for its new thermostat...

 

[frigilux]

How exciting! Congratulations. My favorite vintage is the late 50s-early 60's, so I hope you find your dream pair soon. Perhaps this 206 will attract other Maytags, LOL!

 

[rp2813]

Great washer. We had the same one in harvest gold. Bought it used from the local Maytag dealer in 1987 and had it for 10 years until its companion DG806 dryer suffered bearing failure. That washer sounded no different on the day we gave it away than it did the day we got it.

 

[turquoisedude]

Now,some questions for the Maytag experts...

Does anyone have an idea as to the year of manufacture of this washer?? It's an A206, serial number 2173 18QY. I am guessing this is a BOL model... It has a black agitator, and I suspect it may be the Power-Fin style. The lint filter is turquoise and I am guessing the insert in the lint filer is a fabric softener dispenser.
Anyone have an idea as to the capacity of this machine?
How likely is it that I might find a replacement dial and pushbuttons for a machine like this??
And, what is the matching dryer model to this one? I see lots of Maytag dryers and I just might be able to make a set!

 

[70series]

Congrats on finding one workhorse of a washer. I grew up with that exact model, which lasted from September 1972 until August 1999. Never a problem except for one failed timer, and that was not until 1995. We got rid of it because it was going downhill and my mother wanted a new washer. The Tag was leaking water and oil, and it was not emptying completely. Since it was getting progressively worse, it was only a matter of time. If I had known then that a club like this existed where old washers are brought back from the dead, I would have offered it to a collector here as I am sure it could have been saved.

Enjoy your new find. It will perform well, and reliably for quite a time. Please post a video when you wash the inaugural load.

Have a good one,
James

 

[70series]

Didn't see those recent photos. The first load is done already, lol.

I would not know the exact year of this washer, but I would guess between 1970 and 1972.