'70 Maytag A806 oil leak - What do I do next? Please help

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atomict

atomict

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 1, 2013
Messages
60
Location
Middletown, NY
So I followed this wonderful site's direction on how to replace the tub bearing and stem kit, but I need to fix the leaking oil situation on my '70 Maytag.

We stopped using it 5 years ago, after 6 years of almost daily use because it was vibrating, sounding off and leaking oil. So I've got it apart and have the parts for the tub bearing stem, and the damper pad kit. But what do I need to do, and what parts to I need, to fix the leak? Are there threads here I can research on what to do? Am I rebuilding the transmission? I just need to know as I am clueless on the next steps....

atomict-2023090322382702720_1.jpg
 
It sat leaking for a few years…

I would say it lost a lot of oil as it sat for a long time. Thanks for a link to the part. So I have some questions about what type of oil, and I assume I have to clean out all of the old oil completely? Also should I just go ahead and replace the brake assembly and bearing?
 
>> Are there any threads on here detailing on how to disassemble and reassemble the transmission I could look at?

Oh yeah - the thread linked below is solid gold.

"Rebuild of Maytag Transmission and Transplant into LAT 9800 AAW."
www.automaticwasher.org

Rebuild of Maytag Transmission and Transplant into LAT 9800 AAW.

To the best of my recollection this is my step by step rebuild, with photos, from last summer of a Maytag Newton style trans. put into a newer LAT model. I hope this is helpful to someone. Here’s the HA408 machine’s top. Almost hated to take it apart. It was salvageable. It came with a HDE606...
www.automaticwasher.org www.automaticwasher.org
 
Are there threads here I can research

The lower trans o-ring needs to be replaced to stop the leak so the trans must be removed and disassembled, plus the machine will agitate better with fresh trans oil. Very doable for a motivated DYI'er.

Here is a very meticulous thread on rebuilding a vintage MT transmission:

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?38714

And another for the stem and tub bearing:

www.automaticwasher.org

Rebuild of Maytag Transmission and Transplant into LAT 9800 AAW.

To the best of my recollection this is my step by step rebuild, with photos, from last summer of a Maytag Newton style trans. put into a newer LAT model. I hope this is helpful to someone. Here’s the HA408 machine’s top. Almost hated to take it apart. It was salvageable. It came with a HDE606...
www.automaticwasher.org www.automaticwasher.org
 
I agree with Good-Shepherd, the lower o-ring will need to replaced to stop the oil leak. While you are at it, might as well inspect the other components while you have things apart.
 
Maytag used an o-ring seal from at least 1956 (may even go back to the AMP models) until June 1986 when they switched to the lip seal design that ran until Maytags demise in 2006.

 

The trans needs to be taken apart....at minimum, change the old oil (what's left of it), and replace the lower o-ring. Back when parts were still easily available, changing the Delrin pinion gear and clutch washers was also recommended. You'll need to use RTV for the transmission cover seal since the gasket is NLA. Running the machine with low oil will eventually gull up and seize the internal gearing.
 
Thank you everyone!!

These links have been so helpful! Well, here I go! Now to find that pesky brake wrench. I am going to stop at the local appliance store tomorrow and see if they have one....

You all are so great and helpful!! Thank you so very much!!
 
Brake removal tool

I have been looking for one of those for years now without any luck. I wish you the best of luck in finding one. If you don’t, just use vice grips on the edge of the brake assembly as a makeshift wrench.
 
Would a nylon strap work?

So, I have a tool i use for my car's oil filters. Its a nylon strap and a square 1/2" rod connecting the ends. I wrap it around the filter and then insert a ratchet into the rod and go to work. It works amazingly well. I think it might fit around the brake actually. Or i could just make my own I guess with a ratchet strap?

Who is hoarding all these brake wrenches btw? 
smiley-surprised.gif
 
The brake doesn't need to be removed to take the trans out for service.

 

This is true but he mentioned in his first post about replacing the damper pads. Removing the brake assembly makes this considerably much easier to do. Something I learned with rebuilding transmissions early on is that the internal springs gets weak in the brake package overtime and it generally doesn't take long for the tub to begin indexing after the trans has been rebuilt and is agitating with great authority.

 

The brake tool were all over the place until Whirlpoop discontinued them a few years back. Almost overnight they suddenly became rare. I wonder if most owners threw them away after replacing the brake package or they were just stashed somewhere in the garage and forgot about 'em. Probably thrown away after they died, for sure.
 
>> Almost overnight they suddenly became rare.
>> ...
>> Probably thrown away after they died, for sure.

As a strong contributing factor, I don't think I've ever seen one marked in any way that indicates what it is. If a person had a history in appliance repair, they would recognize one of the specialty tools immediately (brake or tub nut tool).

But for anyone else? Not a chance. Just another mystery tool. No idea what it is, no idea how to find out, no clue what it might be worth... but it looks kinda homemade, so... probably just junk.
 
A funny thing happened at the appliance store.......

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">So, I went to my local appliance store to see if I could get some parts for this project.   They went to get the owner of the store (who by the way said he was one of the first four members of this site!), and he went on to tell me that I am wasting my time on this.  Here was his reasoning:</span>

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">He stated that the lower O-ring should never fail.  He state emphatically that it fails because the lower bushing has gone bad (he stated from the motor rollers go bad and put undo lateral stress on the lower trans housing).  He explained that I was going to go through all of this and it was still going to leak anyways.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">I am deflated for sure.  Sourcing parts for this has been a circus show of jumping through internet hoops like crazy.  <span style="text-decoration: underline;">So let me ask you all this:</span></span>

 

<ol>
<li>Is he right?</li>
<li>I am changing the tub bearing, stem kit, damper kit, and rebuilding the trans, and changing the motor roller kit.  Will this mitigate the problem enough that I won't have to worry about it leaking oil again?</li>
<li>Is getting a lower trans housing bushing just out of the question?</li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">What is a girl to do?  I really really really want to put this machine back into service!  (my dirty clothes are really stacking up!!)</span>

 
 

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