Maytag 2 speed motor wiring and relays

[Sudster]

HINT HINT DAN & BEN

As you know there were several relays and wire colors for the 2 speed Maytag motors .I am currently restoring a A702 and A806 mostly from Ben. I have most of the wiring diagrams but I feel a general explanation of the motor wiring along with a simple pictorial is overdue by you pro's . For example ,The black wire can sometimes be white with a black stripe . Also ,There seems to be little information on normally open/closed contacts etc. Your thoughts??--thanks, Joe

 

[lorainfurniture]

If you upload a picture of the wire diagram and the top of the motor I can probably help

 

[qsd-dan]

Wiring of the 2 speed relays varies on the motor manufacture, sometimes even within the manufacture (several different style GE motors were used in these machines).

Is the paper wiring diagram missing or painted dots wiped away?

Here's how to test a 2 speed motor:

 

[swestoyz]

Let's start with this - what are the colors of the wires going to the motor from the timer, and what are the colors or numbers for each terminal on the motor?

 

[Sudster]

Thanks Everyone

I have the 702 and 806 figured out and basically all of these,or mine, are 6 wire lead motors. Basic question--Take the relay's OFF most of these and throw them aside. The wiring leading into the motor?? Is orange always low speed positive? Is Black always positive high speed? Is white always negative? Is Brown,what the heck is brown? Can you help decipher ? Older motors only let's say 1989 backwards Maytag Thanks--Joe

 

[robbinsandmyers]

Is it normal for them to hum like that on the lower speed?

 

[qsd-dan]

Is it normal for them to hum like that on the lower speed?

Yes

 

[Sudster]

SPECIFICALLY

I can't get my brain around the motor windings. The video posted splitting double positive and negative leads. Then my brain is thinking HEY!! maybe universal motor windings for 240v use in Europe? I am used to 240v or 110v motors and even 3 phase with nameplate wiring instructions , But 6 wires with multiple relay part numbers at 110 volts?? Educate me please--Joe

 

[sprog]

Interesting Thread

Joseph, thanks for starting this thread. I look forward to seeing your progress (especially the A702!).

Dan, thanks for the video!

Building on this: how does one evaluate, and clean a vintage Maytag electric 2-speed motor? I imagine there are some do's and dont's. I know solvents can ruin the windings.
Are there any specific ways to test the windings (readings)? Best practice? I have a Maytag A500 (Highlander) on deck for restoration. I'd hate to inadvertently kill the motor. Please forgive if these questions reveal my inexperience.
Chris

 

[swestoyz]

Maytag Helical Drive washer two speed motor wiring

 

 

Is orange always low speed positive? - Yes

Is Black always positive high speed - Yes

 

Is white always negative? - Yes, or neutral

 

Is Brown, what the heck is brown? - both Brown and Red are used by the timer to reverse the polarity within the motor, causing either agitation or spin depending on how the timer reverses the polarity, against neutral (white) 

 

And last but not least, yellow (my emphasis) - internally within the motor, the thermal overload is wired between neutral (white) and yellow, with yellow ultimately leading back to the neutral side of the 120v service into the machine

 

Within the attached pictures, you'll find diagrams for a later LAT series machine (my preference), as well as the 702 wiring diagram.  

 

Within the LAT diagram, timer contact 10 controls slow speed, with 6 being normal speed, with 2/4 acting as the motor reversing contactor against neutral. 

 

On the 702 diagram, contact 5 sends current to the fabric control switch, along with contacts 4/6 acting as the motor reversing contactor against neutral.

 

Keep in mind, on single speed helical drive machines the colors change.  Black ends up being the neutral back to the 120v service, with yellow calling spin and green agitation, with red working with white to reverse polarity within the timer.  

 

Ben

 

[this post was last edited: 11/30/2020-00:23]

 

[Sudster]

Excellent-Thank you all

So--The timer picks speeds per machine and is variable? There is no absolute answer. Then you throw the green wire at me and blow my mind. Green to me has always been considered ground. Think I'll start & finish each project and ask you all about the diagrams. I appreciate you and will post some pics soon. Let's start with a before of Ben's 702 with 806 internals.

And Ben, I salute you mechanically,electrically--Joe[this post was last edited: 11/30/2020-20:58]

 

[swestoyz]

Absolute answers

The timer picks speeds per machine and is variable? - depending on the model, it does.  Some lower to mid-level Maytag models will have multiple cycles built into the timer that call for different speed combinations for two speed models (normal agitation/slow spin; normal agitation/normal spin, etc.).  Otherwise, the more TOL models with a speed selector switch/button, the timer will call the speed selector switch to pick the speed that is chosen by the user, to then feed the motor the positive to the appropriate wire, rather than having the timer do this with a hard coded cam. 

 

Having the reversing circuity built into the timer also is a two for one - the timer can function as both an interval function timer AND the reversing contactor all in one, without having the extra expense of a separate reversing contactor.   Most MFGs used two extra cams in the timer for this purpose (when the machine required reversing for either spin or agitation), and it's brilliant.  I can only think of one US domestic washer that had a dedicated external reversing contactor, and that is the very early 50's H-axis Horton Robert recently found.     

 

Ben

 

[Sudster]

Brilliant!!!

Ben , One last question for now, That 1-1/2 gap between the tub cover & top in the picture by swapping the interior to the A806. My thoughts involve using a long A108 transmission with the A806 deep tubs to make up that gap--Your thoughts please?-thanks,Joe

 

[swestoyz]

The Maytag gap

The gap exists due to the difference in height produced by the 06 and later series base, vs the earlier 00/02 series bases, and in trying to use an 06 and later guts inside an 00/02 and earlier cabinet. No parts combination of various transmissions or tubs or tub brace is going to make up for the gap.

This machine is a combination of three machines -

<ul>
<li>The turquoise 702 cabinet and top came from central Wisconsin as just the cabinet/top/front panel.  Strange, I know...</li>
<li>The white cabinet that is seen in the "Hot Rod Maytag" clip was a combination of parts harvested from a 700 machine that was parted out for another member</li>
<li>The 06 series base and trans/tub were from an early 70's A806 that was rough on the outside but in pretty good shape otherwise, as seen in the "Hot Rod Maytag" clip</li>
</ul>
The black large capacity poly agitator is actually pretty rare these days.  It came from a large capacity commercial Maytag from the 70's, which weren't common even then.

 

This machine will have that gap in place unless you find an 00/02 series machine and swap the base/trans/tub from the donor machine under the turquoise 702 cabinet, but you'll loose the large capacity tub.

 

Ben