A Maytag 641C in perfect condition !

[juliegott]

Hello fellow vintage machine lovers,
Today I found a Maytag 641C advertised as "working good - selling because we bought a new dryer. The location was a 50 minutes drive. Right around the corner, in my book.
The original price (listed for 9 weeks straight) showed $50.00 crossed through to $25.00. Wow - still available for that price ?
How could this ad be on so long with no takers, I wondered ?
Too good to be true, I thought. Well, maybe not. There are more people now-a-days that desire new, poorly built, short lasting, (!*^*!)dryers, than people who desire old, great, well built, (like a tank) dryers. Not my fault, they're not too smart, I'm glad to be older and wiser and I still want the old machines. Time to reap the rewards !
I jumped to the ad and sent a quick message for interest. I got a reply stating they would be home all weekend for pickup and purchase.
I had a truck, a handtruck, BUT no man or woman to help me load it.
Knowing how heavy they are, I called 3 men for help. All 3 failed to show or were busy. Mmmmmm- now what ? I messaged the seller again, stating I was waiting for help- no reply. I messaged again, asking if it was in basement or first floor, so I could load it myself, if possible. No reply.
Frantically, I drove to the one guy who didn't answer before, and luckily found him home, sleeping. Thank Goodness, because this was the only way I would get a reply from the seller after saying "I found help- what's your address ?
I noticed immediately, that is was wider and even heavier than my 806. But a pure dream come true and I'm happy to show a first picture. More pics later to follow. Can't wait to see the end results of a load washed and dried.
Best $25.00 spent, IMO, and so glad there are still people out there willing to (almost) give them away.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, holy Maytag Gods and thank all your holy angels for my new, old, 1958 641C ! She will still be run daily, AND more likely, for many years to come.
Long may she run !

 

[neptunebob]

I think you should spray paint it PINK!

There are just not enough pink appliances around anymore.

 

[gyrafoam]

Is that a condenser model?

 

[maytag85]

Reply #2

I don’t think it’s a condenser model, there would be that access hole for the lint screen if it were to be one. The cabinet that was used on the condenser models is the same one that would have been used on the gas HOH models.

 

[qsd-dan]

Keep in mind this dryer is timed dry <span style="text-decoration: underline;">only</span>, not moisture sensing like your DE806. Parts for these are getting really tricky to find, especially the front door seal if it's in bad shape.....which it probably is. You're not going to put a 65 year old dryer into daily service without at minimum tearing it down and lubricating the drum/ blower/reduction pulley bearings, probably a set of belts, along with tons of cleaning. Will most likely need a front drum felt seal, like all of these do. Critical components like the timer and motor are long obsolete.

[this post was last edited: 11/22/2023-15:14]

 

[maytag85]

I agree with Dan, you probably don’t want to use a 60 plus year old dryer as a daily use machine since parts are getting tricky to find. The 1966 to 1980 Maytags would be a better for a daily driver, timers from certain SOH models are backwards compatible with the 306 and 407 HOH dryers built from 1966 to 1975. Definitely would be wise to replace the cycling thermostats that operate at lower temperatures not only to be gentler on clothing, but the machine itself and certainly will be easier on that door gasket for sure.

 

[tomturbomatic]

It's sort of a shame to waste that huge cabinet on that small HOH drum.

 

[maytag85]

Reason for the wide cabinet, is that’s what the early Maytag dryers used along with the condenser models. It was more cost effective to use what was on hand at the time in 1957/1958. A cabinet from the conservative model would easily fit onto a gas HOH base since they were the same cabinet and you’d need the small access panel for the pilot.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I know that.

 

[juliegott]

I thought it WAS pink !

In reply to Neptunebob- Initially, I did think it WAS pink! When I arrived to pick it up, I realized it was the pink tint of the ad, so I was disappointed to see it was really white.
As for the other replies, Yes, I understand it does not have the moisture sensing baffles like my DE806. That's the reason I bought it. You see my 806 will not shut off after it suffered several basement floods. I spent weeks drying out the motor, and every moving part after each flood, and now have them up on 10 inch cinder blocks. I have torn that dryer apart 4 or 5 times already, and the first time I did, was to replace the front seal and lubricate the blower bearings and other parts needed replacing such as thermostats. The last flood caused the electronic control panel to fail, so I replaced the electronic control and got it running, but then it would not shut off.
It would take me an hour to list all the things, I then did- following all advice from this website relating to grounding of the baffles, etc. but it still won't shut off. Yes, I also did all tests suggested from our gurus on this subject.
So, I realized the 614c will not have that problem, since it has no "moisture sensing" baffles. Unfortunately, I did notice later that the door seal is missing altogether ! That was disappointing, and I have not been able to find one anywhere for sale (#312238).
BTW- you may think I'm just a dumb girl, but I always disassemble, clean, add new belts, and lube my machines after I find them. I would have thought you guys had more faith in me, than thinking I wouldn't do all that.
So if anybody knows where I can find a door seal to purchase, please let me know. I know it is one of the hardest and most sought after parts. Also, a daily driver dryer for me, is once a week, and that is only in the winter months. I hang dry outside the rest of the year. But who's to say, a 60 yr old Maytag can't be a daily driver? Not me, that's for sure. I have a lot of faith in saying they can.
As always, thanks for all your comments, wisdom and advice. I absolutely love this club and highly value its members, their knowledge, facts and all other areas and topics of machines running.

 

[qsd-dan]

BTW- you may think I'm just a dumb girl....

 

Not at all, it's just that a good portion...including longtime members on this site...generally won't bother diagnosing and fixing sometimes the simplest problems. I guess most people are just hardwired to give up easily and move on. I've seen it repeatedly on the nearly 20 years I've been on this site. It sounds like you're one of the rare ones that aren't afraid to learn, get dirty, and persevere. This is exactly the attitude that's needed on this site.

 

[maytag85]

Crazy as this sounds, I am probably one of the only few people in my age demographic who knows these older Maytag dryers inside and out. I was a little nervous when I got my Maytag DE306 back in August of 2018, but since I spent, many, many hours reading through threads in the archives, knew exactly how to take it apart and put it back together. Ended up sitting from May of 2019 to last summer in 2022 when I decided to give it a new lease on life since I ended up picking up a Maytag A806 in June of 2022, the one that’s in the profile picture. Since I didn’t feel like having issues with the electronic dry control acting up, decided to put together a customized HOH dryer together with dual temperatures. So far, haven’t had an issue with it, only “issues” it has was the start relay wasn’t working but I am sure I goofed on the wiring somewhere. Next, will be to put a DE408 auto dry timer in and once that’s done, it’ll be 100% complete.

 

[juliegott]

Front Door gasket found

In reply to qsd-dan - I just found 3 sellers on ebay with door seals -part listing as 14077 (also listed as #32248).
I zoomed in to see it had instructions for using this gasket on a 641c-741c model Maytag -and to use longer screws with nylon spacers added on the door, so I am going to buy one, and find screws with spacers, hoping it will fit.
Just wanted to let others know if they are still looking for a replacement gasket, they might find this one works.

 

[combo52]

Door seal for older Maytag halo of heat dryer

Hi Julie, hopefully this will work take a picture if it works this could be helpful for others.

Crazy as it sounds hi Sean from reply number 11 if you know these dryers so well inside and out, you certainly should be able to fix an electronically controlled one, and have it operate reliably, there’s also no start relay in any Maytag halo of heat dryer. Not sure what you’re talking about.

John

 

[maytag85]

Reply #13

Referring to the mechanical aspect of these machines inside and out.

 

[juliegott]

reply for combo52

Hi John,

Will do, as suggested. I'll take a picture after I install it. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll also take a picture of the instructions.

I think Sean might be referring to the shut off solenoid, since there is no starter relay, as you mentioned.

BTW-I have read many of your posts over the last 5 years and found your advice priceless.
Thanks for all your knowledge and willingness to share. Sean might still be able to learn more from the older and wiser.