A Maytag A-806 and a DE-806 Matched Set!

[Ultramatic]

 

 

 

Yes siree, in one fell swoop, both machines I coveted showed up. Thanks to Martin (Yogitunes), I will be picking them up next week. The dryer (HOH?) works, but the seller has no idea if the washer does.  Only 2 pictures in the ad (shown), they look fairly good. Stay tuned!

 

 

[rp2813]

Louie, that is the ultimate laundry pair!  You'll never need to look for anything else!

 

Congratulations!

 

[bajaespuma]

Aferim!

...HA! Glory...

 

[wft2800]

Here's hoping the seller's brother doesn't intervene, like with that Kenmore pair...

 

[turquoisedude]

YAY Louis!!  I would be surprised if the washer didn't work.  Keep us posted as things develop!

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

You bet Paul! I'll be dropping the washer off at Martin's so he could work his magic on it. I'll pick it up at a later date. The dryer is going back to Brooklyn.

 

[potatochips]

Awesome! I cant wait to see more. I like the colour.

 

[hippiedoll]

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Doing the HAPPY DANCE for ya!
Keep us posted on updates!
I hope the washer doesn't need too much work to get it running & back in service!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you...
;o)

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Thanks Christina! I'm pretty happy to have joined the Maytag 806 club! Plenty of pictures coming!

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

OK you Maytag aficionados, is it possible to vent a DE806 from the side of the cabinet? 

 

[mrsalvo]

Those are sweet. I'm with Hippedoll, doing the happy dance for ya. They should serve you well for many years.

 

[goatfarmer]

Why yes, yes it is. Take the back off, and there will be an aluminum elbow, that you can loosen the clamp, and turn.

 

[yogitunes]

here is a HOH with the body removed...appears it can be vented out either side with the addition of a few pipes....

seems it can go out either side, or out the upper back....just not straight down through the base....

photo courteous of DJones.......

 

[Ultramatic]

Thanks guys.

 

 

I seem to remember there was a punch out on the side of the cabinet? Or was it another brand?

 

[Ultramatic]

Just answered my own question...

 

 

 

(redcarpetdrew)

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?54260

 

[bendix5]

Super find. I think they are beautiful. I still have my 806 in my shed. I plan on getting it out this spring and getting it up and running. I miss that machine. It is the last of my collection or collecting. You will love them.

 

[ovrphil]

Like they say

Good things come to those who swear alot and drink. LOL! I'm just KIDDING...back off!

Congratulations, Louie. I wouldn't mind trying those out myself, someday, but I haven't seen anything nearby.

Please enjoy and have a toast of your favorite whatever(water, wine, anything) and here's to being patient.

Now I wonder if Ralph will ever find that GE fridge? hmmm.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

I would love to find a real clean one myself or any other model they made with lighted tub and panel.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Thanks Dan. Ever since I got the A107, I got hooked on Maytags!

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Thanks Phil, I'll toast with a Diet Pepsi...LOL!

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

As far as I know John, only the 806's and the hyper rare 906's had the lighted panels and tubs.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

After carefully looking at the picture of the ad, I've come to the conclusion this is an A806s, yep suds saver. It also has the chrome trim strip between the top and cabinet, so prior to 1973?

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

I imagine the belts will need replacing on the washer. What are your thoughts on souping up the performance with different spec belts? Would the higher speed be detrimental to the washer and/or clothes?

 

[ovrphil]

Then raise your Diet Pepsi and

cheers, happy washing with the new Maytags, Louie.

 

[yogitunes]

you can test out mine Louie.....I have the 50hz setup....

 

[combo52]

Restoring a MT A806 & DE806

I would diffidently get a 50 cycle motor pulley and set of 50 cycle belts, adding a motor start capacitor is also a great idea for any MT DC washer, the capacitor makes the motor start in a split second without any hesitation.

 

The large tub MT DC washers just couldn't handle and pull down a good sized load especially during the short rinse agitation period without the 15% speed boost the 50 cycle components give, the regular 16 gallon machines were not quite as bad but still were helped by the 15% speed increase.

 

If I were going to make this my primary daily driver I would also install the orbital transmission with the load sensor agitator. This upgrade really reduces the clothing wear while allowing larger items to turn over and get evenly washed, it was certainly the best agitator MT ever put in the DC washer. We have this combination [ 50C LS agitator ] hooked up in the A806 in our museum that anyone is welcome to come and try out and so far everyone that has tried it out has really been impressed. Its like the 4 cylinder Chrysler mini van with and without the turbo option, LOL.

 

The other thing I would do is use a WP inlet valve so you get a faster fill and better spray rinse, you should replace an inlet valve in any case if it is over about 10 years old to reduce the risk of floods.

 

When rebuilding the dryer I would modify the dryers heating element for 208 volts [ only if you have 208 volt power in your building ] so you get proper drying speeds, otherwise the HOH dryers are pretty slow as they only have a 4800 watt element [ WP- KM always used 5,600 watts during this time period ] which drops to around 3,600 if you have 208 volt power, at this wattage you are getting down to the drying heat of a European dryer without the fast spinning washer to go with it.

 

I might also consider adding sound insulation to the washer and dryer to make these smooth running machines even quieter and satisfying to use.

 

John L.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Wow John, thanks for all that info. I must admit I am very intrigued with all these modifications. As you may recall, I already have a load sensor agitator. This 806 will be a daily driver, and I want it to be the best it can be in terms of reliability and washing ability.

 

[swestoyz]

50hz pulley

First off, congrats on finding your dream set! Unless John has a secret stash of 50hz pulleys on hand, finding one from a distributor can be tricky. Here's a note I sent to another member last year regarding the pulleys -

Unfortunately it looks like the 50hz pulley is no longer available from most sources. The last PN I see available was the Y202496, but 202496, 1245651, 2-2496, were also listed at one time. The 50hz pulleys are a heavy machined pulley, rather than a stamped pulley that I've seen on may 60hz versions. You may want to keep a search active on ebay, just in case. The belts appear to still be available from a few sources.

 

To be honest, I'd clean the washer up, install a new injector, rebuild the motor glide with a new kit, clean the pulleys, install a new drive belt (pump belt should be fine), replace the water valve if you are concerned with using the original, and run with it.  Several members have had no issues with the wash action of the A806, as they came from the factory.  Personally I feel the A806 was the best of the best and I wouldn't change a thing with the drive system and leave it the way Newton intended it to be.

 

Ben

 

[combo52]

Up Grading A Maytag Washer

Hi Ben, these were good washers in their day, but MT in Newton Iowa are the ones that upgraded this washer design to the orbital trans and Load sensor agitator, and If I can drive a 1973 Impala that runs and drives like a 2005 model I will do it any day.

Hope to see you soon, John

 

[cadman]

A reasonable alternative to the hard-to-find 50Hz pulley is a trans oil change with Redline MT-90 oil. The wash action is downright violent, and no 'lazy' agitation when the temps are cold. Seeing is believing.