A Maytag wringer anomaly?

[rocksolid87]

My Mom recently purchased a Maytag square body wringer (in addition to the Kenmore I'm still working on) that seems to be an anomaly. The model number on the sticker doesn't match a square body (as far as I can find). The serial number also doesn't seem to match the kind of square body this is either (again, as far as I can find). Does anyone have an explanation for why this is?

Sticker says N2L and serial says 50541 HM

 

[swestoyz]

The serial number letter identifiers, HM, on the J2L (square body) show that it was produced in June of 1969. This is a late J2 as they were discontinued by the end of 1969.

The system used for the J and J2 from 1940 thru 1953 would have been in the range of 200,000 to 299,999, affixed with a trailing letter to designate the production range to a specific month/year.

Starting in 1954 Maytag switched the system to start with a letter, indicating the production year, a six digit production number, and a trailing letter to indicate the production month. This was used thru 1959.

And in 1960, they switched the serial numbering system on the wringer to mimic the number system used on the Automatics, by using 5 numbers for the production sequence, followed by two letters to indicate the year and month. The year and month letter combos are universally used from 1954 through 1965 for the wringers, with the 06 series Automatics kicking off a universal set for 1966 forward, for all Newton made appliances.

At some point someone put an N2L (round body) model sticker on the washer, well after it left Plant 1 in Newton.

Ben

 

[rocksolid87]

@swestoyz thanks a lot for that info. Exactly what I wanted to know! I'm not sure if there has been any maintenance done to this machine. The gentleman my Mom purchased it from used to work on them, but is getting up in years and unable to do that anymore. It does work though. However, should the gearbox oil be changed or any other necessary maintenance be performed?

 

[swestoyz]

I would strongly urge you to replace the center seal, part number A4298, before putting any water in the tub.

The seal is readily available on eBay and other sources, under part number 6-0A57420.

It's fairly easy to replace (remove the agitator, remove the snap ring, remove the retainer washer, remove the old seal, reverse for installation).

Sadly folks will buy old Maytag wringers and start using them, not knowing that the center seal is probably dried up and allowing water to get into the transmission. Once that happens a full rebuild of the transmission and horizontal drive would be needed. The tell-tale that water has gotten in the transmission is oil leaking down the rear left leg, under the wringer head.

 

[rocksolid87]

Good to know. Thanks again!