So I went out to dinner with the family a week ago and my grandmother mentioned to me that her washing machine, a Maytag A106, wasn't doing so hot. It wasn't spinning well, which I suspect is a belt issue, and she was having a hard time washing some of my cousins sports gear in the small tub. She was interested in getting my help replacing the machine.
A few months back I had picked up a Speed Queen top loader (the 45 model with warm rinse) and since I already have an A806 in my laundry room, I offered it to her. My buddy James and I transported the Queen to her new home, where she's happily working through a backlog of grandma-laundry.
James and I decided to take the A106, since he and his wife are about to have a baby. Two weekends ago we snagged a gorgeous A806 from Pennsylvania, replacing their WCI Frigi. We are going to overhaul the old beast and see if we can't compliment his A806 with this one.
This machine has been rode hard throughout its entire life. Its the only machine I can remember my grandparents ever having, and I'm 32. I'd hoped to save it from the crusher, just for sentimental reasons... its one of the machines that got me started. I was happy to be able to salvage it and see it get a new home.
The machine is several things - rusty, filthy, and tired. I did a spin test last night and while its slow to ramp up, I think the motor and transmission are still intact. New belts will help. There is extensive wear on the control panel. Some of the buttons have their text worn clean off, and the surface of the buttons are smooth. There is a dent in the front of the cabinet, and at some point, it was partially painted with a brush.
Yikes!
Some questions...
Can someone get a production date? The serial seems to be 031863AJ.
Is there a control panel that will work with this machine, but give the new owners a little more flexibility? Does anyone have one, if so?
There are only 3 buttons for water temperature, and they just have one temp on them... does that mean all rinses are cold? For some reason, I recall my grandmother selecting warm rinses for hot washes by waiting until the wash fill was complete, and then changing the temp to warm.
That's all I can remember at the moment. I've attached a link to the photo gallery below. Its not for the faint of heart. Please be nice to my grandmom tho... the machine is dirty and worn out but she loved it and was sad to see it go.
A few months back I had picked up a Speed Queen top loader (the 45 model with warm rinse) and since I already have an A806 in my laundry room, I offered it to her. My buddy James and I transported the Queen to her new home, where she's happily working through a backlog of grandma-laundry.
James and I decided to take the A106, since he and his wife are about to have a baby. Two weekends ago we snagged a gorgeous A806 from Pennsylvania, replacing their WCI Frigi. We are going to overhaul the old beast and see if we can't compliment his A806 with this one.
This machine has been rode hard throughout its entire life. Its the only machine I can remember my grandparents ever having, and I'm 32. I'd hoped to save it from the crusher, just for sentimental reasons... its one of the machines that got me started. I was happy to be able to salvage it and see it get a new home.
The machine is several things - rusty, filthy, and tired. I did a spin test last night and while its slow to ramp up, I think the motor and transmission are still intact. New belts will help. There is extensive wear on the control panel. Some of the buttons have their text worn clean off, and the surface of the buttons are smooth. There is a dent in the front of the cabinet, and at some point, it was partially painted with a brush.
Yikes!
Some questions...
Can someone get a production date? The serial seems to be 031863AJ.
Is there a control panel that will work with this machine, but give the new owners a little more flexibility? Does anyone have one, if so?
There are only 3 buttons for water temperature, and they just have one temp on them... does that mean all rinses are cold? For some reason, I recall my grandmother selecting warm rinses for hot washes by waiting until the wash fill was complete, and then changing the temp to warm.
That's all I can remember at the moment. I've attached a link to the photo gallery below. Its not for the faint of heart. Please be nice to my grandmom tho... the machine is dirty and worn out but she loved it and was sad to see it go.
