A606 Maytag Timer Won't Cycle

[r8f1k]

I am new to vintage washing machines, but I am experienced with mechanical items and electrical equipment. I recently bought a nice condition A606 washer that 'works'. The machine will cycle manually and operate on all functions if you turn the dial manually. Very clean, runs nice and smooth.

I took the back control panel cover off and I could see that the timer motor was NOT turning. I was able to track one down no problem, swapped it in and it still would not cycle through the functions as I thought it would. I took the timer mechanism apart and I found one burnt contact.

I took 400 grit sand paper and cleaned all the contacts, cleaned up the interior of the mechanism and reassembled. The one burnt contact, I sanded as clean as much as I could, there is still plenty of material on the contact. I ran a continuity test on all the contacts, so far so good.

I installed the timer back into the machine, same problem. No cycling through the functions. I cannot see the round end of the shaft turn at all (has a nickel sized back). I know there is an adjustment that can be made to get the gear to be turned via a pawl and gear. Not sure how to adjust so I just put it back to the same spot the screw was from the factory.

What am I missing? Can't find one on eBay either...... 2-4476 is the number

 

[bpetersxx]

most interesting

should work with a new timer motor

There may timer damage that cannot be fixed

The other more knowledgeable members will chime in

My 606s timer motor died suddenly too

Only when I noticed that the washer was spinning for about 10 min did i realize the timer was stuck

 

[thatwasherguy]

First off, welcome to the forum!

And congratulations on your vintage Maytag. IMO, they are the best washers ever built. As for the timer issue, I can think of a few potential culprits. One thing would be if the timer motor isn't getting power. It should be getting 120V AC anytime the machine isn't filling. I would also suggest testing the motor outside of the timer to make sure it runs. If it does, then I would suspect a problem with the gears.
Hope this helps,
Thatwasherguy.

 

[r8f1k]

So I pulled the entire mechanism apart and the gears have no broken teeth, the new motor runs, but nothing cycles beyond what it was set to.

Since the last time I posted, I bought another washer timer for an A606, but without Permanent Press. It is the 203180 Timer. I also bought the accompanying dial to go with. I would just like to use the unit and I don't have to have perm press to do daily washing.

That being said, does anyone know how to wire the other unit up? Will the wires basically be in the same locations? I know the pilot light, power, lid switch, timer motor, etc will be the same and should play nice, but if anyone had a wiring diagram for the A606 without Permanent Press?

 

[qsd-dan]

Are you using Kingston timers or Mallory? Permanent Press and non Permanent Press models do not use the same timer motors or the same timer dials, even within the same timer manufactures.

 

[r8f1k]

The machine had a Kingston in it and I bought a Kingston to put back in it, just without Perm Press

 

[r8f1k]

Here is the unit I bought

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/rckAAOSwRgtiFCPL/s-l1600.jpg

 

[qsd-dan]

I have the schematics for non PP and PP timers around here. Give me some time to dig them out and scan.

 

[r8f1k]

Thank you!

 

[r8f1k]

The timer showed up today, Model 2-3180-1 and it SEEMS similar, but the numbers on the terminals are definitely in different locations than the current unit. My question is, if I have a diagram, will it be clear enough to determine what wires SHOULD go where? For example, the wire labeled "16" goes on the lower right side of the old timer, whereas the "16" terminal on the 2-3180-1 timer goes in the upper left.

Is it a situation where the numbers should simply follow one another from point to point, or do they need to be rerouted based on what they are coming from?

I can gather that PL = Pilot Light, TM = Timer Motor, L1 = Line 1, L2 = Line 2. However, the balance of the wires would still need to 'play nice' with one another if a different timer were introduced. Do I need to renumber the wires to work with this unit or should the numbers match regardless?

 

[qsd-dan]

Here are the scans, the PP model came from a small-ish book so you'll have to download them both to zoom in.

I haven't installed a different timer to work on a different model/wiring setup (I have changed consoles with the wiring harnesses on the same machines) but having worked on different models, most of the numbers match up to the same components and are wired very similarly which is convenient. With the wiring diagrams, it should go smoothly.

If memory serves me correctly, the non PP timer motor advances every 45 seconds vs every minute like the PP models. You lose 15 seconds of a spray rinse.

 

[r8f1k]

Thank you, the diagram that is without PP, is very blurry. Is it possible to get a better shot? I can just make out a couple of the numbered locations.

 

[r8f1k]

Well, put in the 'new' timer and nothing happens if it is installed just by using the numbers on the wires. Next move?

 

[maranoman]

Timer Dials Different

I don't see that Maytag changed the harness part number when they went to Permanent Press on the A606, so you should be able to match numbers on the harness with the numbers on the timer.

Are you currently using the original timer dial from the permanent press timer on the new pre-permanent press timer? If so, the cycle positions shown on the timer dial will not coincide with the timer you are using. As qsd-dan mentioned above, the timer dials are different for Permanent Press and non-Permanent Press timers.2-3174 is the A606 timer dial for pre-permanent press and 2-4481 is the A606 timer dial for permanent press machines.

 

[r8f1k]

Yes, the dials are going to be different, I ordered a corresponding dial, but I still have no pilot light, cycles, or motor when the dial is turned.

 

[maranoman]

A606 Diagrams

Here are another pair of diagrams that may or may not be better than the ones previously posted.

 

[maranoman]

Sent you an e-mail

I sent you an email with both A606 wiring diagrams as a PDF attachment. Hopefully you will be able to view these better than those previously posted.

 

[r8f1k]

Got the diagrams, Thank you! So the reason I did not have power before was an adjustment on the lid switch. Fixed that and now I have water filling solenoid noise, but that is it. The spin motor or agitator function do not work. I am also heavy two extra wires from the previous timer.

One extra yellow '16' from the pressure switch
One extra black jumper '35' from the other unit. Not sure this one matters all that much.

I bypassed the timer motor to confirm it works, it does.

I will dig into these with the diagrams shortly!

 

[qsd-dan]

The pressure switch needs to be wired correctly or it will not agitate (it should spin though).