I picked up an A700 set back in January and the washer came with the wrong replacement agitator in it. You can see it here in this photo.
A700 Agitator Information Needed
- Thread starter d-jones
- Start date
Help Support :
I know from reading this blog that Bakelite replacements are rather scarce, so I started looking for a black Power fin, thinking that it would look more correct than turquoise. Well, I finally found one, but as you can see in the photo it came with a turquoise lint filter assembly. I suppose that’s fine if that’s all there is, but I was wondering if there might be something more appropriate that I should start looking for? For example, did the lint filter assembly come in black at any time, or would the older chrome trimmed lint filters for the Bakelite agitator fit this one? Being somewhat new to vintage Maytag’s, I’m hoping some of the veteran members here can clue me in as to what my options are.
The A700 would have had this lint filter. I don't seem to have a handy picture of the A702 series filter with softener dispenser. Stainless steel with black cup. Either would look great, the dispenser-filter is nice if you regularly use fabric softener.
Good job on the standard black powerfin - a fine looking and probably better washing replacement.
[this post was last edited: 7/9/2012-23:16]
Good job on the standard black powerfin - a fine looking and probably better washing replacement.
[this post was last edited: 7/9/2012-23:16]
Thanks Ganski
And you believe this lint filter will fit on my plastic Power Fin?
And you believe this lint filter will fit on my plastic Power Fin?
They are all interchangeable. The inside diameter of all Maytag agitators with filters and filter/softener dispensers were the same. The only difference was in the height difference between the standard (16 gal.) agitators and the large-capacity (19 gal.) models. The agitator you pictured with the black poly powerfin and turquoise dispenser/filter was actually sold on some commercial machines between about 1969 and the 1980s. Odd but true!
BTW, in that first picture you have the RARE sprinkler accessory for a HOH dryer sitting in the washer basket. I hope you still have that.
Thanks for the info Mark
That sprinkler was cracked and the gray cap was dried out and brittle, so I gave it to Kevin(revvinkevin). I didn't feel I needed a display piece sitting around that can't be used. But then the other day, the same guy that has the AMP cabinets had a new old stock sprinkler still in its package, so I bought it from him. Unfortunately, the rubber cap is still hard as a rock and unusable, but in searching around the internet I found something I can use as a substitute. Here's a photo of the new sprinkler and its now removed and unusable cap.
That sprinkler was cracked and the gray cap was dried out and brittle, so I gave it to Kevin(revvinkevin). I didn't feel I needed a display piece sitting around that can't be used. But then the other day, the same guy that has the AMP cabinets had a new old stock sprinkler still in its package, so I bought it from him. Unfortunately, the rubber cap is still hard as a rock and unusable, but in searching around the internet I found something I can use as a substitute. Here's a photo of the new sprinkler and its now removed and unusable cap.
Here's the back side
Congrats on finding a replacement. I have never met Kevin, but everyone I know who has met him speaks of him as a gentleman and a scholar! I hope what you have found on the internet works for you. Also, you can try soaking the old plug in glycerine. Many here swear by it. I have no direct experience but I know of more than a few front-loader boots that have been brought back to service by this method.
I've met Kevin several times now and he seems like a pretty decent guy to me. HI KEVIN!(He'll probably read this later) So it took me months of looking to find the black agitator. I wonder how long it'll take to track down the older style lint filter?
Here's a shot of the agitator for my A701. It, too would fit your machine but I think Greg is right, the one without the lint filter/fabric softener combo is the original one for the A700. I would like to meet the person at Maytag who figured out that they could replace the bulky plastic fabric softener dispenser they first used (and was used on decades of subsequent automatic washers) with a little plastic cup inside the extended hollow of their agitator. That was just a little bit of genius.
The little fabric softener cup
Unfortunately, during agitation, especially if a regular sudsing detergent was used, the foam came up through the outer part of the dispenser and through the little slots at the top of the cup to mix with the softener. Of course, with what turned out to be the default use of the cup, the dispenser was not rinsed out so a pretty healthy deposit of softener residue built up in the outer assembly and that probably served as a suds killer thwarting the migration upward. Who says ignoring a problem won't make it go away?
I think you will be very happy with the Power Fin in the 700. Not only are the fins shaped for better turnover with their downward slope, but they also will really push water against that unperforated section of the tub that would have been opposite the high fins of the Gyrator. Instead of letting the currents escape through the perforations in the newer tub design and into the outer tub, this tub starts the currents up the wall of the inner tub, really lifting the load up to the top. Then the design of the fins at their juncture with the barrel is much more effective at getting clothes down into the washing zone because they are higher near the barrel and lower at the outer edge of the skirt. If Maytag had left the tub alone, they could have had some real wash action. Fortunately, we can combine the old tub design with the Power Fin to get what Maytag missed.
The stainless steel filter and dispenser housing show up on eBay from time to time. That nice Maytag man in NY who sells Maytag conventional washer parts on eBay might even have one.
Unfortunately, during agitation, especially if a regular sudsing detergent was used, the foam came up through the outer part of the dispenser and through the little slots at the top of the cup to mix with the softener. Of course, with what turned out to be the default use of the cup, the dispenser was not rinsed out so a pretty healthy deposit of softener residue built up in the outer assembly and that probably served as a suds killer thwarting the migration upward. Who says ignoring a problem won't make it go away?
I think you will be very happy with the Power Fin in the 700. Not only are the fins shaped for better turnover with their downward slope, but they also will really push water against that unperforated section of the tub that would have been opposite the high fins of the Gyrator. Instead of letting the currents escape through the perforations in the newer tub design and into the outer tub, this tub starts the currents up the wall of the inner tub, really lifting the load up to the top. Then the design of the fins at their juncture with the barrel is much more effective at getting clothes down into the washing zone because they are higher near the barrel and lower at the outer edge of the skirt. If Maytag had left the tub alone, they could have had some real wash action. Fortunately, we can combine the old tub design with the Power Fin to get what Maytag missed.
The stainless steel filter and dispenser housing show up on eBay from time to time. That nice Maytag man in NY who sells Maytag conventional washer parts on eBay might even have one.
Small Fabric Snoftner Dispenser Cup
While a great simplification the small diameter cup will not always dispense properly when a low speed spin is used after the wash cycle, especially if the load is slightly out of balance. This is typical engineering for Maytag [ and other companies ] where the engineers come out with something that works well and the cost cutters come back and cheapen it and end up affecting performance.
While a great simplification the small diameter cup will not always dispense properly when a low speed spin is used after the wash cycle, especially if the load is slightly out of balance. This is typical engineering for Maytag [ and other companies ] where the engineers come out with something that works well and the cost cutters come back and cheapen it and end up affecting performance.
Tom
Now that I know the vintage lint filter assemblies will fit my agitator, do you by any chance know the eBay handle of that New York based seller?
And by the way, before I forget. Thanks to everyone for chiming in with answers.
Now that I know the vintage lint filter assemblies will fit my agitator, do you by any chance know the eBay handle of that New York based seller?
And by the way, before I forget. Thanks to everyone for chiming in with answers.
Here is the info that Stan posted earlier:
Phil at Phil's Maytag in Ovid N.Y He has a repair shop, and I believe, Maytag wringers is all he works on! He sells parts (pumps) ect on eBay. I sure he will be able to answer your question
If you go into eBay and search for Maytag Wringer Parts, you will find him. As has been said before, the lint filter for the automatic and wringer Gyrators will be the same, although you won't find a wringer with the fabric softener dispenser/filter combination. Whether Phil has it it someone else does, searching eBay for it will probably turn it up fastest unless you have an old Maytag dealership in your area.
Phil at Phil's Maytag in Ovid N.Y He has a repair shop, and I believe, Maytag wringers is all he works on! He sells parts (pumps) ect on eBay. I sure he will be able to answer your question
If you go into eBay and search for Maytag Wringer Parts, you will find him. As has been said before, the lint filter for the automatic and wringer Gyrators will be the same, although you won't find a wringer with the fabric softener dispenser/filter combination. Whether Phil has it it someone else does, searching eBay for it will probably turn it up fastest unless you have an old Maytag dealership in your area.
macboy91si
Well-known member
Powerfin in old Maytags
I have a Powerfin (turq) in my 142 and I think it moves the load far better than the rigid fin bakelite one. I see no difference in lint filtration though. Clothes have more tendency to roll as opposed to just a hard back and forth. I like it, I just need to find a black one.
-Tim
I have a Powerfin (turq) in my 142 and I think it moves the load far better than the rigid fin bakelite one. I see no difference in lint filtration though. Clothes have more tendency to roll as opposed to just a hard back and forth. I like it, I just need to find a black one.
-Tim
