Are these "real" Maytag designed/built machines?

[yogitunes]

John....you have a true two belt Maytag....

the orbital tranny, the metal outter tub, spins counter-clockwise....porcelain tub...ALL Maytag

Norge design has a bigger agitator, plastic or stainless tub, spins clockwise...it does have a dual drive transmission, no counterweight...there are pros and cons to this design, I have had two of the Atlantis design, liked the stainless better, really nice machine...held up well for me.....will probably add one to the collection...

 

[john76]

Thanks for the info. Is there any preventative maintenance that would make sense to extend the life of either the washer or dryer. I recently ran a load of bleach followed up with a load of white vinegar which helped clean up the interior of the washer and eliminate some odors. I replaced the original fill hoses and put in a new vent kit for the dryer and noticed the flow of water into the washer improved as well as the exhaust out of the dryer vent.

Does replacing the drive belts proactively make sense or should I adopt the attitude that if it’s not broke, don’t fix it?

 

[combo52]

Maintenance On A 15 YO Maytag Pair

The washer does not need much, replacing the belts will only help if they look bad [ burned spots severe cracking etc ] Most important thing you can do with ANY washer is to avoid mineral and scum build-ups in the outer tub area. This is best done by always washing in warm or hot water using plenty of GOOD detergent and bleach will also help, A washer should never develop an odor.

 

On the dryer it would probably pay to disassemble it clean it and add a drop of oil to the bearings on the two rear rollers and idler pulley, also replace the belt and front bearing slides if they slow signs of wear cracks etc.

 

Other than this keep using them.

 

John L.

 

[yogitunes]

Washer--

found it best to inspect the belt, any signs of wear or splitting, then it would be time for a new one....

check and clean all inlet filters....

and most times, best to open the machine up, remove the splash shield, and clean all areas of soap scum build up....sometimes you have to remove the perforated tub, I think there are only 6 bolts on a Norge design....a long brush that you can slide down between the tubs can be very effective also....clean underside of agitator and areas....

check the motor glides for wear, or lubrication.....

Dryer--

the main thing, lint..and cleaning it out from the whole vent system, from the filter on out....and underneath...a vacuum will help, but compressed air is better...

inspect the belt for wear or cracking.......

lubrication for the bearings/rollers

final touches would be a good car wax and buff on both machines....

 

[stricklybojack]

.
I am guessing two belt Maytag, emiright?

 

[combo52]

Nope

Norge, All MT TL Washers with that slanted front cabinet are Norges.

John L.

 

[vacerator]

"The tangled webs"

some weave, when it is practiced to deceive. Aside from causing confusion.
Some folks yawn and buy them anyway too.
A K A, also as like the Cadillac Cimarron. It was a Chevy Cadaver Cavalier.
Of course the large Caddy's were't much better then, unlike a Maytag Dependable care. The 368 6 litre V8-6-4 didn't work, but was a cast iron engine, and ran fine with a wire unplugged for the rocker arm solenoids. The 4.1 litre V8 was junk, and the Northstar a bit better, but still junk.

 

[wft2800]

I get the impression that most complaints about the Northstar are essentially "but why does it need four camshafts? Muh ol' Chevy did just fine with one! Gimme back muh pushrods!".

 

[vacerator]

I think a Chevy

cast iron V8 couldn't get 30 miles per gallon? The 4 valves per cylinder help it breathe. It was also lighter. The complaints were purely durability related.
The Northstar had plenty of power and torque.
It isn't the only junk engine around. The small Range Rover had a V6 that would seize up if it ran too low on coolant, and very buisy owners who didn't check it in time were not warned by a light or gauge until too late.
There was also a Shortstar version V6 used in the Oldsmobile Aurora and Intrigue.
While the lighter Chevrolet designed LS1 V8 of the 90's got better fuel economy, and may have been able to be used by Cadillac, their engineers always wanted the highest technology, because they could sell it. Cadillac buyers were well heeled upper middle class to wealthy. They wouldn't buy a car with a Chevy engine if they knew it. Sales proved so with the early 90's Fleetwood and Brougham sedans with the 5.7 cast iron Chevy made corporate mill. Lincoln sales were killing them.
The aluminum block with cast iron head 41. to 4.9 litre high tech Cadillac mill was even worse than the Northstar. Many have been replaced with remanufactured engines because the bodies lasted a long time. There are still many Deville's, Eldorados, and Sevilles on the roads from that era.
If it wasn't broken, GM, and Cadillac broke them. From engines to transmissions. The V8-6-4 of 1981 was a failure because of a slow clock speed processor. It ran fine though for years on all 8 cylinders.
The next modulated displacement GM engine was in the 2007 through 2011 Impala SS. It had a 5.3 litre V8 but was terrible with fluid leaks.