capacity of maytag a806

[justamom]

I am soooo sad. After 36 years and 7 children my maytag died. It smells terrible, not really like burning rubber more like maybe electrical(?), and it won't spin. I think maybe the transmission or motor. Anyway when I go to the laundromat (still haven't decided what to do) the machines don't seem like they hold nearly as many clothes as my much older one and I almost always just used the large rather than the extra large setting. I'm pretty sure I'm not overloading because my mom drilled that into my head when I got married and bought my washing machine. In fact, I think that's probably why my maytag lasted so long without ever being repaired.

So practically speaking how does its size compare to what I might find in todays machines? I don't think my manual says how big it is. Am I just imagining it or was it just a really big machine for its time?

 

[d-jones]

Could you be more specific about what your washer's doing? You mentioned that it won't spin, so does that mean it will fill and agitate as normal? There are a lot of very knowledgeable people that frequent this blog that can help determine the cause of the problem, and there's a very good chance that your machine is repairable, perhaps even easily, so don't give up on it just yet.

 

[rp2813]

Believe it or not, Maytags generally had smaller tubs than a lot of other makes.  Laundromats use smaller capacity machines probably so they can collect more money through the need to use more than one machine to process everything.  Your machine can likely be repaired, but you may have trouble finding a reputable service man who will tell you it's worth fixing -- even though it is.

 

Modern machines have larger tubs, but due to environmental regulations they don't fill all the way with water so the extra capacity is moot.  They also tend to fill even less for the rinse cycle.  If you can get your Maytag fixed, that is by far your best option.  There are members in So Cal who may be able to refer you to an area resource for repairs.  Don't give up on your machine just yet.

 

[stan]

What David said !

Absolutely don't give up on your machine yet!

Dose it fill, agitate.. what do you hear ...
.
What if it's just a lid switch? You could bypass yourself ect ect

 

[volvoguy87]

Sock

On Maytags, it's not at all rare for a sock or other article of clothing to make its way out of the inner tub and wind up stuck between the inner tub (which spins) and the outer tub (which remains stationary). The gap between the tubs is very small, so something like a sock can jam up the whole works. Fortunately, they are usually easy to extract.

Dave

 

[wayupnorth]

My Maytag LA511 says its Large Capacity and has Extra Large on the load size. But since I bought it in 1984, it seems to easily wash a stuffed basket full of clothes or a king size comforter with a some extra water no problem and turns over just fine. The GE V12 I had before I swear had the capacity of a 5 gallon bucket

 

[rinso]

My ex-wife still has the 1969 A806 we had when we were married, and it still works. You may also find that the motor needs replacing. One of the start windings may be shorted. It is still worth getting fixed, even if it is the motor. You won't find that kind of quality and performance in any of the new top loaders, except possibly the new Speed Queen.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Your MT A806

Most likely has a bad motor or transmission which are replaceable. The reason you find that your MT holds more than single load TL commercial washers is because it is rated for a 18Lb/9Kg load. Most top load coin op machines with the exception of some Whirlpool and Maytag machines are standard capacity meaning 6/7Kg . If you look at the (Double Load/9Kg)Frontload machines they will hold more than your MT. Most laundromats toady have washers of at least 23Kg in the Mpls/St.Paul area to do the bigger loads I have seen up to (55KG) One even hooked up to Ecolab metered chemicals in laundromats.
Nick WK78

 

[bajaespuma]

The GE V12 I had before I swear had the capacity of a 5 gall

Them's fightin' words! I have measured, using both rulers and measured amounts of water, the relative capacities of a GE V-12 washbasket and a Maytag A806 white washbasket. The 806's capacity is so SLIGHTLY larger than the GE's it's a pain to quantify that surplus (and, BTW, the V-12 washbasket wasn't that much bigger than the Filter-Flo solid tubs). And, yes, I took into account the high water line on each machine which, on the GE is slightly above the top curve of the washbasket, underneath the clothes retainer ring, and, on the Maytag is slightly above the edge of the lint filter cap. Furthermore, if you pack the 'Tag with laundry it will slow the agitator down so much as to affect the quality of washing and, especially, rinsing. You can pack the V-12 with almost 10 pounds of "mixed regular fabrics" (claimed recommended maximum) and that spiral activator will move those clothes around.

 

Although I love and respect both brands, don't count Filter-Flo's out. They may have been noisier, not as elegantly engineered, and not have cost as much, but if my goal was to get my clothes clean, I'd go with the GE every time.

 

[wayupnorth]

The GE that I had did not have a spiral activator. It was the most basic model. 1 cycle, no water level or temp adjustment but did have a filter flo pan. After getting the new Maytag set in 1984, I put the GE in one of my rental units. When I sold the property, I gave it to the last tenant. I happened to run into them at a grocery store recently and that 1970 something GE is still running fine.

 

[justamom]

I've been away from my computer for awhile, but thanks so much for all your replies.

I stopped using my machine about January, so please don't think I'm crazy, but I really can't remember exactly what was wrong. (I was afraid to get stuck with a full machine and water etc.)

So I just now went in and turned it on damp dry just for a second. It did start to spin, but I didn't want to possibly hurt it any more and the smell started almost immediately.

I had gone at the time to a place called the Appliance Parts Bank in Huntington Beach because they have always been helpful. But when they looked up the price for a transmission it was about 500 so they said that was a lot to spend on such an old washer since something else could go wrong too, since we're not even sure that's the problem. And I should probably get a new more efficient machine that would be bigger etc etc etc.

I did look for the part online. I found what I think was the right part on one or two sites on sale for about 300 or 350. Of course, now I don't know what I did with the info and the part #s, but I haven't looked for them yet. (I will).

So does anyone in the local area know a someone I could call to come and look at it? I live in Los Alamitos (near Long Beach, Seal Beach, Cypress area) I don't think I just want to look in the yellow pages, I would feel better with a referral.

Again thanks for your help, I never thought that I wouldn't remember what was wrong, I feel like an idiot.

 

[kenmore71]

The fact that it DOES spin and that the smell started right away when it's spinning leads me to believe that it is NOT the transmission. The transmission is not used to make a Maytag spin. It really sounds like the problem might be in the motor. Perhaps there is a bad run winding or their is some issue with the centrifugal switch that is keeping the start windings going too long, or has even ruined them. A motor is a pretty easy replacement for these machines and they can be had on ebay (or maybe even from a member here) for a modest price. Also, if your motor is the round style (I forget what year they switched to those, but mid-70s comes to mind) a competent motor repairman may be able to fix it if it isn't too far gone.

 

[arbilab]

Folks, with what data we have doesn't this sound most like the start switch weight yoke is stuck? That's REAL easy to fix, doesn't even require parts just disassembly. Oh, and an honest repairman, or a nearby hobbyist who knows how motors come apart. Don't set it on the curb just yet.

 

[d-jones]

Don't set it on the curb ever!

Even if the machine has suffered a catastrophic failure that renders it unrepairable(though some would argue no such failure exists), at the very least it should be stripped of usable parts to help preserve the life of other A806 machines. But there's really no need to go there with this one yet. Based on what's being described and the comments of others, plus the fact that the wiring diagram is pasted right to the front of the outer tub on these machines, a competent(and honest)technician with an ohm meter should be able to nail this problem down in minutes.

 

[d-jones]

I should have mentioned this before but somehow it slipped my mind. There's a shop right here in Burbank called Ralph's Maytag shop. He's on South Victory and he only works on 'real' Maytags. He can't stand Whirlpool so don't get him started on the subject or he'll launch into a diatribe you'll not soon forget. Anyways, he's getting on in years and has scaled back his business in preparation for retirement, but if you can get your machine to him, he can fix it and he'll do it right. He works alone and is in and out of his shop all day, so you can leave a message for him, or if you listen to his message completely he gives you his cell phone number to try him on. Good luck with your machine.

 

[spankomatic]

Check the belt too... slipping burning?

 

[kenmore71]

"Slipping burning"

Is not possible on a Maytag. The main drive belt is designed to slip.

 

[combo52]

Main Drive belt Slipping And Burning On MTs

Burned main drive belts on MT DC washers are one of the top 10 most frequent repair calls on MT washers, as you said it is designed to slip and when something goes wrong guess what happens, LOL I could save you a box of burned up MT main drive belts.

 

[goatfarmer]

I've seen plenty of burned Maytag belts, too.