Guess what Bobby got this weekend???

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

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absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!

Just as nice inside as outside!!
That machine could not have a better home now!

So Bobby is there anything left on Craigslist Boston?
 
Gary---

My machine definately had the turquoise agitator, just the shorter fins of the orbital. (Funny how Bobby mentions the wobbly agitator----mine was just like that too.) On closer examination of Bobby's machine---mine did not offer so many water temperature combinations. Mine was all cold rinses.

I ran across the bill of sale while packing for the move last fall! I kept it although I don't remember which box of stuff I put it in.
 
Thats and AWESOME!!!!!

Machine there Bobby, I is jealous, sniff pout, wish we here in the south could find more of the older appliances, but it seems they have all DRIED up,"SIGH" Oh well, i wont give up...
 
Steve

'My machine definately had the turquoise agitator, just the shorter fins of the orbital'

So before the change to the white agitator, is it my understanding that Maytag changed to the orbital transmission but still kept the blue powerfin agitator?

When do you believe that Maytag changed from helical drive to orbital?
 
Gary---

Well I can tell you I was stunned when I realized my new machine was orbital!I did NOT like it at first and was angry about it! I think it had to be right about the time I bought it. Gansky will know for sure, but I am thinking the switch to orbital occured around 1990/1991. He and I spoke last night and he was telling me that certain promotional models had the standard white powerfin installed way back into the 1980's but I never saw one---how kool.

The first white power-fin I recall was around 1995-1996 and it had the little extra fins towards the top of the barrel. This was around a few years before the change to the ratcheting agitator.
 
I think they changed them in 87. The tell tale sign were the little ribs on the agitator barrel. Am I right?
Bobby in Boston
 
Does anyone have one of these orbital tranny Tags? I have never used one or heard one in action. I assume they must sound different during agitation.
Bobby in Boston
 
The change to the orbital was in 1987'ish. The agitators remained blue/turquoise for a while and then changed to white as in the brochure above in the last of the 25 1/2" wide washers. The agitators were a bit different in the later, wider machines (top brochure pics) and had 12 fins - Power-Flex 12. The first orbital machine I saw was almost exactly like Bobby's but without the speed selections and had a turquoise agitator. A lady I worked with had one in her new house and it did a spectacular job on small loads but I didn't get to try a large load until a few years later in someone else's washer.

I never thought the orbital did all that much in the deep, narrow basket of the 25 1/2" washers - very prone to overloading and then nothing moved at all. Rollover was pretty slow, but clothes spent more time at the bottom of the bakset where the flexible fins at the base could slap them around a little better and we all know that fast rollover doesn't necessarily mean good cleaning - what happens when they get to the bottom of the tub is where the cleaning takes place. Those first orbital tranny washers were really abysmal when trying to wash large or bulky items. If loaded very full, the item would get wet, but wouldn't move at all. Even in the later Dependable Care models, the ability to wash large items was marginal without the Load Sensor (corkscrew/dual-action) agitator. I never could get some larger throw rugs or multiple small bulky items to move around without dunking my arm in the water and pushing them around. The same can be said for the Whirlpool-made Direct-Drive machines too - that deep, narrow basket doesn't move big things well. The KitchenAids with the three speed motor and larger agitator base were a big improvement for these loads.

I put a 50 cycle pulley and belt set (and a motor start capacitor) on my A806 washer and by increasing the agitation and spin speed, turned it into an amazing washer. This ain't your grandmother's Maytag - it even sounds very different. If I had another of the Dep. Care or any orbital tranny washer now, I'd put an original Power-Fin like Bobby's in it - talk about washday drama:

 
Orbital Tranny:

We have one of those too. It looks just like the Powerflex 12 featured in Post #277628, except the dispenser is not as tall. Our washer was one of the last models that had a lid the size of the A712 above.

The sound is very different. It is the short fast stroke (approx. 160 opms per minute), and with the protruding fins up the agitator shaft, you can hear the rhythmic sloshing of the water on a full load. The first time I heard one of these run, I thought Maytag had adopted the Frigidaire method of vertical agitation; the rhythm, with the splashing bear a similar sound. Once I actually watched it, I knew this was not the case. It generates a fair amount of turnover, and does a nice job cleaning.

Bobby:
Congrats on getting that gorgeous A712! Back in 1985, that model was my dream machine. I remember seeing those on a showroom floor, and as I remember, it actually shined brighter than other models. I kid you not about this. These were in the stores for several years, and in my book, anyone who bought them was the luckiest person in the world.

Have a good one,
James
 
The A712(and other similar models went to the orbital trasmission at series 10. The series number was on the metal tag with the model and serial number.
I.E.
Model----Series----Serial
-A712 ---- 10 --- 123456AB

Anything below a 10 was the Helical. 10 and above was the orbital.

RCD
 

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