I Bit the Buillet -- The Matag A407 is Mine

[eurekastar]

Thanks for the advice! I've thought about removing the transmission and servicing it. Looks like I'll need to do that anyway! I think the biggest challenge will be getting the agitator off after almost 44 years of service! I just tried to pop it off and it's not going to budge easily!

 

[eurekastar]

Anything else?

Is there anything else I might need to service the transmission besides a new O ring, gasket, and oil?

 

[good-shepherd]

anything else I might need

The nylon pinion gear and lug washer are wear items in the trans but unless they are in really bad shape its fine to reuse them.

The gear oil should be Maytag oil or GL-4 gear oil such as Sta-lube.

 

[combo52]

Rebuilding A MT DC Transmission

The most important thing you need is a decent agitator shaft and top cover with decent bearings to have a good rebuild.

 

These are the reasons that most of our customers get rid of their MTDC washers.

 

The number one thing that kills these MTDC washers is a bad agitator shaft and top bearings., [ it usually tightens up to the point that it won't agitate any longer ]

 

The number two thing is a snubber that has lost its pads and has torn up the aluminum damper and the steel base plate.

 

Number three a transmission that is leaking oil so badly that it is making a major mess and is also interfering with the proper clutching action of the main drive belt.

 

John L.

 

[hippiedoll]

 biggest challenge will be getting the agitator off...

A really good tip shared with me a couple years ago...

1. Remove the lint filter from the top of the agitator.

2. Take a hairdryer, set it at it's highest heat setting, turn it on, and put the blowing end of the hairdryer down into the barrel of the agitator.

3. Leave the hairdryer on, blowing down into the barrel of the agitator, for about 5 minutes. That should be enough time to heat up & soften the agitator.

4. Take the hairdryer out of the barrel, turn it off & put it out of the way. Now reach down under the agitator skirt and try and pull up on the agitator. It should pop off pretty easily, being warmed up from the hairdryer.
If not, try the hairdryer again for a little longer.

GOOD LUCK!
Keep us posted & let us know how that works for you.
)

 

[eurekastar]

@ hippiedoll

Thanks! I'll give that a try tomorrow! While I no longer have hair, I still own a hair dryer for some reason! LOL!

 

[eurekastar]

agitator removal

I tried the hair dryer trick a couple of times this morning for five minutes each (back to back) and it wouldn't budge. I don't want to pull too hard from the base, lest I break the plastic.

I have a couple more tricks up my sleeve. I think I'll try pouring boiling water down the barrel of the agitator and see if that does the trick. If that doesn't work, there's one more trick I'll try before destroying the agitator to get it off!

 

[kenwashesmonday]

When I got my Maytag, I had to replace the tub seal, and the agitator was really stuck on. I took some strong clothesline and ran it up and down inside the middle of the agitator (where the filter goes), sort of making a web, and attached that to a slide hammer. After a dozen or so good hammers, off it came with no damage. In case anyone here doesn't know what a slide hammer is, it's an auto body tool for pulling dents.

 

[eurekastar]

Pilot Light Lens

Well, I stupidly broke the pilot light lens when removing the light. Does anyone know where I might find one or can anyone point me to a good substitute? I know those things are used on a lot of different stuff, so surely there must be a source! Thanks for any thoughts or help!

I found a new light but it is useless without the lens since the lens holds the light assemble on.

 

[hippiedoll]

Eurekastar:

DARN!

Sorry the hairdryer trick didn't work for you.

Another thing you can try is shoving a towel down the barrel of the agitator and then pour the boiling water down the barrel so the towel soaks up the hot water & sits at the bottom of the barrel, warming up the paddock to soften it some. After about 5 minutes, try pulling up on the agitator. See if maybe you have luck with that tip?

Keeping my fingers crossed for you...
)

 

[eurekastar]

Agitator from Hell!

Well, I tried everything I know to do to get that darn agitator off, including a slide hammer that I borrowed from a friend. However, it wouldn't budge! So I'm in the process of destroying it little by little. It is determined to stay on but I'm slowly winning.

I found a used replacement on Ebay. But would there be a suitable upgrade to a higher performing agitator or would it be best to stay the original?

Thanks again for all the help and advice! After I finally got the tub cover off, I was surprised to find almost no rust around the lip of the outer tub. I hope that is a good omen! 

 

[eurekastar]

Success!!!

The agitator fought like hell, but it didn't win!  It was no match for patience, my Ryobi mutli-tool saw, and a hammer and nail bar.  I gave it a blast of PB Blaster and I'll let it set until tomorrow afternoon.  Then I'll clean up the shaft and tub nut with a wire brush.  We'll see how stubborn the tub nut is!

 

[good-shepherd]

We'll see how stubborn the tub nut is!

After the battle the agitator put up I would just split the nut with sharp cold chisel and save your strength for the mounting stem.

 

[hippiedoll]

DANG....

That agitator got KNOCKED THE F*CK OUT!
LOL...
D

 

[eurekastar]

What am I looking at?

I want to make sure I understand what I'm seeing before I begin chiseling away at the tub nut.  There is so much build up that it is difficult to tell if what I'm seeing is the same as what I've seen in a few Youtube videos!

 

Am I seeing the top part of the mounting stem, then the tub nut and then the washer below it?  I brushed away a lot of build up to reveal the lugs on the nut and gave it a few whacks with my spanner wrench and hammer.  Of course it didn't budge.  I'll try again tomorrow before I try to break the nut with a chisel.

 

Again, thanks again for any insights!

 

[good-shepherd]

I want to make sure I understand

Yes, you're seeing it correctly, that nut is what you want to split with a chisel.
A new one is included with the replacement mounting stem

 

[eurekastar]

Yay! I finally got the spanner nut chiseled off!

Because I had to chisel off the spanner nut, I won't be surprised if I end up having to cut off the mounting stem.  I have it soaking in PB-Blaster.  Tomorrow is a day off, so we'll what happens!

 

[good-shepherd]

Whew,, that looks like an archeological excavation with all the years of crud on there.

Bet that machine saw lots of cold washes in hard water.

Don't forget to remove the set screw.

 

[eurekastar]

One More Step Down!

It's been a cool, rainy day in the Texas Panhandle but a perfect day to tackle that mounting stem with my angle grinder and a couple of metal cutting blades.  I was really afraid that I would cut into the threads on the transmission shaft but managed to avoid that.  The boot seal was completely rotten too, so a leak was in its future.  I'll remove the outer tub and transmission tomorrow.  Monday is a holiday, so I'll tackle the transmission then.  Yay!

 

[eurekastar]

Outer Tub Is Out!

I finally removed the outer tub this evening, revealing quite a mess that needs to be cleaned up.  The tub supports need some extra attention to clean up forty-four years of crud and rust.  I had to chisel off the bearing sleeve and discovered that there are THREE relief channels.  One was filled with so much crud and grime that it was almost unrecognizable! 

 

I think I'll tackle the filth inside the cabinet, the inner tub, and wash basket before getting into the transmission.  All that mess is bugging me!

 

Thanks again to everyone for all the help and advice too!  This has been a fun project!

 

[combo52]

Great Progress

Unfortunately the agitator shaft is so corroded and pitted you need another transmission [ or at least a cover and agitator shaft ] if you want this washer to work for long with a new seal and tub bearing.

 

We always save good transmissions from the many Maytag's we scrap every year when they are in great condition. This is the challenge of trying save a washer that has been so badly abused by poor washing practices for so many years.

 

John L.

 

[good-shepherd]

the filth inside the cabinet

Might as well try to unscrew the cabinet from the base at this point, much easier to clean that way.

Maybe John could sell you one his salvaged Helical Drive transmissions?

 

[eurekastar]

Transmission Purchase

I would certainly be glad to buy a transmission if the price is right.  I really don't want to install an orbital drive transmission if I can avoid it.  I found a helical drive on Ebay but it appeared to be for a standard tub model. 

 

[combo52]

Transmissions for Maytag helical drive washers

Hi Bill your machine has a Pitman transmission now you can also use the orbital transmission. helical drive does not refer to the type of transmission in the washer. You can use either transmission in a helical drive Maytag Washer.

John L

 

[combo52]

Transmissions for Maytag helical drive washers

Hi Bill your machine has a Pitman transmission now you can also use the orbital transmission. helical drive does not refer to the type of transmission in the washer. You can use either transmission in a helical drive Maytag Washer.

John L

 

[eurekastar]

Well, the archaeological excavation project turned into a major mining operation!  I'll treat the rust with POR-15 and the outside tub should be good to go!

 

[good-shepherd]

for a standard tub model.

You could swap the top plate from the eBay trans onto your trans case.

 

[eurekastar]

Ebay Transmission

This is a photo of the Ebay transmission.  How does it look?  The seller is asking $60 plus $40 shipping.

 

[good-shepherd]

Looks decent, very little corrosion. But who knows what the condition of the bearings are.
I'd ask the seller to check for any play on the agitator shaft.

 

[eurekastar]

Well, darn!

I bought the counterweight transmission on Ebay and the seller messaged me that it was dropped as he was packing it for shipment and it got damaged.  He did issue an immediate refund.