Just got my first wringer washer, and it needs a little work so I need some help

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mstone

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Hello all! I just bought and brought home my first wringer washwr! A maytag E2LP, with a red agitator, for only $50! It agitates fine thank goodness, but the wringer wont turn at all and the bottom roller comes out of its holder, and the pump will not work.
The lever work and correctly moves the pump wheel into place, but the pump wheel will not turn. It has a flat spot on it from being rubbed, and when I take the pump off to turn it manually, the wheel unscrews and screws in, and when it screws in, it stops. When unscrewed to be loser, water leaks from the center of the pump. What am I missing with this thing? Why would the wheel to turn the pump unscrew and screw in? I am confused by that. As for the wringer, the ringer post turns when i pop off the wringer, but no mechanisms inside the wringer turn. I was able to manually turn it by taking off the top of the wringer and fitting the roller into its holder and turning it with a lot of force, but it barely moved. Also, what is the best/easiest way to clean the tub, the agitator, and to get the rust off the metal below the agitator? Thank you! All help is greatly appriciated!

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A little update... After playing with the machine some more, the wringer started to work intermittently on its own, after i figured out how to separate the two halves and put that bottom roller back in place. The whole wringer started to move its entire body, and then i saw the rollers start and stop. Now it works fine in reverse, but intermittantly in forward.
 
Another update... The wringer is now working fully, except if it is grabbing something large, then the whole thing sometimes spins around, and also I am pretty sure the safety release does not work correctly. Also, now when I throw the pump switch, it stops the motor as makes the lights dim, so something is very wrong with that lol. I also cannot gravity drain because it only drains a trickle. It may be worth noting that some very old acorns came out of the hose while the seller and I were testing the machine.
 
A few words in your shell like ears....

While the urge is understandable, sometimes it does pay not to rush into doing too much with a vintage washer upon arrival.

All machinery that has been sat sitting for prolonged periods of time need and or should have a going over before restarting into service.

First and foremost suggest you make a through search through the archives of this group; many have gone this route before you and generously posted step by step information (often including pictures) of their work.

First thing you want to do is attempt to lift the agitator. If it does not shift easily (and it very well may not), then there is a good chance it is stuck to the shaft and must be freed. How "stuck" can be anything from required several good pulls, to needing major work. But make no mistake the agitator must come off at some point. Again search archives as to why.....

Next thing is to check for leaks of transmission oil. Again all is contained in archives but you want to look at the left rear leg area; perhaps going underneath with a flashlight.

Leaking transmission oil was a fairly common thing with these vintage Maytag wringer washers. The extent of and so forth is what matters. It could be something benign as washer being tipped forward (on front where decal and power shift knob are located... *NEVER DO THIS*), or pointing towards a more serious problem. This would be and normally is caused by water getting past tub seals and into the transmission. As time goes by the former displaces the oil which runs down bottom of tub and onto left leg....

No offence, but your Maytag looks a bit rough; as if she was rode hard and put away wet. Thus it wouldn't be a surprise if more than a few things need attention. This is normal.

You can purchase via this website various owners and or repair manuals for Maytag wringers, or seek out elsewhere. You will need the latter most as it describes in full detail proper working of various parts, troubleshooting and or replacement if required. It is very important until fully familiar with this washer not to do too much too soon. Otherwise damage to parts/system can occur and then you'll have to hunt down replacements.

If am being honest your machine is a prime candidate for stripping down and giving an overhaul. You want to see the state of oil in transmission/power unit, that is if there is any left at all. It could have turned into nasty muck which will want cleaning out. Happily Maytag over engineered these washers so they will run even with no or bad oil in transmission/power unit; but for how long is another matter.
 
Thank you for reply. I have taken the agitator off, a few times now and that bit works fine. One of the pictures I uploaded shows the agitator drive and the area around it. The tub itself is in great shape, except for that central area under the agitator that to me looks like it just needs some kind of cleaning. There is old dryed oil on the back left leg, and some new oil which is likely from the precarious ways in which i had to get it into the building it went into. I had to go up about 5 feet, and it did turn upside down for part of that. I did not mean to do that but it happened, and I knew of the oil issue before that happening. The good news is that the new oil looks quite fresh, and I would assume there is a decent amount more in the power unit. The only thing that is actually broken now is the pump and I have a thought that an acorn could be stuck down in it. And the tub to pump hose needs replacing. Other than that, it is all painting and cleaning. Im sure it would be a great thing to take it apart and replace the oil in the power unit, but I dont know if I want to do that as it might be over my head.
Also as a side note, I am just asking for help and dont want to be insulted, even if my questions are dumb. The whole thing about shell like ears is kind of upsetting. But thank you for trying to help too.
 
Well if you didnt mean it that way, then I am sorry if I took it that way. Maybe you meant it as more of a joking poke but I could not tell because it is only in text. Sorry.
 
Mathis

Sound like your getting to know ur machine...Just from reading so far, sounds like you have a clog. The water should drain when hose is lowered (gravity) something could have gotten down the drain hole.
Taking the tub to pump hose is a good place to start, even if you are not replacing at this time, see if it's got something in it. With a light, check the drain hole. If nothing, continue down the line to pump and drain hose. The inside if your tub looks normal for its age. A little soapy water and some extra fine steel wool with do wonders, or a SOS pad, light preasure. But you have to get it to drain first so you can rinse it out good.
A little BarKeepers Freind used on the rusty spots of the outside of the machine will help those spots.
A little oil dripping down the rear left leg is kinda normal for a machine of this age, just as long as it doesn't become excessive. Also sounds like you need a new pump, or pump wheel assembly. Engaging the pump should not slow the motor. Something ain't right there
HTH
Keep us posted with your progress
 
Thank you stan, for your replies and pictures of the manual! This is very helpful. I believe the first thing I will do is take off the pump and tub to pump hose to see what is in it. The tub to pump hose seems ruined to me as it has cracks in it also, and the pump drain is also hard as a rock and was difficult to get the hook out of its holder and will not go back in. That hose may also have cracks in it but i dont remember off the top of my head. After that I will clean the tub, and thanks by the way for the advice on cleaning the tub and the outside rust! I am happy that at least the tub is in good shape! Then I can do a solid test wash after the hoses are replaced and pump works to see if any water leaks out any of the bolts or into the oil. I am very hopeful that it is all solid, but I do have it in my mind now that I may want to change out the power unit's oil eventually anyway. I feel like if kept in good condition, the transmission could last forever. However I am not ready to get in over my head with something like that. I would for sure be able to wash for a while with just fixing the pump and hoses and cleaning. I will also want to replace the electrical cord as it has many taped and broken areas and it is not grounded. When I do that I will probably blow all the dust bunnies out of the motor and oil it if i can. Also the wringer needs work for sure. It jumps forward on its own when it is set in the forward direction and it is terrifying! It seems like it could jump at my fingers and eat them if I was wringing clothes! I would also have to do something with its drip plate as that is heavily corroded, and it all needs oiling too. The wringer does turn at least though. I do have another question... What would be a good way to clean the bakelite agitator? Besides washing off the dust. Or is there no way to clean it beyond that? Thank you very much!
 
It took me a while, but I got the pump off! It is gunked up with a hard material and the pump's tube was almost completely blocked! Now to take it apart and clean it and get it to spin! Also, I am hoping the rubber wheel isnt too out of dhape to use!

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I have removed all the screws that hold the pump together. I will have to pry it apart a little bit. The big gasket will most likely be destroyed from taking this apart, so I think I may use one of those gasket sheets to cut out a new one. Has anyone done this before? Does it work well?
 
OMG

That thing looks like it was brought up from the Titanic!
Unless your going to gravity drain, you need a new one. You could try soaking it in CLR or something.. nothing to loose.
I think this is a good example of not draining the machine and the pump after use. Water was allowed to sit in the pump.
At this point, if it were me, I'd get a bucket, put it under the drain hole in the tub. Find something to plug the hole (maybe a cork) and try filling the wash tun with hot water. Let's test and see if the tub will hold water? If it dose, you can pull the plug and drain into the bucket. If it won't hold water, then you have bigger problems.
At that point you need to read the thread "Moving a Maytag E" That's Larry's thread, was long, but he rebuilt his from ground up, and shows how the gear oil is used in the power unit AKA transmission.. He took lots of useful pics along the way.
Hopefully you won't have to go that far.. Still its one of the best for info on these.
You said that it "jumps forward" ?Are you talking about the wringer head swinging around when trying to put something through?
The agitator.. Maybe start with some BonAmi, then some mag wheel polish?
Others have done this, just can't remember what they used.
You might post a new thread just about the agitator
HTH
 
Brasso works well on bakelite.  I've used it on bakelite components of some of my antique telephones and they have shined up nicely.
 
Thank you both for your replies about the agitator! I will look into these cleaners.
And Stan, I know right!?! It does look like a piece of a ship wreck! I think it is a combination of soap buildup and rust, but also sawdust and other junk that fell down its drain as it sat over the years. It looks to me like it sat outside for a while and so could have gotten extra clogged from that. As for the pump, I think it is actually still usable. The stuff on it is very brittle and not hard to break off. The impeller is still underneath it and seems to me to be fully intact. I have not cleaned it yet but will show you when I do. Maybe I could soak it in some acidic water to disolve the soap? Like citric acid. I wanted to show a pic of it just because it is so intense!
Good idea about filling the tub and plugging the hole! I will do that! I am hoping it holds water! I know i had filled the machine with a small amount of water to test if it leaked before i bought it, and it was fine before i started messing with the pump and its hoses. However, I did not fill it higher than the start of the drive shaft of the agitator, I am pretty sure.
Yes, sort of. The wringer locks into place but it does swing toward me when it is turned on in forward mode, clicking all the clicks when it does. There must be something wrong with the index slide.
I have read the begining part of that thread twice and have it open on another tab to read further! It is a good thread! Thank you!
 
I just finished with testing my machine with water in it and agitating. After the first half hour or so I was eagerly ready to report that there were no leaks, but I left it running for over an hour, and when I came back to check for the last time, it was leaking water and oil right out of the breather hole. I had left a pan underneath just in case of this. It mostly leaks when the agitator is engaged and stops when it is not. Before doing any testing I was mentally preparing myself in case I did have to take apart the transmission, and coming to agreement that even if it worked I would still want to take it apart eventually, as there was grease all over the machine's underside. Now to go read that thread in full...

Photo 1 is before it leaked but while it was agitating, but after some wiping. Photo 2 is after it leaked.

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I've seen worse

There's only one thing I can think of to try.. Plummers goop around each bolt. This may stop the leak..as long as that's were the water is coming from?
My Maytag is about the same age as yours (1954) and on occasion it will leak about a spoonful of goopy oil through the breather hole. It's only once in a while, so l leave well enough alone.
Not sure about you wringer.. Maybe some of the teeth (gears) are broken off the index slide..You probably need a new one, but you got bigger fish to fry with the leak.
Let me ask you this.. Are you attached to the old girl yet? Or do you think you may be better off hunting down another? Don't want to discourage you, as they can be great projects, and can bring a sense of personal satisfaction. We here will appreciate your efforts and will cheer you on. But felt I had to throw that out to you.
 
Hmm. I am not attached to it really, however I am a bit invested just from putting in so much effort to bringing it from where I bought it into the building where it is now. I had to take apart the door frame and cut out a tiny piece of a stud and lift it multiple times 5 feet up on my own! Hah! It is a thrown together construction type of building not like a real wall. I also had to keep the machine discreet the whole time so no one at my house would know that I bought it.

I have spent $50 on the machine, so i am not too monetarily in deep for it. However, it is very unlikely that I would find another in great working condition for so cheap, that is also the square version and has a pump already. Also any one that I buy will need to have its transmission taken apart at some time or another to change out its grease, so I dont really see a lot of reason to go for a different one anyway. Thank you for the suggestion though!

As for the leak, it leaked large globs of oil and a lot of water through the breather hole in a short time, and I am thinking it is leaking from the agitator shaft most likely because it does have a small amount of play in it, and I dont see any water around the outside of the PU. At some points the leak was a steady stream of water.
The taking apart, cleaning, regreasing, and putting back together of the PU and the wringer drive dont seem too scary to me, but the finding replacement gaskets and other replacement pieces part is what scares me. I dont know where i would get any replacement parts, including the index slide, and any thick rubber gaskets. I could maybe find replacement circular gaskets, and could likely cut out new thin gaskets out of gasket material, maybe. What do you think?
 
Also this washer was close to down the street from my house which was cool, and it helped because I carried the washer strapped in to the trunk of my car, with a tarp over it for discretion. Haha!
 
Thank you! And oddly enough, I found some parts that phil is selling on ebay still. I will have to call his number and not his store number next time i call him. When I called the store, a lady said he is retiring and selling off the last of his stock.
Also if I know what gaskets I need, I think I could cut out some replacement ones of my own.
 
Okay Stan, now I agree with you on needing a new pump. I cleaned it enough for it to turn, but one of its impellers is completely gone! Rusted off and destroyed. I am pretty sure, but not 100% that it will not work with only 3 impeller blades.
It really underscores the importance of rinsing the machine and draining all water when done. Also I believe the machine has been left out in the rain, due to the dark water lines in the tub... Poor thing.
I just count myself lucky that the tub, and the other metal parts are all in good shape, just not the gaskets and parts of the wringer.

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If your gong to restore

this machine...and Phil is winding down, I'd get a hold of him sooner rather than later.
He use to carry all the gaskets.. much easier than tying to cut your own, he may have a pump, and the tub to pump hose is unique, and hard to make due without a correct replacement, so get one if he's got one. Maybe a spare belt, and the index slide, agitator ect
If you've read Larry's thread, and your gong to go that route, your going to need to get or borrow a gulmite wrench to remove the tub bolts to seperate tub from the Power Unit.
Wonder if that pump would work with only three impellers! or would it be off balance?
Put it back in and let us know! LOL
 
I sent Phil an email a few days ago and heard nothing, however, I just sent him a message on ebay which seems like a platform where he is more active. I agree that it would be easier to just buy the gasket kit, however, if I still have this machine 40 years or so from now, and it comes time to do this maintenance all over again, I would have to cut them myself most likely. That doesnt matter now though if I can get the kit! I hope he has a pump. He actually does have a tub to pump hose for sale, but it is used, so it may not be in the best condition. Why is it so unique? Why cant I just make my own?
He also has the wide tub to center plate gasket, and the other one that fits in the groove, and a worm shaft pulley gasket, but it would be better to buy them all as a kit.
I hope he has an index slide also.
There are other ebay sellers with belts and agitators for sale, and both of those of mine are also in good shape so I will probably wait on those. I do eventually want a turquoise agitator though so I can switch them out for fun!
As for the bolts, I dont know where I would get that crazy wrench... I was just thinking of dremeling a slot into the tops of them and replacing them with normal bolts, however I cant be sure they will come out with that method.
If I cant find all the parts I need then I may have to go to a machine shop with the broken part and see if they can make a new one, if that is how they work anyway. I would have the pump impeller made out of plastic or silicone or something so it could never rust again!
And lol I will have to clean it up more to test it... but I cant test it with water easily lol, only to see if it runs.
 

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