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

[mstone]

It is true! And thank you!
I got the screw extractor set and used it, and it completely destroyed the bolt heads, but that left nothing holding the center plate holding the power unit, except for that weird extra little screw, which I could not even find the head of. I used the extractor on that too even though even though I could not see it. Then I bashed the crap out of the housing with a chisel and hammer to separate them and it finally worked! So noe I just have to get the broken bolts out of the bolt holes on the PU body, which should be easy. And judt remove the pieces of the PU and clean! Should be smoother sailing ahead!

 

[mstone]

[No message]

 

[mstone]

I lifted out the clutch pinion gear and cleaned it very well. It has a small bit of damage on it, but I think it will be alright for a very long time still.

 

[tinkr]

Great job

Now the cleaning really starts.
Don't know if you caught it but 1 of the bolts are longer. And has to be used in the same hole. Why?
Can't rember.

Off to work on boat wiring.
Getting warm and the lake is calling.

 

[mstone]

Thank you! And yes! I am excited! And those bolts are destroyed so I will have to get new ones anyway lol.
And nice! Have a great time wiring your boat!

 

[neptunebob]

Don't mean to be rude, but the question is burning..

It seems like a lot work for a wringer washing machine that fell out of favor because using them seems like slavery. Are you sure you want to do all of this?

To anyone who knows: It seems that a wringer is a very complex machine, maybe more so than an automatic. Were they more difficult and more expensive to manufacture than the automatic washers were? What I am reading here, there are almost as many parts as a BD Whirlpool/Kenmore.

 

[mstone]

Nah it is a very simple machine, just built kind of weird. And I think using it would be fun. I have never even seen one in action until I got this machine and it will be an interesting, fun, and meditative experience. Plus I can agitate for as long as I want, add as much water as i want, and as much hot and cold water as I want. It also seems like it would last a lot longer than most automatics when properly cared for. It is extremely solidly built. Most of the parts are thick metal. There is almost no plastic. There are a lot less parts to break. And you dont have to use the wringer if you dont want to, if you have a spindrier, but I would be happy and intrigued by using the wringer too.

 

[mstone]

Once I fix this machine, I will likely have a washer that lasts my entire lifetime. And I am only 22.

 

[ea56]

Mathis.

“And I think using it would be fun. I have never even seen one in action until I got this machine and it will be an interesting, fun, and meditative experience”.

Good for You! You will really love using this Maytag Wringer. When I was your age I had one and if I had the proper setup for a wringer I would have one again too, another Maytag!

To me it is theraputic, and you description of meditative is apt. You get into the rhythm of the process and to me it was fun. Plus, the laundry was amazingly clean and a whole weeks wash done in about an hour.

I commend you on you tenacity in getting this piece of history up and running and restored. Yo will not regret you efforts.

Eddie

 

[mstone]

Plus... I am already pretty far into this project. It is too late to wonder if it is worth it hah. But it is to me.

 

[mstone]

Why thank you Eddie! You get it! I have tried it with water and it is really cool! I love the movement it has, and I could for sure see how it would really bash those clothes clean more than any other machine; even some other wringer brands.
And yes! It seems like it would be a nice experience!
And thank you! I see it as a piece of history too! I like that I am young and getting into having one. It seems like it would be quite rare hah, and I will be able to use this machine for decades. I will probably still use it when it turns 100 years old; and beyond that even!
I loved washers since I was very young. By 4, I had learned to climb up on the washer and stick my finger in the lid switch so I could watch the cycle, and I very often washed random rags that I found in a bucket outside, manually. Lol! And my uncle also gave me his broken washer to play with when I was a little kid, and I did. It sat outside haha! So I can imagine it being fun!

 

[mstone]

I look at these machines like I look at records and Polaroid cameras. It is not nearly as big of a thing, but it is old and cool and should be kept around because of it.

 

[mstone]

Ok so far I have out and cleaned the clutch pinion gear, the main shaft for the rack gear, and the rack gear. All 3 of them have some damage. I am most concerned about the rack gear, as it has bits of multiple teeth missing, some tiny pieces of metal stuck under the teeth of the gear, and the teeth of the gear have rough edges and little pits. The pinion gear just has one big chunk missing, and the main shaft has a weird shallow crater in it. What are you guys' opinions? Do you think I need to replace any of them?
Pic 1 is the pinion, 2 is the shaft, and 3 and 4 are the rack gear.
I just dont want any pieces to break off and cause more damage while I am using the machine. There is the same worry about fixing some of the issues with JB weld.

 

[tinkr]

In your video

I noticed movement after you pushed in the shifting rod. I wondered why it did that.
I certainly am no expert but it may be the damage you have on the gears.

I noticed (for lack of better word) a grinding when you pushed in the shaft.
Mine does that sometimes. And I'd bet that is what damaged the rack gear.

Ok JB weld I dont think it would be strong enough. The pitting on the shaft may be from metal stuck in one place and wore pits in it.

Best bet A phone call to Tuscon. Pick his brain. See if he has gears alone he will sell.
We didnt dissamble my broken gear box. I know teeth were damged. It would jam and not move.

Your machine was working. How far do you want to go with it?

It is sad to say, but I have the idea, that women that were tired of their wringer washers MAY have sabotaged them.
Believe me I know a few that have ruined perfectaly good items to get what they want.

 

[mstone]

My thoughts on the movement after disengaging the shifter rod is that maybe some old oil was in between the two pinion gears that separate when disengaged, or under the bottom pinion gear at the shifter mechanism stopping it from moving far enough away, or just being thick globby liquid that had enough force to turn the top gear slightly. When it was turning while disengaged, I could hold the agitator gently and it would be enough to stop it, so I think it was the liquid.
And yeah I noticed the grinding that happens sometimes too and it scared me lol. I will for sure be giving Mark a call about the damaged gears. I am sure he has them in stock, I just wanted as many opinions on it as possible.

And lol! That makes sense! But this does not seems like one of those.

 

[mstone]

Marks says to replace, replace, replace!
He also says those parts are pretty cheap.

 

[stan]

Think

That's best since you've come this far.
We old timers will enjoy this rebuild thread. So thank you for sharing it with us.
Wish I could be there to watch and help.
The day will come (after a little learning curve) that you will fire up a brand new looking Maytag.
Youl enjoy showing it with someone older that use to have one when they were younger.
(I have enjoyed seeing the smile it brought to a old lady.. that had one like mine that she used to wash all her kids diapers in. It brought her back to a certain time that she was happy in)
Youl probably have this machine your whole life.. You may get to the point that you no longer use it (years from now) but youl feel good about what you accomplished, and to know that you can use it whenever your in the mood.
Keep up the good work!

 

[mstone]

Well I tried the best way I could think to remove the worm wheel, which was to use a ratchet with a spade bit, and I stood ontop of the transmission to hold it down, and the stud for the wheel would not tutn. It is stuck! Anyone got amy ideas to get it out?

 

[mstone]

Yes, so true! And thank you! I am glad you are enjoying it!
That will be cool! It is also fun to show it to other people my age and have their reaction be "What is that!?!
I am so excoted to have a nearly brand new maytag! And I plan to use it my whole life when I need to wash clothes!

 

[tinkr]

Removing the gear

The service manual says use the handle of a spanner wrench. I don't know. If its really stuck PB blaster or liquid wrench. Oh I was warned about removing the plug with the plus sign not to do it difficult to adjust it from scratch.
And thats all I know Sorry.