Maytag 806 Won't Spin

[mixfinder]

I picked ap a very nice 806 a month ago. Blue background, lighted tub with crystal knob. It came out of house built in 1974 and the washer was purchased new at that time. Cleaned it up and hooked it up and it washed like a dream but with a load it wouldn't spin. It tried, the lights dimmed, the tub would swirl in near silence and then it would stop. After a few tries it would finally take off. After consulting with a friend, I replaced the motor. Worked okay for a few loads and then the same behavior.

 

[mixfinder]

Low Lights

Cleaned it up and hooked it up and it washed like a dream but with a load it wouldn't spin. It tried, the lights dimmed, the tub would swirl in near silence and then it would stop. After a few tries it would finally take off. After consulting with a friend, I replaced the motor. Worked okay for a few loads and then the same behavior.

 

[mixfinder]

The Light Came ON

I was working in the yard and pondering the next step. I have a matching TOL from the LAT series that came out of my partner's house which I could put back in service. They are pristine, but not the same as old faithful. The 806 would try valiantly to start, but I didn't know any one locally who would give it an overhaul. A quiet hum and if luck held a click and away it would go. It was the click that I kept coming back to. No external start or relay yet it sounded like that was the issue. The washer was plugged into a 20 foot heavy duty extension cord. I moved an outlet and tried plugging in the washer directly. Voila! Evidently it pulls more electricity when it first begins.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Ahhh, the service calls I've seen due to long cords...

Crappy house voltage will do that to. Maytag has a procedure for installing a capacitor (similar to a Whirlpool belt drive capacitor) to help the motor start when the house voltage is not up to par such as sticking your meter into the outlet that the washer is plugged into and watching the voltage drop to around 90 something volts or less when the washer starts to spin. The one second or so when the start and run windings are both in play will spike way above 1400 watts until the start winding drops out. Long/light extension cords will not allow this and the motor has a cow. I've seen long term usage like that kill motor windings... Once your 806 reaches optimal max spin of around 618 rpm, it should be averaging around 480 watts or so IIRC.

It makes for interesting house light dimming when the customer has the refrigerator, washer, microwave, toaster, etc all on the same circuit...

RCD

 

[mixfinder]

Watts Up?

It was a live and learn for me. So many amazingly good things have happened for in the past 5 years, I must be under a guardian Angel at times. The thought popped in my head from no where and it worked.

 

[gansky1]

I put a capacitor on the 806 I had when I put the 50hz pulley & belt set on it. It really helped the spin start-up.

 

[mixfinder]

Powerfin

A capacitor? I'll check into it. There's an appliance recycler on the other side of my block. He's not the least bit interested in saving machines but he will help me out from time to time on a repair. There's a clip of Austin's Dependable Care with orbital tranny agitating with a Powerfin agitator. If I use one in my Lat does it harm the transmission and will it provide better rollover?

 

[qsd-dan]

will it provide better rollover?

Yes!

"If I use one in my Lat does it harm the transmission"

Maytag claims it will reduce the life of the orbital. However, there are a few members here who have ran a powerfin on the orbital trans for years without a problem. I say use the powerfin and if the orbital craps out, swap in the older trans. The older trans is a direct swap even on these newer machines.

That machine looks like a copycat of the older 810 washer.

 

[gadgetgary]

The washer was plugged into a 20 foot heavy duty extension c

Exact same thing that happened to me when I plugged in the HG 806. Sluggish start. When I plugged it directly into the wall outlet, it started the spin cycle perfectly.
Thanks for that information.

 

[mixfinder]

Before the Depression

Gadget, why didn't you advise me I spent the money on a motor?

 

[toggleswitch2]

Ditto neighbor's refirgerator in storage in the garage. They needed it for temporary food storage when their main one decided to meet its maker. Being on a 100 foot (orange) outdoor extansion cord, the compressor would not start.

Remedied itself immedialtely when moved to be plugged-in to a a proper receptacle.

 

[mixfinder]

Shocking

Togs its super you're here to explain so many details of wiring and electricity. I remember old commercials in the 50's with Ready Kilowatt who was pushing Gold Medallion all electric homes. I have an outlet in the bathroom that co-joins with two switches for the fan and light. Small items like razor of toothbrush charge okay but a hair dryer or the vacuum get no motor response however turning the appliance on, the fan starts and conversely stop by shutting off the switch with the appliance. One electrician looked at it and said, "its way too small and has way too many wires for me to figure it out."

 

[toggleswitch2]

It's more super to see YOU here!