Maytag 906 set

[maytag85]

The 906 machines are fun but would be nervous using a machine that has a timer that’s rarer than gold. I think the reason why Maytag didn’t sell many 906 sets is they simply didn’t have the flexibility or options as the 806’s did since you could independently select the wash and spin speeds along with the temperatures you wanted.

I’d go through the dryer like qsd-dan said and try to find a new felt seal so you won’t have to worry about items falling on the heating element and shorting it out. Be sure to use a heavier weight oil such as motor oil for the drum bearing and use lighter oil for oiling the fan bearing, be sure to use grease to lubricate the reduction pulley shaft since oil will run off or will dry up fairly quickly on the reduction pulley shaft. Grease the slider so it’ll keep proper belt tension.

Make sure the tension spring is installed properly. If the tension is too loose it won’t tumble properly and will cause longer dry times. If the tension is is too tight, it will cause the oil to dry up quickly and will cause the blower bearing to start grumbling loudly and if you were to keep using it like that then it eventually cause the blower bearing to seize which is bad news. When the spring is installed the correct way, there won’t be any issues with tumbling or putting excessive stress on the blower/fan bearing.

 

[wayupnorth]

toploader 55 posted a You Tube video of the complete cycle. It is in the archives as Maytag 906 extravaganza

 

[DADoES]

 
Wool cycle should be 2 mins low agitation, 8-1/2 mins soak ... probably alternating 1 min agitation, 4 soak x 2?  Delicate should be 3 mins low agitation.

 

[qsd-dan]

"I got to testing it this afternoon and on full color load or partial colored load and the machine will agitate for about 36 seconds then shut off and sit for a little while then come back on and run for another 30 seconds or so. I believe it does this two or three times before it moves on to spin. Is this normal?"

Not normal. Full color load should fill with warm water, agitate full speed for 10 minutes non stop, spin at full speed, spray rinse with cold water, deep rinse with cold water at full speed agitation, and final spin at full speed. You mention there's an issue with the spin cycle being weak. This is either motor carriage issues or the motor itself. Wouldn't hurt to take a look at the belts, check their condition, and confirm they're genuine Maytag and not aftermarket. While the belts are off, check the condition of the pump bearings by turning the pump pulley by hand. It should turn easy and smooth.

 

[good-shepherd]

They seem to be in fairly decent shape.

"Fairly decent shape"!?

Thats an understatement..

 

[jasonlittle]

Timer issues.

So I am guessing that something is wrong with the timer. When it is just sitting I can still hear the timer clicking as it is advancing. But I thought that was really short agitation time. But it runs through the rinse and Final spin like normal. Here’s a couple more pictures of them.

 

[maytag85]

I forgot to mention, when you oil the drum bearing, I add at least 100 drops or more of oil to be sure it’s thoroughly oiled. Should be able to turn the drum with one finger and should take little to no effort to turn just like a 50’s or 60’s car with over boosted power steering.

 

[qsd-dan]

"Be sure to use a heavier weight oil such as motor oil"

Only non paraffin and non detergent oil should be used on sintered bearings. Motor oil contains both paraffin and detergents. One can use 20 weight blue can 3 in 1 oil for the drum bearings (be sure to give sufficient time for the wicking to soak it up and continue adding until the oil begins to pool) but it's too thick for the blower bearings, which require a lighter weight oil such as Zoomspout.

 

[maytag85]

Reply #26

I’ve used motor oil to oil the bearings on my HOH dryers, never had any issues with anything. I’ve also used 3 in 1 oil to oil the blower/fan bearings and never had issues with that either. Those may not be the correct oils but those are the oils I’ve used and never had issues with bearings squeaking or locking up.

 

[swestoyz]

Jason, again I'm blown away by this set and I'm so glad you got them. They look great in your laundry room!

The pump looks as though it was replaced and the bleach hoses aren't looped correctly. Is it possible the shop you bought the set from tinkered with the washer even more?

I'd start tracing all the leads from the push button assembly to the timer. It sure sounds as though it was engaging with a portion of the Wool cycle when you had pushed for Full Colors. If it is rapid advancing AND advancing through a selected cycle, then my hunch is the timer is fine.

Ben

 

[thatwasherguy]

Congratulations!!!!

That is a beautiful set you have there! They look like they’re in great shape too. I can relate to the feeling of joy and satisfaction when one gets a dream machine. When I got mine, I thought I was dreaming for about a week. With proper care, you’ll be enjoying these for years to come.
Thatwasherguy.

 

[bajaespuma]

Aferim!

There are nothing like the Pushbutton 'Tags. If these aren't in a National Museum like the Smithsonian or MOMA, they should be.

 

[gyrafoam]

Wow! That's quite a find! I am optimistic for you. Get whatever parts you can and enjoy using them! What good is just looking at them and dreaming?!

 

[bradfordwhite]

The dream is perfect. Effortless. Doesn't require spending any money. Doesn't require getting your hands dirty. There's not disappointment. There's no appliance break down.

Put these on display. The best possible display for you. And be done with it. Accept them as displays. I'd even wire the lights with a timer or something to make them appear active.

I can promise you, it's only going to get difficult after you start tearing into these. Regret and disappointment awaits.

Stick with the dream on something like this.

 

[bradfordwhite]

#30

Ken, you do awesome art work.

 

[jasonlittle]

Thanks for all the information everybody. Yeah I think the machine had a little bit of tinkering done to it before I got it. I can see the drain pump has been replaced and it also appears that the main tub bearing and seal has been replaced also. Whenever I get some spare time I will go through the wiring and make sure everything is hooked up correctly.

 

[jasonlittle]

Found the problem

Well I found out what is making it pause an agitation during the wash cycle. It is the timer. I did my first actual load and it this morning and after it stopped I just tapped the timer with a screwdriver and it kicked on. Then it would kick back off and I would tap it again and it would start right back up. After a few times of doing that it stayed running. So I’m not sure what that is but I know there’s got to be something loose inside the timer or a corroded contact or something.

 

[good-shepherd]

appears that the main tub bearing and seal has been replaced

Thats not necessarily a bad thing if the work was done correctly and before water intrusion/corrosion trashed the agitator shaft and/or trans, which is the way things typically happen.

(As a matter of fact you may want to lay the washer on its back for a day or two to let some trans oil work into the upper agitator shaft bearing).

 

[robbinsandmyers]

Check each push on connector on the timer and make sure its a clean snug fit. If all the connectors are clean and tight I think it may have a burnt set of contacts inside. My A407 did that same thing, 20 seconds after starting its rinse spin the motor would shut off but the pilot light was still on and the timer still running. I would tap the knob lightly and it would start back up and run fine through the rest of the wash. Turned out to be a burned set of contacts. I replaced the timer but in your case if all the connections are tight I would send that timer out and have it professionally rebuilt while there people still doing these relics. To be doubly sure check every connection in the machine to make sure its not loose or corroded.

 

[jasonlittle]

OK yeah I will definitely check all the connections. If I do have to end up having it rebuilt who do you guys recommend. That’s something I have never looked into before. As funny as it sounds it is actually getting better. The more times I use it the better it gets. Now I don’t have to tap it at all. It might shut off and then it will turn right back on. Maybe the connections are getting cleaned off or something. Maybe it got corroded from sitting for so many years.