Maytag 906 set

[jasonlittle]

I don’t post on here too often. But I had to get on here and share what I scored today. I have been looking for a set like this for many years. And I finally got them thanks to a fellow member who alerted me to the listing. It was a five hour trip one way but it was well worth it. They seem to be in fairly decent shape. I know that these are kind of rare and don’t pop up very often. These were my dream washer and dryer. They will be turned into my daily drivers.

 

[repairguy]

Very nice and congrats! With a proper rebuild they will likely serve you another 50 years with little trouble. Enjoy!

 

[bradfordwhite]

WOW !

Rare indeed. I hope your new toys work well for you.

 

[maytag85]

Congrats! Currently in the process of putting together a customized Maytag HOH dryer that I’ll pair up with a Maytag A806 washer (maybe sometime in the future?) since 806’s are still out there but finding a 806 dryer will be kind of tricky so I am putting together a customized Maytag dryer to go with one. When I’ll find an A806 I don’t know but I am sure one will turn up locally one day.

 

[appnut]

Jason, I'm very happy for you!! Glad to see you have a reason to post.

 

[ralph611]

I’m glad you got those Jason. And your favorite color too!

 

[goatfarmer]

Nice score! Had that same set years ago, still kick myself for letting them go.

 

[foraloysius]

Congratulations! It's great to find your dream set. I hope it doesn't take too much effort to make them your daily drivers.

 

[frigidaireguy]

Jason:
These are truly a great find. There is nothing like finally getting your "Dream Machines". Enjoy these beauties.

Bob

 

[jasonlittle]

Thank you everybody. Yeah I’m pretty excited about it. It still doesn’t seem real that I actually found them. The dryer works and the washer works also but the motor is getting kind of weak when it tries to kick in to spend so I will have to replace that soon. But so far I don’t see anything major wrong with them. All the buttons push very freely and the timers seem to work great.

 

[swestoyz]

Congrats, Jason! I'm so happy you found your dream set and that these beauties found a deserving and loving home. Enjoy in good health!

Ben

 

[hippiedoll]

WOWZERS...

That is too cool!
It looks like they are in super shape. And i LOVE the funky shaded AVOCADO green color

CONGRATULATIONS!

Doing the HAPPY DANCE for you on this side of the computer!

 

[qsd-dan]

Nice set, throw us some serial numbers so we can decipher if the washer uses the older Mallory timer used on the 160/900/902 washers or the newer "simplified" Kingston timer. Same goes for the dryer if it uses the older 302472 electronic control module with wirewound baffles or the newer 303049 module with striped baffles.

I would strongly warn against using the washer as daily driver. The timers for the washer are near impossible to find and the water levels pressure switches ARE impossible to locate. The dryer will at minimum require a full tear down and lube of the drum bearings, blower bearings, and reduction pulley bearing if you want the machine to last any length of time. It will most likely need a new front seal that you'll probably have to fab up yourself. I would grab at least 2 new 302472/303049 electronic control units to have on hand and least one new 300843 blower wheel the needs to be lubricated every 3 years or so.

 

[jasonlittle]

I think I might have timer issues.

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?

 

[jasonlittle]

Model and serial numbers.

Here are the model and serial numbers.

 

[appnut]

Jason, no that's normal. The agitate and soak is what delicatess & wool cycles do. The colors cycle should mimic the whiites cycle with just a warm instead of hot wash.

 

[electronicontrl]

Beautiful !

Awesome score for you young man! Love the avocado color! I have the 906 set in harvest gold. From what you state I wonder if the motor is overheating and kicking out. Check the carriage glide assembly. I was fortunate to get my set from a club member who had the timer rebuilt.

 

[dnastrau]

Suffix KW = 1970 October

Beautiful set. Looks like they were made in:

K = 1970
W = October

Best of luck with them.

Andrew S.

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?41918

 

[gansky1]

 

 

Very nice looking set, welcome to the ease and convenience of pushbutton living!

Does the washer cut out in spin, particularly while draining?  Sounds like a good going through both machines will do the trick to make them daily drivers.  Congrats.

 

[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.