Maytag A212. Speed or single speed?

[maytaga806]

Goodmorning everybody, hope all is well, I wanted to get on here and ask regarding more of the standard capacity 80s Maytags, I see quite a few models pop up in my used department frequently with the standard capacity tubs and I have been wondering if some of them are single speed or two speed as I have made the final call to get one of these machines and sell my direct drive. For example, the maytag A212 has a “delicates” cycle, will it agitate and spin slower or the same speed just for a shorter period of time? How do you know if they are a single or double speed? The only way I’ve ever been able to tell is if it has a switch for whatever speed you’d like, unless I’m wrong? As I’m pretty sure the A212 and equivalent models were single speed machines. Just would like to know so that I’m aware before purchasing incase I cannot test it on site. Don’t really care if it’s a single or two speed doesn’t matter, just want one of these things!! Thanks

 

[pulltostart]

The washer in your photo is a single-speed model.  I had one of these in Harvest in the early 2000's.  It worked fine for me.

 

lawrence

 

[woodjack99]

This washer (A212) is a single-speed model. You can tell since it says FABRIC-MATIC. Of the "12" series washers, the 112-512 are all single-speed, and the 612+ are 2-speed. On an interesting note, my washer is an A506, which is identical to the 512 except for lacking a bleach dispenser. It is an oddly numbered model considering the time and series it was produced in.

 

[qsd-dan]

That standard capacity model tub is going to feel teeny tiny compared to your DD. Hold out for a large capacity machine with a 2 speed option.

 

[maytaga806]

Thanks everyone. I’m seeing quite a few in the area that are extra capacity as well, so yeah I think I will try to hold out for that. But hey I’m down to have both, why not? I love the wider tubs these have and the long stroke agitation. But I will keep this in mind, however there was not a extra capacity two speed Fabric Matic? I thought I seen one before on this website actually posted by a fellow user unless it was just fully loaded single speed. But thanks anyways I appreciate the feedback. I will definitely give an update once I find my permanent machine, I am so excited for this!! Hopefully whichever one I find will not require much maintenance other than belts as I don’t think they sell much else part wise things are becoming extremely rare for these 70s 80s and even 90s models. Regardless whichever I buy will receive a full cleaning and love!!

 

[rp2813]

Did the entire 12 series line have infinite water level selectors?  It seems odd for such a lowly model as the subject washer to have one.

 

 

 

[qsd-dan]

The entire 200 series washers had a 2 speed motor from the early 1960's up until the 211 when they nixed the 2 speed motor and provided an infinite water level switch. Personally, I'd rather have the 2 speed motor and 3 button water level switch myself but maybe Maytag was trying to force people to upgrade.

For the 12 series machines, as far as I know, the 212, 612, and 712 got the infinite water level switch. The odd ball units like the 506, 882, 883, and short lived 613 had them as well.

I don't believe there were any 2 speed fabric matic machines in either tub size. The whole point of the that design was to briefly agitate and soak to make up for the lack of a 2 speed motor.

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>... however there was not a extra capacity two speed Fabric Matic?</blockquote> Fabric-Matics are always 1-speed, that's the point of the Fabric-Matic angle to provide delicate action via intermittent agitation at high speed.

I have an LA512 (serial April 1984) which is a Fabric-Matic with infinite water level.

 

[wayupnorth]

Glenn is correct. I have a 511 also bought new in 1984. It is a single speed Fabric-Matic with 4 pushbutton water level and bleach dispenser and has performed flawlessly for 38 years with one $28 repair.

 

[pulltostart]

I'm not sure about Maytag since it was acquired by Whirlpool, but up until when that happened, there were always switch(es) on the console for the user to select the desired speed - for 2-speed models.  The wash/spin speeds were never controlled by the timer.  If you're looking at a Maytag that doesn't offer a speed switch, it is a one-speed model.

 

I agree with the comment (above) that Maytag used the infinite water level option to add to the perception that a fabric-matic was an upgraded model over a "standard" one-speed model.

 

lawrence

 

[tomturbomatic]

Wider Tub? The opening changed to a larger opening, but the tubs were the same diameter.

 

[nmassman44]

The LAT 9356 Maytag washer that I had was 2 speeds that was built into the timer. There was no separate switch for the speeds…just the cycle control and a control for the temp and one for water level. This washer was Maytag built with the Orbital transmission and the LoadSensor agitator.

 

[DADoES]

 
Some later 2-speed models did have speed incorporated into the timer cycles.  A friend has an LAT9406 as such.

 

[pulltostart]

Oops

I stand corrected

 

lawrence

 

[akronman]

One Speed

I never thought I'd like the single speed machine ( I have a A108S) but it turns out the my pants and shirts and towels and sheets are damn fine with 8 minutes of "delicate." Pants and shirts just get worn to the office, no ditch-digging or anything. That means 1.5 minutes or so of agitation, approx 6 minutes soak, then another 1.5 minutes of agitation. I really have grown entirely fond of that cycle for all but the most delicate or most dirty of washing. I love the built in soak instead of constant vigorous agitation.

Experts will know the actual increment, maybe 1 min 15 sec? Maybe 2 min? I don't know, but it's just right. It's become my go to machine because of it, for all but the most delicate or the very dirtiest.

 

[appnut]

the LAT models like my old dryer

Purchased 1994, the new series came out in 1993, only the two highest mechanical models had speed switches on the control panel. Lower models just had the speeds (if 2- speed) controlled in the timer.