Maytag A806 Timer

[tennblondie78]

I am looking for a Maytag 2-4499-1 or 2-4499-3 timer to have as a backup for my A806. I realize it's like looking for a needle in a haystack now, but just thought I would see if anyone had a good working one they would like to sell. Thanks!!

 

[qsd-dan]

Don't overlook a 204499-2 Kingston timer with a 205864 timer motor.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

I have a complete A806 console from a -1974 machine I parted out due to extreme lower cabinet rust. I'll check what the timer is. I know it wasnt a suds saver.

 

[qsd-dan]

Best to keep the console intact. These timers still come up often on Ebay although not nearly as much as they did in the past.

 

[tennblondie78]

Does anyone know when the Kingston timers were used and/or why the switch from Mallory?

 

[lowefficiency]

I suspect the Kingston timers were significantly cheaper to manufacture and assemble, particularly with just one molded cam wheel instead of a whole stack of cam discs.

 

[qsd-dan]

Both Mallory and Kingston timers were used through the 80's but most Maytag washers were using Kingston timers by the 80's. Many years ago, I became friends with a parts guy that had been working in the industry since the 60's. He said Mallory was superior in all areas except the contact points. Kingston timers are much easier to dial in which is the better product for someone who is older or has arthritis. Most of the failures of Kingston timer is the plastic gears inside the timer motor but were good for at least 20-25 years before stripping out. Of course, a new timer motor could easily be ordered through at least 2012. I had the escapement in a couple of Mallory timers seize up due to old grease or lack of lubrication. Took them apart and cleaned/re-oiled and they worked again.

 

[tennblondie78]

Thanks for the info! I find it interesting to learn about the different timers.

 

[combo52]

Kingston versus Mallory timers, etc.

Maytag, like many other companies used various suppliers for the parts they had to buy, inlet valves Motors timers were the major parts that they got from different manufacturers. They also bought water level switches, and the pushbutton switches for speed and temperature came from different manufacturers at different times.

This was partly so they could be competitive and get the best prices. It was also in case there was a strike at one of the vendors they could keep for their production going.

Overall, the Kingston timer had a smoother better feel but was inferior in reliability to a Mallory Timer. I also saw a lot of contact failures on Kingston timers on Maytags.

In fact, the biggest reliability problem on Maytag‘s from the 70s on were the crappy, Robertshaw, inlet valves, Westinghouse, main motors, and Kingston timers, basically the parts they did not make themselves.

And because Maytag was a much smaller company, they didn’t have the buying clought that whirlpool had whirlpool never used Robertshaw timers in their dryers or Kingston timers in their washers for example, or Westinghouse motors in either washers and dryers, they knew better.

John L

 

[lowefficiency]

It's amazing to think that Maytag wasn't big enough to insource some of those items. Every time I see a Maytag part with a GE logo on it, I think how nice it must have been for Maytag's competitors to be making small profits on each Maytag sold...