Maytag Assembly Questions

[eurekastar]

I've been slowly working on the Maytag A407 and I'm ready to begin reassembly over the next few days.  It cleaned up surprisingly well too.  Because I'm impatient, I ended up buying a new orbital transmission and agitator.  That's disappointing, but I called around locally to see if anyone had the old style transmission and had no luck.  So I'll hang onto the old transmission and wait for a new parts donor to show up. 

 

Before I begin reassembling things, I have a couple of questions:

 

1)  How will I know when I have the correct tension on the suspension springs.  I ended up buying new eye bolts and nuts and didn't think to mark an old one to use as a guide.

 

2)  I've noticed on Youtube that new mounting stems are installed without the washer and retaining clip over the center seal.  Are those videos just skipping that step or is the washer and clip necessary.

 

As always, thank you for the help!  It's been tremendous!

 

[potatochips]

I usually have about 3/16ths of an inch of thread below the suspension spring nuts. Thats what a few machines I took apart had from the factory.

 

As for question two, the new tub stem/seal is all integrated in to one. The first iteration of the seal required the washer and retaining clip along side a new agitator shaft seal, but that's all been morphed in to one. So you don't have to worry about it. Some people here believe that was a bad move while others think its par for the course compared to the old style seal.

 

[eurekastar]

Mounting Stem

I think I must have purchased the old style mounting stem.  The center seal that goes down the agitator shaft is separate from the stem itself, so I guess I will still need the washer and clip.  The kit also has an agitator stop ring. 

 

[good-shepherd]

You'll need to re-use the washer and clip for that style mounting stem, they're not included with the kit. see link:

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?22830

 

[eurekastar]

Thank you!

Thank you for posting those scans!  I would have never found them and they're very helpful too!

 

[eurekastar]

Almost Done!

I spent much of the day reassembling my A407 and I'm almost done!  It's all together and I ran it on the spin cycle for 3 minutes per the instructions with the tub bearing.  I'll run it with water on a full cycle tomorrow to check for leaks.

 

The hardest part was reattaching the outer tub.  I purchased new bolts; however, the new bolts had a tapered end with no threads.  That made it difficult for the nut to catch the threads.  The gasket on the old bolts were wearing thin but the bolts were fine.  So I just transferred the new gasket onto the old bolts...et voila!  Problem solved. 

 

It took me a while to figure out that darn tub clamp too.  But once I figured it out, I felt stupid because it was so simple.

 

Tomorrow will be the maiden wash!  Wish me luck! 

 

[potatochips]

I can attest to the tub bolts being a pain the hole. Especially the front one, it requires to hands and one knee.

 

[eurekastar]

Maiden Wash Complete!

I finally had time to take the A407 through its paces today!  The only thing not working as it should is the Permanent Press cycle.  It will go through a partial drain but doesn't refill with water as indicated in the manual.  I'll run it through again tomorrow just to make sure.

 

But the maiden wash was a success!  It was clanging in the spin cycles.  The damper was banging against the floor.  But I finally realized that it's not sitting on a very level floor in my garage, so I think the clanging will clear up once it is level. 

 

I ended up reusing the old fill nozzle.  I order a new assembly but new style doesn't fit on old tub covers.  But that was an easy swap.  I just need to clean it up a bit.  I'm glad I didn't throw it away! 

 

I also repainted the console and installed a new pilot light.  After a little detailing on the cabinet exterior, she will be good to go!

 

[good-shepherd]

new style doesn't fit on old tub covers

You need this style replacement injector hose, If the old one is getting brittle:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-OEM-Ma...h=item2ab6b5faa9:g:zwcAAOSwAm9bqqR8:rk:4:pf:0

(Prices are way up on this stuff, you could get the whole injector kit for that price a few years ago).

 

[eurekastar]

Thank you, good-shepherd! 

 

[eurekastar]

Video

Here is a video of the maiden wash!  I stuffed the tub completely full with three large bath towels, two hand towels, three heavy cotton bath mats and one pair of jeans.  As full as it was, it still had very good turnover! 

 

[askolover]

How is that a new style agitator in turquoise?  I thought they were all white.

 

[eurekastar]

@ askolover

I don't know...it has the "angel wings" and uses a set screw.  It's overall diameter is smaller than the old agitator.

 

[rp2813]

I think some of the early orbital agitators were still turquoise.  I remember when I got my '87 A712 last year I had to really zoom in on the agitator in the money shot in order to determine that it had the long stroke transmission, which is what I wanted, because 1987 was the year Maytag switched over to orbital.   Probably once they ran out of turquoise raw product, they switched over to white.

 

[eurekastar]

Clanging

Well, I moved it into the house and it sits level, but the clanging remains.  I think the problem is with the tub cover.  Either that, or the suspension springs need adjusting?  Not sure. 

 

[good-shepherd]

I think the problem is with the tub cover

Is the inner tub properly centered and not contacting the outer tub on spin?
Try putting hand pressure on the outer tub at various points and see if the noise changes.

 

[eurekastar]

Sometimes I'm really dumb!

The clanging was coming from the pressure switch hose! 

 

[eurekastar]

New Issue! LOL!

The washer is now operating as it should!  Yay!  The only thing left is to tighten the suspension spring on the left rear, because the tub is slightly favoring the opposite side.  I also have a new fill nozzle coming this week (thanks to goodshepherd).  Once that's on, I'll put it all together and do a proper video.

 

However, the outflow is faster than my standpipe can handle.  It slightly overflows when it's draining.  The drain doesn't have enough flow capacity and is prone to stopping up about once a year.  So I'll get the plumber to clean the drain pipe out. 

 

I wonder if using some kind of reduction fitting might help to try and restrict the outflow some?  I'll try the plumber first!

 

 

[eurekastar]

Pressure Switch Hose

Can I shorten the Pressure Switch Hose or would that altar the functionality of the switch?