Maytag Automatic Washer worth saving?

[realvanman]

Hello all,

This is my first post here. I actually joined 3 years ago when I bought a washer and dryer set that *looked* old enough to be cool, but turned out to be only 1995 or so vintage :/

This post is regarding a friend's machine that has been dated to around 1981, with reasonable certainty. Is this old enough to bother saving? It *seems* rather modern, but, then again, I can only imagine how much better it is than modern stuff. I'm told that it works except for the timer. As I understand it will wash continuously unless the lid is lifted? Sounds odd, but that's what I was told.

It has already been removed from service, and is sitting on my friend's driveway, awaiting it's fate lol.

The information is:
Maytag Two Speed Large Capacity
Model #LA712
Serial #017737 NX

Thanks!
Keith

 

[super32]

That's an almond extra large capacity 2sp model. Turquoise agitator, (unless the transmission has been) changed. 4 speed combo, and should be 5 temp combo. If the timer is stuck on/in the same spot still continuing to function, it sounds like the timer has failed. It may be possible to replace the timer motor or have it rebuilt but I will let the experts chime in on that piece of repair issue.

 

[kenmore71]

Don't let it go!

That i a truly EARLY production Top-of the Line 12-series machine.
You will never be able to recreate the durability and cleaning action of this machine.
It dates from Dec. 1984, just 6 months into production of the 12 series machines.
Still has the long-stroke pitman agitator

Timers for these machines are not hard to come by and cost a fraction of a new machine that you will likely replace in 3-5 years anyways….

 

[tomturbomatic]

I would say save it. Even with Maytag's limitations, it is better than most new top loaders in that it at least has an agitator. If you have space to install it next to your other machine, you can drain the wash water from one into the other and have efficiency that almost rivals a front loader and machines that process laundry in much less time, even if they don't extract as well. When the timer on my 806 stopped advancing, I was lucky enough to be able to put things right just by replacing the timer motor.

 

[rp2813]

Rescue it!

As Tom said above, it may only be the timer motor and not the entire timer that's bad.

 

As others have stated, the machine is top of the line and worth saving.  

 

Maytag washers have switches controlled by the lid that will stop all action when the lid is lifted.   You can see the indentation in the center rear of the lid where the switch activator is located.

 

[realvanman]

The Maytag is safe

Thanks fellas, for all of the great information. She's safe in the back of my truck, in the garage.

I'm told that the machine works perfectly, except that the lid must be lifted, then closed, after it is judged that the wash cycle has run for a sufficient length of time. The machine will then finish the rest of the cycles as normal.

Keith

 

[rp2813]

Glad it's safe!

That's a strange circumstance with the lid lifting.

 

Maybe others here can explain how the lid switch can cause the timer to advance.

 

[mrb627]

OOB

Perhaps the machine is tripping the out of balance switch.
A completely normal situation.

Malcolm

 

[realvanman]

Test run results

I finally got a chance to hook this machine up (on the side of the house lol) and see what she'll do.

It turns out that indeed the timer and timer motor are good. The problem appears to be that the transmission is no longer able to shift out of agitate and into spin while under load. The tiniest interruption in power (like briefly lifting the lid) and it shifts.

I also observed that the acceleration in the spin cycle is very anemic, even with no clothes in it lol.

Keith

 

[jimmler]

I'll let the experts "dial" you in better, but I'm fairly certain that the motor has to reverse direction to shift from agitate to spin. Lifting the lid should not cause the motor to change direction. I wonder if you have some stuck contacts in the timer that's causing this bizarre behavior. Once you get it sorted out, you'll have an awesome machine. I have the exact same one with matching dryer, only a few serial numbers later: LA712 / 019565 RP Both are daily drivers.

-Jim

 

[wayupnorth]

Yes, Yours is a little newer than mine I posted about here about getting mine repaired for the first time after 32 years this week. But it should be the same basic machine underneath. The lid switch has a thingie to stop in the back when the button snaps forward and the lid goes up. I put a wire around it defeating it and to run when I opened the lid but it also defeats the out of balance switch. I would see if that thingie that hangs down thru the back on the lid switch is not sticking or if someone did what I did. And Maytag motors do go one way for wash and one way for spin only. Lifting the lid and closing is supposed to just resume where it left off and not advance the timer. Let us know here what you find out.

 

[cfz2882]

check that the motor carrage moves freely and springs are in place to maintain enough belt tension-not a real expert on maytags,but possible transmission input shaft will not move vertical enough(via helical grooves at center of input pulley) to "shift"transmission if belt slips too much? I got a clean 1975 A107 a couple weeks ago,but haven't checked it yet-might examine this weekend to get better idea of how maytag helical drive works/shifts.

 

[realvanman]

Seven second pause...

Thank you all very much for your input. Between all of you and a nice fellow who emailed me, I now understand that these machines depend upon the reversal of the motor in order to change from agitate to spin.

In order for a single phase motor to reverse, it must first stop or slow sufficiently for the centrifugal switch to close. I'm told that on older machines that this would have been a one minute pause, and that on my machine it should be a seven second pause.

But that pause never happens. So, even though the timer sets up the motor for reverse running when it's time for the spin and drain cycle, it never actually switches direction because the pause never comes. Lift the lid briefly to let the motor stop and the centrifugal switch close, and it will restart in reverse when the lid is once again closed, running the spin and drain cycle.

So, how do I restore my machine's pause? I wonder if there is a schematic inside the machine?

Also, you all have taught me that the "clutch" for the spin cycle is indeed the slipping belt! Well, I give Maytag high marks for elegant simplicity I looked at the belts while I had it on it's side to unload it from the truck, and they look great. But now I know I need to look into the spring loaded belt tensioning system.

Thanks again so much. You guys are making my new hobby a lot of fun

Keith

 

[coldspot66]

If the machine doesn't pause between cycles, you have a timer problem. I think a replacement will solve the problem.

 

[realvanman]

Timer repair

Getting a new timer is not in the cards for me at this point, so I will remove the timer and see what I can do to repair it. It was built by man (human) and so should be able to be fixed by man. Lol! We'll see

 

[realvanman]

Timer Removal

Ok fellas, I'm finally getting around to working on this machine. I found the wiring diagram neatly inside, in excellent condition. Hated to tear what looks to be the original tape to get it out lol. I've found the problem on the diagram, the contacts and their cam, and the related wires and terminals on the timer. I can see how the timer will come apart once it's removed, and I can see how it is removed. Except for one little problem....

How do you remove the KNOB?!? LOL! I shall await instruction, lest I break something.

Keith

 

[yogitunes]

knob of a different shape, but removal is the same.....

that front has to be pried out, and remove the clip with a pair of needle nose pliers, just be cautious of the knob popping off, because theres a spring behind it.....

 

[realvanman]

Knob Removed!

Thank you very much! I went out to the side of the house in the dark tonight just to try it lol.

Tomorrow I will remove the timer itself.

Thanks again,
Keith

 

[realvanman]

Still Working on this Washer

Just an update really. I pulled the timer (thank you for teaching me how to get the knob off!), took it apart, cleaned up and unstuck the contacts, reassembled it, and reinstalled it.

I'm not too proud to admit- I have a new problem now lol. I ran out of time to look into it, but the water fills no matter where the dial is set, even off lol. The only thing that stops it is pushing in the knob. Hopefully I've just crossed up a wire while reinstalling, but I was pretty careful. We'll see.

Keith