Maytag Avacado 806 Set - Please Help Me Save Them!

[erix]

Hi,

Found this place whilst looking for parts..

I have an immaculate set of Avacodo 806's that have both developed troubles in the same week!

The washer (ser#: 780130011) leaks - haven't determined when it does it.
The dryer (ser#: 411783 QQ) doesn't heat.

I'm pretty sure they can both be fixed easily and I've found quite a few sources of parts online BUT....

How do you take them apart?!?!

I'm pretty mechanically and electrically proficient having restored numerous cars and vintage tube audio equiment - I think I can do it pretty easily. I just need to know where to start on these old girls!

Can anybody give me a clue as to their age based on the ser#s?

Much Abliged,
erix

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Avocados

erix, unsure about the coding of dryers; based on the list I recently obtained from AW.O the dryer would be man Dec 1977.
I believe there should be 2 letters at the end of washing machine serial #, if the first one is a "Z" that would make it
1977 also, color wise that seems right, especially if they are a "matched" set.

 

[goatfarmer]

There are 2 screws near the bottom of the front panel on the washer.Take them out,pull the bottom towards you,and the front comes off.You can CAREFULLY run the washer with the panel off to see where it leaks.
If the dryer doesn't have a removable back panel,the front will come off the same way as the washer.The only thing to watch for is the wires on the door switch.
Post what you find out,always someone here that can diagnose them for you.

kennyGF

kennyGF

 

[bobbyderegis]

Get Maytag service manuals

Erix,
This set sounds like a wonder pair! They are not particularly difficult to diagnose and fix. I recommend getting a service manual from Maytag first, then start your work. The manual can save you hours of work and can potentially prevent any damage done by "trial and error". With a set as nice as yours, who needs error?!
Bobby in Boston

 

[erix]

Pics!

Thanks for the help Goatfarmer! I took off the front and found the leak is in the little white dealy between the tub filler tube and the water inlet selenoid block. I've no idea what the thing is - aereator?
The dryer is heating (whew) just doesn't seem to have the airflow inside the drum. I vacuumed out all the lint behind the fileter cartidge and cleaned out the hose - should work better.
And now - Pics!

 

[erix]

Oops - 1 pic/post...

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Beautiful

Is that a halo dryer?

 

[Erkjoey]

Beautiful Set Erix! If you need any instructions on repair, I can email you repair steps for your water injector. Very simple repair. Here is a pic of my twins. Erik

 

[swestoyz]

Nice looking machines guys! It is nice to see so many 806 machines popping up on the board. Thanks!

Ben

 

[toggleswitch]

Erik / ErkJoey:

Great pair. They look awesome. Thanks for the pic.

Do the panel lights come on only when the machines are operational and/or is there a switch as well?

 

[goatfarmer]

The back panel lights up when the machine is operating.Glad I could help,Erix!Like Eric said,the injector repair is pretty simple.
That dryer looks like an older Halo of Heat,it should have a full back panel that comes off. There is a seperate belt that runs the blower,make sure it's not broken.

kennyGF

 

[erix]

I'll have the back off tonight and check that belt. I kinda think the belts are ok though as I can turn the drum and see the impeller (in the back, behind the lint filter) spin faster than the drum. There was a lot of lint packed in there and the load I ran last night dried a lot faster than it used to so I may have got lucky!
On the washer - I ordered the injector kit from repairclinic and hope to fixing it (along with new lightbulb for the tub) one night this week.
Also, the washer ser# is 780130QU, not 011 as earlier posted.

Thanks for everyones help!
eric

 

[goatfarmer]

If you can see the impeller spinning,then the belt is probably alright.Can't hurt to check it,though.

kennyGF

 

[johnb300m]

the good ole' days

My grandparents had that exact same matching set, however, with no light-up console. Unfortunately, the washer broke down, trans slowly locked up, straining, and eventually blowing the motor. So it was a total loss. But my mom and her sister bought that set for my grandparents in the early 70s. The washer never broke down except for its final death.
The dryer is still around and working! Over the years it just had a few thermostats replaced. It's the dryer with the moisture sensors on the baffles. If you ask me, that's the most genius place to put the sensors, however, everyone just puts a central sensor near the door now, which i think is less efficient.

They replaced the washer in 2003 with newer basic, close to BOL Maytag. Grandma says it works fine, no trouble, she just misses the old one alot.

I'm just really dissapointed in Maytag's washers and dryers of late....if they just kept making bulletproof basic, no nonsense, no gimick [atlantis] washers....they'd still be on top, and not be eaten by Whirlpool.
Oh well, at least they're staying continental, and not being raped by Haier.

 

[polkanut]

Those avocado Maytag's are "GORGEOUS". I would love to have them in my laundry room. Let's petition Maypool to reintroduce those cool 70's colors.

 

[erix]

Oh No! Dryer Troubles Again

Today, when I opened the dryer door, I was greeted with a curtain of smoke coming out of the gap between the drum and the rubber seal!

OH NO! I ran for the fire extinquisher but, fortunately, it was not needed.

I took off the back cover and everything appears normal. I vacuumed tons of lint and junk off the floor of the unit up under where I saw the smoke. I'm thnking there is some similar junk caught on a heating element around the door opening.

Can someone tell me how to get to this area? I can't figure out how to take off the top or the front.

Thanks!!

 

[goatfarmer]

It's not easy to get to the element area of a Halo of heat dryer.
The top comes off by removing 2 screws holding it in the back.Then the top must be pushed forward,to release it from the brackets holding it on the front.IIRC,you remove the back panel,and all the screws around the bottom of the cabinet,and slide the cabinet forward,to access the element area.Very much a PITA.

kennyGF

 

[erix]

Thanks goatfarmer!

You were right - it is a PIA to get to that thing!

Bad news though - the element is broken (explains the poor heating) and the whole compartment was filled with lint and junk. (explains the smoke!).

On the bright side, I found $3.74 in change!

Looks like I'll be replacing the element and felt seal this weekend if I can find one locally. Otherwise it's back to another online parts order.

Any hints from the pros on replacing this springy rascal?

Thanks!
eric

 

[goatfarmer]

You'll probably get what they call a "restring" element,which means you have to pull the old one out,and "restring" the new one where the old one was.Make sure all the insulators are in good shape,and make sure when you're done,there's no part of the element that touches metal.Good luck!

kennyGF