Maytag balance sensitivity

[kingfishg6]

I have a Maytag A412 I picked up from a family member recently, and I want to know about the balance sensitivity. Today, when I was washing a small load of towels (one large bath towel, and two medium hand towels) the towels lined up on one side of the tub and when it went into the spin cycle it triggered the auto kill due to unbalanced load. Balanced it again and the machine went on and finished the cycle with no further hiccups. It has done this before when it had a large load of bath towels in it.

My question is: how sensitive to balance is a normal functioning A412? The large load I understand, but the small load set on small is another matter. Thanks for the feedback.

Otherwise, the machine runs well and uses plenty of water.

 

[akronman]

small loads

are always harder to balance. Some machines are worse than others, but go 2/3 full if there;s any weight to the load, almost all machines can get unbalanced with towels and low fill. Fill it up, it's more efficient too.

 

[wayupnorth]

I almost always do a full load in my 511 and inevitably what is in there never starts into spin perfectly. Whites, darks, blankets, all the heavier things seem to go on one side of the tub. I never leave my machine alone when its operating and just sigh and redistribute the load and it spins fine.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Machines that do a spin drain are more liable to swirl a small load of heavy items into an off-balance lump than machines that do a stationary drain. Don't leave the machine alone while it is in operation. Be glad that the machine does shut off. It can prevent damage to the machine and surrounding furnishings.

 

[kingfishg6]

Good to know

Whenever I am washing shop or bathroom towels, I will stick around to make sure it acts correctly. Thanks for the tips.

 

[goatfarmer]

It's possible the damper pads are bad.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Washers that SHUT OFF during Un-Balanced Loads!

Such as the Kenmore & Maytag (Although some loads that shut a Kenmore off, a Maytag can placidly spin-on through)...

 

Definitely why those machines are the leaders in longevity...

 

 

-- Dave

 

[syndets2000]

"Premature stoppage due to unbalanced load will usually occur at the beginning of the spin period"
......its just a favorite quote from my Westinghouse laundromat use n care guide