Maytag DE500 Dryer

[sudsmaster]

A few years ago I acquired a vintage Maytag DE500 electric clothes dryer. As I recall, this machine is probably from the early 60's or late 50's.

It sat in my workshop since then. The power cord was cracked so I was waiting until I could get around to replacing it, before testing the machine.

Today I replaced the power cord, no big difficulty there. I also vacuumed out all the dust (and got $.51 in change) from the back of the machine. I noted that the belts, while intact, both need replacement as they are fraying. Don't know why this machine needs two belts, since they both seem to drive the same axle, but there it is.

With a little trepidation I got out my 220 volt extension cord (yes, I've got one) and ran it the 25 feet or so from the 30 amp service in the workshop to the dryer.

With the door closed, the dryer comes on. It has four settings: Air Fluff, Damp Dry, Perm Press, and Regular. All push buttons. All four modes seem to work fine (haven't tested the moisture sensing yet, though). What I did notice is that the machine turns on whenever the door is closed. There is no on/off switch that I could find. Is the the normal function of this machine? I was thinking of using it as a spare dryer but the lack of an on/off button kind of worries me. It's vintage all right, but I really wonder if back in the early 60's they thought instant on whenever the door was closed was actually a good thing.

There's a round emblem in the middle of the machine that says "Electronic Control". Behind it there looks like there might be some provision for a light, but no apparatus to that effect. I'm wondering however if there was some ground sensing circuitry that turned the machine off whenever the center of the emblem is touched? That would be cool if true, but of course there is no such apparatus in this machine now.

Anyone familiar with this unit, please let me know what you think.

Here's a pic:

 

[appnut]

Rich, the sensors are very sensitive on these dryers when functioning properly. I would say in less than 30 seconds it should "register" to itself there is no moisture. If Damp Dry button is pushed, it should stop immediately. Air Fluff has about a 10 or 15 minute air fluff cycle and should shut off. Regular a shortened cool down and wasn'n'wear (I bert it says that rather than perm press) will have a little bit longer cool down. All heat temperatures are what would be low on other maytag models with regular and wash'n'wear and buttons with all timed dry cycles. As far as I can tell, "low" was the default drying temp on all these electronic control dry dryers until the "Big Load" D606/608/808 dryers came out that had buttohns for dryness level (normal dry and extra dry) and temp buttons for regular and delicate. The dryer turns "off" when the button selected pops back out.

 

[sudsmaster]

Thanks, Bob.

When Damp Dry is pushed, the dryer doesn't shut off immediately, although I'll check again. I'm about to dry a load of bath sheets in it.

When I replaced the power cord, I noticed that there is a yellow connection on what looks to be the ground (or neutral) on the terminal block, just above the big neutral on the power connection. I looked for a cut yellow wire elsewhere in the machine but couldn't find one. It looks to me like the power cord was replaced once before, and maybe the yellow wire was removed at that time because due to some malfunction it was not allowing the dryer to work.

Also, there is a nice bell chime in the control panel, not a buzzer.

I also found the thread from 2007 when I bought this unit, with lots of other information about the dryer. Like you said, people told me that the dryer is supposed to shut off automatically once the correct moisture level is reached, hence not on/off button.

I'll test the damp dry function before loading the bath sheets, which just finished their "Max Extract" spin on the Neptune.

 

[sudsmaster]

Here are some photos from the 2007 thread:

 

[sudsmaster]

Electronic Control!

 

[sudsmaster]

Copper!!!

Sensor Coils

 

[sudsmaster]

Clean drum

Immaculate

 

[maytagbear]

Ours was the DG502

. . .which is essentially similar. Ran from '66-'67, to '82, with only a few minor repairs, most of which I made myself.

The only thing I disliked about this dryer was the dark drum in a dark basement.

Considering the fact that the temperature was low, it was pretty fast.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[sudsmaster]

Just checked... the Damp Dry setting does indeed shut off, but only after about 30 seconds or so, long enough for the electronics to sense the dryness. It shut off with a nice little "Ding!".

Load of bath sheets now running on "Regular Fabrics" setting. Haven't looked yet, but I'm sure the electric meter is spinning fast...

 

[sudsmaster]

Larry,

Like the Neptune 7500 dryer, I think this DE500 has a more powerful blower than most other dryers. So that might account for its faster drying despite the lower temp.

The bath sheets should be done in about 1/2 hour. I'll go back there and check on them then.

 

[gansky1]

I forgot you had this - we should all do a "show you mine if you show me yours" thread soon...for summer!

If the dryer control shut off the machine after 30 sec. on damp dry, the control is functioning properly - a very good sign. The door seal looks good and if all you need is a set of belts, some cleaning and lube, you will enjoy this dryer as an extra to supplement the Neptune. This is the same function as the all-pushbutton dryer, just with smaller buttons and no lights. One button is all you need and with a magnetic door latch, no children can be maimed or killed in your dryer.

The belts are to drive the drum at one speed and the blower fan that is turning on the same shaft behind drum pulley. New belts will make it quieter and smoother running, get it leveled and stable on the floor and you'll have one the quietest dryers ever. You may want to get a new, unbroken filter grille. Broken bits can snag lacy trims, nylons and lingerie LOL. Let me know if you need one, I probably have way too many!

 

[sudsmaster]

Gan,

Thanks much for the confirmation!

The bath sheet load dried perfectly, and the dryer shut itself off with nary a hitch. OK, the last towel I pulled out of there was ever so slightly damp, but no worse than the Neptune dryer likes to do on its "normal" setting. Better than baked alive.

Yes, the lint screen holder has seen better days. More than one cracked area that might snag lacy things. So if you've got one cluttering up your shelving, I'd be happy to relieve you of it.

I've found an online source as well, and am planning on getting new belts from there (Parts Select). The belts do make a racket, and it's just a matter of time before one or both of them fail.

I approached today with the intention of moving the dryer out of the workshop and into the courtyard for photos and put it up for sale. But now I'm kind of intrigued by the thing... and will probably refurbish the belts and such and set it aside as extra drying capacity.

Instead I'll be sending the 80's White-Westinghouse gas dryer on to Craigslist for a song. It works just fine, for what it is, but I have no need for it at this point. And it's taking up space.

Got any owners manual for the DE500 or similar?

And where does the lube go? Turbine oil? What is that? Will 20 weight oil do?

 

[kenmore71]

Glad to hear that the Electronic Control is working properly on this machine. Count yourself among the blessed! They can be very finicky. It was a simple and elegant system when it worked properly. Note that it always tended to err on the ever-so-slightly damp side of things. Use the Wash-n-Wear setting if you want the towels and jeans to be perfectly dry in a mixed load.

I'm fighting yet AGAIN with my 1967 DG806 with the wire baffles. I thought it was all good and then a week ago after 90 minutes I pulled a load of VERY dry towels and such out. UGHHHH. But such is the life of a collector! LOL

 

[appnut]

Rich, if you find loads that you would prefer "extra dry", then use the wash'n'wear setting. Now ya doin't need a users manual. You know all there is to know about running that dryer. lol

 

[sudsmaster]

New belts on order...

 

[maytag85]

Old thread

Since you mentioned the dryer turns on whenever the door is closed, has something to do with the way the motor is wired up internally. I installed a Westinghouse motor in my Maytag DE806 which was from an older Highlander dryer like this in which came out of an appliance junkyard outside of Phoenix, it would turn on whenever you closed the door, and stop whenever the door was opened. With the GE motor, you have to push the timer knob in to start. Didn’t modify anything, just swapped the motors and noticed that.

I think the older HOH dryers with the electronic dry control had a cool-down thermostat, the ones from 1966 and later had a cool-down thermostat did for sure. Believe the main cycling thermostat is rated for 150F, the high limit thermostat I believe is rated between 170F to 180F.