Maytag DE713 Restoration

[repairguy]

I know you said you worked with Maytag dryers briefly, but I have a question about the Maytag washers at that time. I have always been curious about the change from the pitman to the orbital transmission. How was it phased in? A certain line? All at once? What year? I know it was around 1988. Any information is appreciated.

 

[qsd-dan]

The orbital transmission debut around July, 1989. Some of the very last 12 series washers had them installed. All of the short lived 13 series washers through the end of the LAT production in '06 used this newer transmission as the standard workhorse. Orbital transmissions can be used in all 2 belt washers dating from 1966-2006, just make sure to match the correct tub/trans combination.

 

[maranoman]

Let's Talk Service Announcement

Here is the announcement of the new orbital transmission from Maytag's July-August 1989 "Let's Talk Service" bulletin (courtesy of Ben). After the pages shown below they included several pages on how to repair the new transmission.

 

[repairguy]

Thanks so much for taking the time to post information on the transmission change!

 

[maranoman]

Orbital Transmission Time to Develop and Test

When I arrived at Maytag R & D in January 1990, the orbital transmission was already in production for 6 months and the guys in the washer group were working on the front-load concept that would eventually become the Neptune.

To give you an idea on how long it took to develop and test the orbital transmission, below is the orbital transmission patent from Maytag and engineer John Goodlaxson from August of 1983. It took six years from the filing of the patent to the production of the transmission. When I arrived in 1990, John Goodlaxson was already retired from Maytag and working on his own venture involving commercial popcorn machines.

And it took Maytag another 7 years before they released the Neptune, albeit still with some issues.

 

[maranoman]

Original Concept Model of the Orbital Transmission

In the Jasper County Historical Museum in Newton sits this original inventor's model of the orbital transmission made by John Goodlaxson. It all started with an idea and a primitive model!

 

[maranoman]

Original Concept Model of the Orbital Transmission

In the Jasper County Historical Museum in Newton sits this original inventor's model of the orbital transmission made by John Goodlaxson. It all started with an idea and a primitive model!