I know the orbital transmession has been in production for several years now. How does reliability compare with the old long stroke Maytag transmissions? I've priced the LAV3600 from a local dealer and am soooo tempted to bite the bullet and buy it while they're still available. Do those of you in the know think parts will be available for a while yet?
Maytag Dependable Care Washers Extinct
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Thanks Bob, I didn't realize the difference in tub size was that minimal. Makes the DC models a worthwhile and much more reliable alternative.
Ralph
Ralph
llmaytag
Well-known member
Sambootoo
What price were you quoted? For the DC?
What price were you quoted? For the DC?
llmaytag
Well-known member
Sambootoo
What price were you quoted? For the DC?
What price were you quoted? For the DC?
does that Maytag corkscrew agitator have a ratcheting action like WPs? I thought I saw a commercial several years ago when that agitator was released, where the spiral actually turns continuously.....what's it about?
Has anyone here had an Atlantis? I had one and had nothing but trouble with it....9 out of 10 times the clothes would come out dripping wet instead of damp. So I got rid of it and got the Top loading Neptune...talk about out of the frying pan into the fire...lol
llmaytag
Well-known member
Maytag Atlantis (and the Top-load Neptune)
Funny, I was thinking of this recently when I saw video of someone's WP Cabrio. My Mom has a four year old Atlantis with polymer tub and has had no problems. A female friend has a five year old one with stainless steel tub and has had no problems. I actually like the slanted front. A friend was telling me that he has a three year old Ensignia model and has similar problems with wet clothes.
I'm pretty sure the Atlantis and similar 3.3 cubic foot tub models use only one belt instead of two. Further, I think the transmission pulleys on these one-belt models is plastic or polymer instead of steel. I'm not an engineer, but it seems to me that one belt instead of two means much less contact between the belt and each pulley. This, along with the added weight of a larger tub when filled, must make it less likely that the belt will get the tub up to speed.
Knowing that Maytag engineered the belt and pulley to allow the some "slip" so that a clutch wouldn't be necessary, to reduce to one belt would be a bit risky, but I know two people who haven't had problems.
Top-load Neptune - That model seemed strange, but so did the WP Calypso models. How bad was it?
Funny, I was thinking of this recently when I saw video of someone's WP Cabrio. My Mom has a four year old Atlantis with polymer tub and has had no problems. A female friend has a five year old one with stainless steel tub and has had no problems. I actually like the slanted front. A friend was telling me that he has a three year old Ensignia model and has similar problems with wet clothes.
I'm pretty sure the Atlantis and similar 3.3 cubic foot tub models use only one belt instead of two. Further, I think the transmission pulleys on these one-belt models is plastic or polymer instead of steel. I'm not an engineer, but it seems to me that one belt instead of two means much less contact between the belt and each pulley. This, along with the added weight of a larger tub when filled, must make it less likely that the belt will get the tub up to speed.
Knowing that Maytag engineered the belt and pulley to allow the some "slip" so that a clutch wouldn't be necessary, to reduce to one belt would be a bit risky, but I know two people who haven't had problems.
Top-load Neptune - That model seemed strange, but so did the WP Calypso models. How bad was it?
laundryshark
Well-known member
I realize this crosses over from the vintage washers section, but I actually like the older dials with the red light on top. Furthermore, I would be interested in collecting some sounds and/or video (Windows Media compatible) of the various Maytag models and variants of any age.--Laundry Shark
I was quoted $589.00 plus tax from a local Maytag dealer. As mentioned, the washer would have to be ordered from Atlanta.
does that Maytag corkscrew agitator have a ratcheting action
Yes, corkscrew ratcheting action.
Mine was about $610 w/tax.
Yes, corkscrew ratcheting action.
Mine was about $610 w/tax.
"I know the orbital transmession has been in production for several years now. How does reliability compare with the old long stroke Maytag transmissions?"
The reliability is a bit shorter, but not much. Remember that they changed to this transmission in the era of cutting production costs. It is still a good transmission, easily servicable, and in use in thousands of coin-op machines.
"Do those of you in the know think parts will be available for a while yet?"
They have to be, or else they will loose major market share with thousands of coin-op owners.
"I didn't realize the difference in tub size was that minimal. Makes the DC models a worthwhile and much more reliable alternative."
In a frontloader, that difference is minimal, but in a topload, it makes much more a difference. The 3.3 Amana can do much more laundry that the 2.9 Maytag DC. The capacity plus the agitation stroke makes it so.
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The LAV model lists the "Flex Care" agitator. Is that the auger agitator or the new name for the Power Fin 12?
The reliability is a bit shorter, but not much. Remember that they changed to this transmission in the era of cutting production costs. It is still a good transmission, easily servicable, and in use in thousands of coin-op machines.
"Do those of you in the know think parts will be available for a while yet?"
They have to be, or else they will loose major market share with thousands of coin-op owners.
"I didn't realize the difference in tub size was that minimal. Makes the DC models a worthwhile and much more reliable alternative."
In a frontloader, that difference is minimal, but in a topload, it makes much more a difference. The 3.3 Amana can do much more laundry that the 2.9 Maytag DC. The capacity plus the agitation stroke makes it so.
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The LAV model lists the "Flex Care" agitator. Is that the auger agitator or the new name for the Power Fin 12?
"does that Maytag corkscrew agitator have a ratcheting action like WPs? I thought I saw a commercial several years ago when that agitator was released, where the spiral actually turns continuously.....what's it about?"
Ratcheting... Maytag bosted that their "Load Sensor" agitator would twist longer or shorter depending on the size of the load being washed. However it is powered by the occilating of the base of the agitator and therefore cannot turn in a positive direction when the base turned in the opposite direction, nor does it turn much more than the positive stroke of the base.
Ratcheting... Maytag bosted that their "Load Sensor" agitator would twist longer or shorter depending on the size of the load being washed. However it is powered by the occilating of the base of the agitator and therefore cannot turn in a positive direction when the base turned in the opposite direction, nor does it turn much more than the positive stroke of the base.
westytoploader
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That happens with all corkscrew-equipped machines. When a direct-drive Kenmore is agitating with water and no clothes...you'll see that since there's nothing to slow the movement of the corkscrew, it appears that it is spinning around. However, before I chopped the LoadSensor, it never did that. Sounds like more marketing hype to me, but whatever sells!
llmaytag,
To answer your question How bad is the Neptune T/L?...It really isn't a bad machine it's just a different kind of animal. You have to learn what you can do and what you can't do. First of all if any of you or your friends have underwire bras DO NOT put them in a Neptune TL! One side will go east and one side will go west..lol. Also, you can't really do large amounts of sheets in them even though they have a huge capacity. They will just wind them up into a rope and they're virtually impossible to get out of the washer. For small mixed loads they're wonderful. They wash well, rinse well and spin out virtually damp dry! For people like most of us with more than one washer they're fine but, if it's the only washer you have...you'll do some handwashing.
To answer your question How bad is the Neptune T/L?...It really isn't a bad machine it's just a different kind of animal. You have to learn what you can do and what you can't do. First of all if any of you or your friends have underwire bras DO NOT put them in a Neptune TL! One side will go east and one side will go west..lol. Also, you can't really do large amounts of sheets in them even though they have a huge capacity. They will just wind them up into a rope and they're virtually impossible to get out of the washer. For small mixed loads they're wonderful. They wash well, rinse well and spin out virtually damp dry! For people like most of us with more than one washer they're fine but, if it's the only washer you have...you'll do some handwashing.
rolltideroll
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- Oct 25, 2006
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- 92
I will cherish the day when I do not have to see another Maytag washer. They ALL suck. I know that the older ones were well built but most if not all of them have their problems down on tye brake package or trans but thats cause they are old. But the new stuff, like Performa and Atlantis crap, well they do really suck. Even my local Maytag dealer says thesame about them. He has them coming back with wore out trans and water leaks everyday with the things still in warranty. I agree with him. he is looking to get out of his contract with whoever he is in it with so he can sell another brand and get Maytags sticker off his store window. Maytag? What a joke.
oxydolfan1
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Worse than GE, in your opinion?
Must be worse than GE. At least GE has the chutzpah to put a coin meter on their machines and sell them to laundromats and has made a commitment to get back into the commercial laundry game. Maytag never had the guts to do this with any machine except the LAV based model. That right there says a ton.
brettsomers
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"a smooth, quiet spin cycle has always been a Maytag hallmark."
oxydolfan1
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I can't tell you how annoyed I am with Maytag.
If I had to buy a new TL, I'd be tempted to buy a Frigidaire or a GE, just out of spite!
If I had to buy a new TL, I'd be tempted to buy a Frigidaire or a GE, just out of spite!
