Maytag Dial Dryer / Clockwise or not?

[joybell]

I never had a matching Maytag dryer before. Now I have one to go with my "new" LA408 but the dial is confusing me. On my washer, the dial moves clockwise as it goes through it's cycle. But on the dryer I am confused because it moves the opposite way as it dries. Also, the dial does not push in or out to stop or start as my washer does. It gives me a horrible buzz when I start to move it to the cycle I want - and the question here is which way should I move it to the start of the cycle? I am so used to moving it clockwise that I did it this way - but it feels wrong since the movement of the cycle is the opposite way. HELP - I don't want to break it. This dryer is almost brand new but over 30 years old!

 

[appnut]

Joybell, if I remember correctly, the timer dial on your dryer can be turned either way to set for dry time on whatever cycle you want. Norge built dryers from the 80s and 90s were the only dry timers I'v ever known that oculd only be turned one direction to set for cycle time.

 

[joybell]

Thanks, that's good to know. But I can't push in or pull out the knob in the dial like I can for the washer. The dryer will start as soon as I move the dial, and buzz, start, stop, buzz until I get to the cycle I want. I would have thought that I could push the knob in, quietly select the cycle and then pull it out to start the dryer. But as I said, I can't push the knob in or out.
It dries well though, better than the one year old Inglis that is now sitting in the woodshed!

 

[appnut]

The timer dial isn't made to be pushed or pulled in or out, just turn the dial, apparently and it starts. Some of their timer dials, on center-dial dryers, you pushed the timer in (spring-loaded) as the "start" button. I wouldn't "force" the timer dial in or out, there is a chance it could be stuck "in" for "start". As long as it's functioning corectly, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Dryers from the late 50s on dind't push in or pull out their timer dials.

 

[westingman123]

Hi Joy!

Mama always told us to leave the door open until you set the timer, THEN close the door and you're off! We didn't have Maytags, rather Whirlpools, but I do know you could turn the timer in any direction. Sounds similar. Welcome, by the way. You'll love these people.

 

[autowasherfreak]

On my 806 dryer the dial turns in both directions and you push it in to start the dryer.

 

[ingliscanada]

No Worry

Most dryer dials can be turned either way. In older models, if you want to set the dial before starting it, leave the door open. But it doesn't matter either way, you can move the dial any which way while the machine is running, and it'll cause no harm at all. Most dryers from the 70's up have either a push-to-start button, or you push the dial to start it. Simple, if you set the dial and the dryer does not start (and has no separate button), then push in on the dial. No worries; washer dials are much more sensitive than dryer dials. A dryer dial is something like a rotary dial on a microwave.

 

[appliguy]

Joybell...

What model # is your dryer?

Appnut...The dial on my moms GE Jumbo Dryer of the early 70's that we had at the lake only turned one direction...and that was counter clockwise...PAT COFFEY

 

[andrewinorlando]

As far back as I can remember, Maytag dryer timers were always push to start. It seems as if your dryer's timer knob may be stuck in the "in" position, causing the machine to start as you turn the dial. I do not know how to disassemble one to check on this, but perhaps other members here do??

 

[qsd-dan]

Dial sounds like it's stuck in the "start" position. With the exception of the 906, all 06 series through 09 series dryers were a push-to-start on the dial knob. Maytag added a separate start button beginning with the 10 series dryers in 1980. Maytag used a mishmash of techniques to start their really old dryers. The 641c/741c/700/702 dryers only required the door to be closed and immediately started after the dial was turned. The first electronic moisture control dryers such as the 642c/742c/and my 1961 DE701 are a push to dial, pull to start. With the 750 and 906 dryers, you simply pushed in the button of your desired cycle. Not sure how the highlanders fired up, but it's probably one of those 3 techniques depending on the model.

Take a pic of the dial and we'll be able to give you a definite answer if it's stuck or not.

 

[joybell]

The dryer must have had a "senior moment". The dial suddenly started to behave. Now I can move it to where I want without it starting, give the dial button a little push, and off it goes! Here's a pic of my "new" set so you can see the dials I'm talking about.

 

[appnut]

Very nice. Congratulations!!! Glad Mr. dryer dial decided to behave like he was designed to!!!

 

[toggleswitch2]

The pust-to-start type of control is a safety feature that was required on dryers after a certain year.

Apparently childern like to get in them to hide. A dryer that starts itself can be dangerous to children.

Do dryers in other countries have a push-to-start button?