Maytag for the new year

[repairguy]

Hope everyone had a safe and happy new year celebration. I took a 400 mile 7 hour road trip to save and bring home the first Maytag A806 that I’ve seen in person. I’ve tinkered with old washers and dryers for 30 years and never saw one of these in someone’s home so when this one popped up I felt I needed to save it. Actually it is a KA806. I wanted to get a picture of it in the truck but is was dark and raining so hopefully these will suffice for now. Oh and folks have joked a few times about this here lately so I’ll add that “the light is not working “. Built August 1969!

 

[eurekastar]

Very nice!  Congratulations!  I look forward to seeing updates on this treasure!

 

[appnut]

Melvin, congratulations!!  An early birthday present to yourself!!

 

[hippiedoll]

CONGRATULATIONS!!

That is a nice looking KA806 you got yourself! I think it's going to clean up nicely! And I love the funky MOD colors; Avocado, Coppertone, Harvest Gold!

I'm so HAPPY for you that you finally got an 806.
WOOOOO HOOOOO!
(Doing the happy-dance for you on this side of the computer)

 

[goatfarmer]

Nice machine, congrats!

 

 

[swestoyz]

Congrats, nice Maytag! Looks great with the chrome lint filter.

Ben

 

[repairguy]

Thanks everyone! I’m pretty excited about getting this washer. I thought I had looked over it thoroughly when I picked it up but last night I discovered that I could barely move the tub back and forth due to a dry damper assembly I assume. The drain hose was missing and the person I got it from said that was what was wrong with it that the hose had split due to being hard. The machine had to be jumping around with that dry damper assembly though. The poor cabinet has faded to more of a battle ship gray than shaded avocado but there is no oil underneath and for its age I would say mechanically it’s not bad. I’m hoping to lube the damper assembly and run some cycles to see what else will need to be done. After reading some archives last night I was not aware this machine had a tub light! Going to have to get some bulbs as I’m pretty sure the washer is not going to work properly at all without them.

 

[repairguy]

I opened up the KA806 expecting to lube the damper pads and run a cycle... BUT it had other plans. When I removed the front there was plenty of black dust and I could see some remnants of the pads in the base of the machine. So I tore into it. I’ve never messed with the damper assembly on a Maytag before. I’ve ordered the pad kit and will probably source a damper from a donor machine. The original damper has enough wear that I don’t think I should reuse it since I’m going to replace the pads. Only part of one pad remained on the base. The base doesn’t look bad except the paint is wore off in the damper area. There is a little paint left where part of the one pad remained. The base should be ok to install new pads on, right? The light wasn’t very good but on the right side of the damper it’s shiny and worn a bit. Any opinions appreciated. Thanks.

 

[combo52]

Ramper Rebuilding On A MT DC Washer

Hi Melvin, Yes you can diffidently reuse the steel baseplate but you are wise to replace the damper dome.

 

This and sized top agitator shafts are about the top two reasons most Mts from the late 60s through the 80s are thrown away, customers just will not spend that much money on that old a machine.

 

John L.

 

[repairguy]

Thanks John. Should I paint the base in the damper area before installing new pads?

 

[markc]

I am a newbie here. My mother had a set of those Maytag's back in the mid 60's. IIRC
the dryer was one of the first ones to have the automatic sensors in it.

MarkC

 

[repairguy]

Welcome Mark!

 

[hippiedoll]

Hi MarkC!

Welcome to the group!
)