Maytag J2L

[e2l-arry]

Hey Barry

Don't fill the wringer shaft with any oil. Whatever is in there will do all the lubricating that's needed. The wringer shaft is actually packed with grease, not oil. Maybe yours has somewhat liquefied over the years, but it should be fine. You can only re-pack with new grease but doing an overhaul and I doubt that's needed. As others have said, a little oil down the rear leg is pretty common on these and they can run for YEARS like that. I'd clean it up the best you can and then see how it goes once you start washing with it.One thing to know about these machines is once it's plugged in, everything behind the scenes is in motion. The power unit and the wringer. the agitator and wringer move or stop moving by a system of clutches that engage or disengage the mechanisms. Don't let replacing the belt intimidate you. It's really easy and self apparent once you loosen the motor bolts to remove the old belt. Slip the new one on, put tension on it and re-tighten the motor bolts with a socket wrench. I'm betting you'll be washing with it in no time!

 

[justjunque]

Hi Larry

I'm just wondering if, like I had speculated earlier, when this machine was going into long term storage, maybe someone absolutely loaded the moving parts with oil, with the thought of preventing them from seizing up.
I'm just thinking maybe there's not supposed to be this much oil in there.
Especially now that you inform me that it should be lubricated with grease, not oil.
I mean, there seems to be a lot of oil in there!

I'll try to get a picture of where the wringer mounts, before I reinstall it.

Barry

 

[justjunque]

Pictures of grease/oil on and beneath wringer

I don't know how good these pictures are, but here's the mess.
And, despite my better judgement telling me not to, I couldn't resist plugging it in.
And, that revealed the first mechanical issue.
The agitator doesn't stop when the knob is pushed in.
Is that terminal?
I'm guessing it's not something that I'm going to want to take on myself.
Also, I can just about lift the machine off the floor by the agitator, and it doesn't want to come off.

Barry

 

[bradross]

Not bad shape at all...

compared with many others I've seen.

Regarding the agitator control knob - hmmm...that's a bit of a mystery. The only thing I can think of is that the cotter pin has come out of the linkage to the power unit. Check to see if it's present. If not, mystery solved.

And the situation with the wringer post - it does look like a little excess oil there, which could be mopped out.

The agitator removal can sometimes be a challenge, especially when the previous owners have not been diligent about removing it after each use. After filling the tub half-way with REALLY hot water, try removing it (wearing rubber gloves if the water is too hot to handle.) Hopefully you'll be successful in removing it without damage. When done, ensure that you wipe a film of Vaseline over the splines of the drive post to ensure easy removal in the future (as per Maytag's instructions.)

 

[launderess]

Stuck agitator

Sadly this is a fairly common occurrence when getting a used Maytag wringer.

Maytag clearly and expressly told owners to remove the agitator when laundry day was done and leave it off until next use. This and to occasionally put a bit of either Maytag grease or Vaseline on the post for lubrication. Sadly not everyone followed that advice and or after last use put the washer up without taking off the agitator.

What happens is you now have the thing stuck onto the post, glued as it were by hard water minerals, soap/detergent residue and lint.

Here is how one dealt with the issue:
https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?67108

Other members had the same problem and their solutions are in the archives as well.

Sometimes just soaking long enough with very hot water will loosen things up enough that one (or a few) good tugs upwards will get the thing off. If not then you'll have to come up with a cunning plan.

Strongly suggest downloading from the library a copy of the Maytag wringer service manual. There you will find answers to most of your questions including how to trouble shoot the agitator knob not working properly.

No, that situation isn't terminal per se, but needs to be sorted.

Pulling that knob in or out merely engages or disengages the agitator. Motor continues to run long as machine is plugged into outlet. In order to work the wringer you need the machine powered on, so you can't unplug to stop the agitator.

It is also very important not to move the wringer position while rollers are engaged.

As mentioned the wringer gear post is packed with grease, not oil. So it sounds like whatever was in yours has begun breaking down and liquefying. Not huge issue as lubricant is lubricant. IIRC the service manual does recommend from time to time applying a bit of Maytag "grease" to the wringer post, but this would be done infrequently. Cleaning things out and repacking with fresh grease means taking machine apart, and we're not on that right now.

Maytag really over built and designed these washers. They can take reasonable amounts of abuse and continue to work for years. This include low to nil lubrication in gears/trans. Yes, sooner or later things will wear down because of it, but things can then be rebuilt.

 

[e2l-arry]

J2LP

It's LOT cleaner than most I've seen. I wouldn't be too concerned with the wringer post. I've seen a lot that look like yours. I'm thinking maybe someone thought it would be a good idea to spray some WD-40 or other lubricant around the wringer seams. Just clean it up with any spray cleaner or good old hot water and soap. Looking underneath you should see the agitator shaft just connects to a little lever on the power unit. Pulling the shaft out engages the agitator clutch activating the unit. Pushing it in disengages it. It's pretty simple really. Let me know if you get stuck. I have a detailed picture of it somewhere. The hot HOT water trick is the first/best way to try to unstick the agitator. If it stays stuck I'd use it that was for a couple of washes then see if after some usage time it becomes un-stuck on it's own.

 

[justjunque]

Brad, Launderess, and Larry

Thank you again.
Regarding the linkage to the agitator:
The cotter pin is in place, and things move when I operate the control knob.
I decided to just plug the old girl in, and let her run for a while.
I intermittently engaged and disengaged the agitator.
At one point, I noticed that it wouldn't stop when disengaged, but it would slow down.
I was playing around on my phone, and sort of ignoring the running machine for a couple of minutes.
When I did look back at the agitator, it had stopped!
Maybe something just needs to work itself back into proper order after being dormant for several decades.

As for the hot water method with the agitator removal:
I believe I'll wait until tomorrow, and wheel her outside to try that.
Not knowing if the tub will hold water without leaking, I would rather test it outside.
And, we've had incredible heat and humidity today, and some thunderstorms that moved through with torrential rain.
The tub is easily the best looking part of the machine!
I'll try to remember to attach a picture with this post, as well as one of the serial number.
Can these washers be dated by the serial number?

I think I'm pretty much done with the grease and grime removal for tonight.
I know I'm going to be mighty sore in the coming days!
This is more elbow grease than I've spent in a long time!

Barry

 

[qsd-dan]

Can these washers be dated by the serial number?

Born on November, 1966.

 

[justjunque]

Thank you, Dan!

I was kind of hoping the washer and I would have the same "born on" date.
Well, year anyway.
Missed it by one. I'm circa 1967.
Oh well.

Barry

 

[qsd-dan]

"I was kind of hoping the washer and I would have the same "born on" date."

The conceived date is only a few months off

 

[swestoyz]

A4908

If you are still looking for a replacement goose-neck for the pump drain hose, one just popped up on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1135-MAYCOR-GENUINE-FACTORY-PARTS-0A4908-FREE-SHIPPING/153537804127

Ben

 

[justjunque]

Hey Ben,

Thanks for the heads-up!
If I can ever get the threaded end off of the drain hose, I'm going to see if mine can be put back together.
But, just in case, I believe I'll buy this one.
Of course, either way, I still have to get the old one off the hose!
Can anyone recommend a good penetrating oil that won't harm the rubber parts?
Just out of curiosity; the thing isn't reverse threaded, is it?

Barry

 

[e2l-arry]

What are you trying to get off the hose? That white threaded piece on the end of the hose is supposed to be there. You connect the goose neck to that.

 

[justjunque]

Hi Larry,

Right.
But my gooseneck is in pieces.
The curved tube was loose in the tub of the washer when I got it, and the threaded end of it is stuck on the threaded end of the white piece on the end of the hose.
If that doesn't make sense, I can take a picture later, when I get home from work.

Barry

 

[justjunque]

Here's a picture anyway.
For what it's worth; I was in an automotive shop today, and they had some product in a 55 gallon drum.
There was a pump installed on it, to dispense whatever was in the drum.
The gooseneck on the pump bore a striking resemblance to the one for the old Maytag.
I wonder if it would fit.
Just thinking out loud. Say someone needed a gooseneck for a washer but couldn't find one.
I wonder if one from a drum pump would work, and possibly be easier to find.[this post was last edited: 7/11/2019-16:18]

 

[bradross]

Hey Barry ... no, it's not reverse-threaded. Obviously corroded on there pretty tightly. If you bend the hose down and squirt some WD-40 onto the threads, that might work, and keep the stuff away from the rubber.

 

[justjunque]

Thanks, Brad.
I did try some WD-40 a couple/few days ago.
I was probably pretty conservative with how much I used, because I didn't know if it would harm the rubber.
I don't know if something a little more potent would be advised.
I also have Liquid Wrench and PB Blaster on hand.
Worst case scenario; what do you think my chances are of finding a correct hose and just replacing the whole thing?

Barry

 

[swestoyz]

A 12” channel lock should be able to get that broken end off of the goose neck without issue. It’s the equivalent of a garden hose connector.

 

[launderess]

Ditto on Channel lock wrench

Either have someone hold the hose, or put the thing into a vise, then with a good grip and some elbow grease....

Or just simply throw in the towel and buy a new hose, fittings and be done with things. The thing is only held on by a clamp to the pump which is easily shifted. If it appears worn or whatever just use new when putting on the replacement hose.

While it is great to keep original bits when getting a new toy, sometimes one's sanity simply requires moving on.

 

[justjunque]

Thank you.
I will definitely try the locking pliers.
I don't have the exact type recommended, but I have some similar.
If I do feel the need to throw in the towel, where might I go to find a replacement hose?
Preferably, with the same style end on it.
I know...the bay.
But I didn't know if there's a magical place out there, with scads of vintage Maytag parts.

Barry

 

[launderess]

Check this tread: https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?16712

There is a post with part numbers.

Not sure if the Maytag guy in Ovid, NY is still in business, but that is a good place to start. Also eBay and other internet sources including that guy with ad on CL (see thread in Shopper's Square) are others. Then there are the various Amish Maytag service/parts places.

 

[justjunque]

Thank you again!

I'll definitely check them out.
So far, I can't find too much on the guy in Ovid. Nothing under his eBay name either.
Too bad. It sounded like he was really good.
I will check back with the guy in Arizona.

Barry

 

[launderess]

Another source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/143323835360?ViewItem=&item=143323835360

Dave's repair has a website under same name as well selling Maytag wringer parts.

 

[launderess]

IIRC

Gentleman's name was "Phil" and he was in Ovid, NY. But also (IIRC) he was retiring and getting out of the business of both repairing and selling Maytag wringer parts.

His eBay name "cayuga2" shows no activity in some time. You might be able to find something in the archives and or someone will chime in with more information.