Maytag LA211

[william8]

I recently have been finding grey/black spots on a couple pieces of clothing, after seeing this thread:
https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?29642

I decided to take my agitator out and check. This is what I found, not nealy as bad as the post above, but similar. The last two photos are after cleaning.

After cleanup, you can see how corroded it is, so I don't want to try to take apart further.

 

[william8]

So I did a couple test loads (no clothes), removed agitator, and got a little grease/gunk build up around the base of the agitator shaft.
Wiped that off and did two loads of laundry. No spots on clothes, and just a spec of grease. Not sure if the seal is leaking or not. Hopefully that was just gunk buildup, and not grease, as it did come off my hands quite easily with soap and water.

I have never needed any repairs on this machine since buying it new 35 years ago in 1989.
If it is still leaking grease, i may have to finally replace it.

Does anyone know how many Cubic feet this machine can hold? The manual does not say. I've looked at new machines, and even the 5 cubic ft. tubs look smaller than mine.

Wondering what size I would need to come close to this one, as much as I hate to part with it, and buy modern junk.

I could also get a new Maytag seal for $12. Does it need to be taken apart any farther to change it? Or if you just remove the spring clip and washer, can the seal be removed and replaced.

 

[combo52]

Helical Dr., Maytag leaving grease spots on clothing

You have a very serious problem on your hands. It needs a major rebuild. It may need a new transmission, depending on the condition of the shaft usually when grease starts coming up water is already in the transmission.

35 years is a very good run for a machine unless you want to get into a very costly difficult repair, it’s time for a new washer.

I think this is just a standard capacity machine so it’s around 2 ft.³ maybe 2 1/3.

Any new top load washer you buy is bigger unless you get a little compact machine.

Best new machine is a Speed Queen front load washer, but costly, if you want a traditional top loader again at Speed Queen TC five would be your best Bet if you want something similar to the Maytags durability but a little better performance and much larger capacity.

John

 

[qsd-dan]

Your 211 has the standard capacity tub. The large capacity tub is 3.2 cubic feet so I'd say yours is probably in the high 2's, maybe 2.8 or 2.9.

It's up to you on how far to dig into the machine. You'll be without a washer for a while but could always find a cheap used one while digging into this one. Some are passionate about restoring like new while others are quick to buy something else and move on with life.

 

[william8]

Thanks @qsd-dan. It's odd, when we looked in the stores mine looked larger. I measured, and it appears to be 2.2 to 2.6 cubic feet.

I see you replied in the old thread I linked to above, do you agree this is shot? The link above claimed it was just gunk, not grease. Hard to tell, but it cleaned up easy.

It's starting to rust on the top lid and cover, so I'm not willing to put much money or time into a repair.

Even Speed Queens are getting bad reviews these days. What is a good mainstream brand? I keep reading LG's are the most reliable, followed by Whirlpool and the rebranded Maytags, etc. My wife insists on a top loader, so that settles that part.

 

[combo52]

Possible new top load washers

Speed Queen is clearly the most reliable brand, has a servicing warranty dealer for Speed Queen for the Washington DC area. We don’t do one warranty call a month problems are nonexistent on new Speed Queen’s and there’s darn few problems even after their 10 or 15 years old.

Online reviews are not an accurate way to get reliability information. You’ll only get the occasional person that complains about a problem they had.

Next Best choice on new top loader would be a Maytag or whirlpool product, which are union made in Ohio whirlpool still the largest builder of top loading washers in the world.

LG Samsung, GE will all get the job done. They’re basically throwaway machines if you have trouble with them, but you may get 5 to 20 years out of them with a few or no problems if you don’t mind the idea of having to throw it away when you have trouble with it.

Your machine is basically shot. You don’t get a buildup under the agitator like that from poor washing habits that’s not mineral buildup that’s grease and oil coming out of the transmission.

John.

 

[william8]

Online reviews are not an accurate way to get reliability information. You’ll only get the occasional person that complains about a problem they had.

That's true for all brands, and the amount of negative reviews I read for Speed Queen has me nervous about spending almost $1500 for one, but I do plan on looking at them.

What is the difference between the TR5 and TR3, they look to have identical specs, but a shorter warranty on the TR3. Seems to me all SQ models used to have a longer warranty?

Whirlpool/Maytag was my next choice, but several sites (not reviews) with service people claim LG is better, which shocked me.

There are only two of us here, we do about 3 loads a week.

 

[Chetlaham]

Two things- the bad reviews are coming from the TR series which does not clean heavily soiled clothes anywhere near as well as the TC-5.  Second, those that gravitate toward Speed Queen tend to have strong, vocal personalities. The few times a problem does arise (big or small) others end up knowing about it. Speed Queen voices are always the loudest. Vs GE which are typically found in rental units where a break down results in repair or replacement by the property owner where the renter does not have shop or spend extra money for a new washer.

 

 

I have a Speed Queen AWN412 which is mechanically identical to the TC5 purchased in 2013 around Halloween.

 

Ive joined the Speen Queen party! :D

Well after tinkering with a shipping return lemon AWN413 I finally discovered what Ive been missing. Turns out Ive been stereotyping all along. I just assumed all new machines on the market were cheap plastic...turns out I was wrong, one brand is not anyways. I liked what I saw so much I decided...

www.automaticwasher.org

 

 

Having done between one to two loads of laundry a day because I have a passion for clean clothes and linens my Speed Queen to date has zero repairs with no troubles. The machine has not even physically moved an centimeter for 10 years despite the occasional imbalance caused by user error ie washing a single bathroom rug. It runs just as good as the day I ran its first load.

 

Performance wise its the best washer I've ever owned. Meticulously cleaned, well rinsed, well spun out lint free clothes in half an hour's time.

 

Given that you wash 3 loads a week would explain why your Maytag lasted 35 years. My Speed Queen is still running at about 10 loads a week for 10 years, meaning the TC-5 will theoretically last at least 33 years. Speed Queen front load could exceed 50 based on their construction. 

 

Maytag dependable cares are known as one of the most durable, longest lasting washers ever built. The only thing that will sincerely come close is a Speed Queen.

 

 

 

 

[william8]

"I have a Speed Queen AWN412 which is mechanically identical to the TC5 purchased in 2013 around Halloween."

Doesn't the TC5 have an electronic board, rather than mechanical timer and solenoids like the AWN412?

We used to do much more laundry with the Maytag. But now it's just the wife and I. I think it lasted much longer because it's a tank, built like the old Speed Queens. Corrosion seems to be the issue now, not surprisingly after 35 years.

 

[goatfarmer]

Love my Speed Queen!

 

[qsd-dan]

Stay far away from the TR series, they don't perform well. The TC5 performs like your Maytag, just with a bigger tub...minus the lint filter and water level control.

The TC5003 uses an electronic board and greatly limits one to flexibility.

Speed Queen does have a timer model, this site has good pictures of it.

https://www.appliancesolutionsmn.co...ercial-top-load-washer-lwn432sp115tw01-white/

You can also try to find a used model locally made before 2018 that has a mechanical timer and lots of great flexibility options.

 

[Chetlaham]

The TC5 does have have electronics- however the motor, pump, belt, transmission, brake, seals, inner tub, outer tub, suspension, frame, water valaves, and agitator are all identical. Electronic controls in Speed Queens are reliable and are easy to replace if they did give you problems.

 

Harder to replace components like the transmission and seals are not known the fail prematurely in Speed Queens- they will last without trouble. On the other hand the splutch, shifters and seals in GE and Whirlpool VM washers are not known to be as durable.

 

[william8]

Thanks. GE and Samsung are not even being considerd.

Even here I am getting mixed opinions on the Speed Queeens. Only one recommended model at $1500. Or a commmercial machine, same price, if I can even get one.

What about Maytag or Wirlpool commercial units? Just under a grand.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Maytag-...0ZlNhaNpkpZoVmMCmXhUe0WWqDrB7n0-O1BU0-ty2PibQ

Whirlpool 3.3 cu. ft. White Commercial Top Load Washing Machine CAE2795FQ - The Home Depot

Give your customers a commercial-grade top-load washer that simply gets the job done backed by a reputable name like Whirlpool. This 3.3 cu. ft. machine is built with a strong, HP motor and traditional

www.homedepot.com

 

[Chetlaham]

The mixed opinions are mostly about the the TR series. Most here agree the TC5 is superior in longevity, durability and warranty compared to any other modern top load washer.

 

The links you posted while of Whirlpool's commercial and heavy duty line are internally almost identical to their cheapest machines. The differences are only very slight adding little of benefit for the large jump in price. Commercial VMW offerings are IMO nothing more than a gimmick.     

 

[ea56]

I’d recommend an Amana NTW4516FW. I have a sister ship Roper RTW4516FW that is 5 years old with zero problems. These are simple TL’s that are just about as close as you’ll get these days to your current Maytag TL. On the Lowes website these washers have a 89% user satisfaction rate.

There are quite a few YT videos you can watch about these machines. I purchased mine because of one of these videos by an AW member Eugene whose member name is Lorainfurniture. I believe he’s an appliance dealer and repairman. At the time I purchased my Roper Eugene gave these machines a good review.

Eddie

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Amana-3-5-cu-ft-Top-Load-Washer-with-Dual-Action-Agitator-White/1003201568

 

[william8]

Will the Amana do a full water rinse? I keep seeing all these new machines that just do a spray rinse.

 

[ea56]

Hi William,
Yes, the Amana will do a full fill rinse on the Norma/Heavy cycle on the Auto Sense Fill. You can also select Deep Water Fill and it will fill right up to the top and the turn over is just like a traditional ‘Old School” TL. I always use the Normal/Heavy cycle with Auto Sense fill and get excellent results without excessive water usage.

Eddie

 

[ryner1988]

Adding onto reply #16

If you want something like the Amana washer but with a few more options, go for the Whirlpool WTW4816FW. I have that washer myself. I was disenchanted with this platform of washer for many years, but this machine won me back over. I was in a bind and needed a washer quickly, and the machines that were my first and second choices felt out of reach financially. So, I took a chance on this one and I'm glad I did. It's similar to the Amana Eddie mentioned, but it adds a soil level knob so the user can increase or decrease agitation time in addition to the cycle that's selected. I find this feature useful because, for instance, I might want the performance of the heavy duty cycle, which is especially accurate on the auto sense fill, but might not want the full 30 minutes of agitation time the heavy soil level provides, so will turn that down to light which shaves some time off the cycle. Eddie's machine is a good one though, it just doesn't have the soil level selector and a few less cycle options, so if those don't matter to you, definitely go for that machine as it's a bit cheaper than mine.

hope this helps.

Ryne

 

[ea56]

Ryne,
Good points about the soil level selector on your Whirlpool WTW4816FW. I didn’t realize that your machine has this option and it’s a good one to have available.

Eddie