Thanks for the nice compliments! My laundry room is small compared to some of the others I've seen on this site so it's important for me to stay organized otherwise I would be stepping all over myself. I give myself a lot of room when I use my wringers so I can move around the machine and tubs with ease. I start by sweeping the floor because I know it will be wet when I get done. I slosh water and don't worry about it! I have a mop and use 3-4 towels for wiping. I also dry the machine thoroughly when I'm through. A lot of people didn't do that and ended up with rust everywhere.
Mikey ... There could be a couple of things happening with your Model J (square porcelain model). First, I don't think it's the wringer head. A very heavy grease was used in the head and leaking was usually around the frame not down into the post ... usually.
It sounds as if the seal where the right angle drive (drive going from transmission to wringer post) connects to the wringer post is bad. The only way to replace this is to remove the tub then disconnect the right angle drive from the post. These gaskets are still available from your Maytag dealer and don't cost much. If you are going to do this, you should also buy some wringer head grease and repack the wringer post; it takes only about a 1/2 of a cup of grease. You should clean out the old grease first as I might have broken down and become watery over time.
It is also possible it could be from the right angle drive (drive going from transmission to wringer post). A lot of times the agitator seal (underneath the agitator in the center post) becomes brittle and allows water to seep through. When that happens, water travels through the right angle drive to where it connects with the wringer post; making the grease in the wringer post become watery and leak. The best way to see if water has leaked into your transmission and drive is to turn the machine over on its front (where agitator control and decal are). Then look to see if water comes out of the breather hole on the top of the right angle drive. If there's water in there, then the agitator seal is bad.
When I've had this happen, I just take the machine apart, replace all the gaskets on the drives and repack the wringer post with lubrication. It's just easier and then there is no question. Once you've taken one of these machines apart, you learn what to do. I took my first Maytag apart at least 5-6 times to learn what made it "tick". It was the only way to learn.
Too much info Mikey? Sorry.
Hi Scott ... I haven't spoken to you for quite a while! I was sorry that I couldn't see you before you moved. Yes; if you are in Minnesota this fall, let me know; it would be fun to visit!
Geoff