Maytag Powerfin Question

[mayfan69]

Aussie 8 vane in White

This is the same Aussie Wilkins Servis agitator but in White when they introduced the stainless steel bowl in 1977.

 

[gyrafoam]

Love that look with the white agitator and SS.

 

[bajaespuma]

Bakelite hands down.

"Is the base of the agitator bigger in my 108 than in my 806?

I know the agitator for the 806 is taller, but is the base wider in the small capacity tub?"

The answer to both of those questions is , no. The white and blue tubs are the same diameter as are the agitators. In fact they're interchangeable AFAIC. The newer agitators in the 1990's models with the extra fins have narrower bases and are overall IMHO, inferior agitators.

What I was told by one of the docents on this site, and I've seen myself, is that the water distributor cone underneath the old bakelite agitator really shoots a powerful stream of water from underneath the agitator that the later powerfins don't have. Instead, the water recirculates out of the lint filter column from four openings above the fins. It does make a difference.

And as far as I'm concerned, as much as I love and respect Wash Power Maytags, they couldn't hold a candle to the early Filter-Flo's(before the asinine straight vane activators)with respect to effective agitation. And Tom, I so agree with you about Consumer Reports; how they missed that is beyond me. I think their "scientific method" needed to be rated by an independent organization.

 

[bobbyderegis]

Might as well ask:

If anyone has a black Bakelite agitator in good shape that they would consider selling, I'd love to buy it. Our old 142 Bakelite agitator cracked during the rebuild several years ago. I have a black poly powerfin agitator in it now, but it's nothing like the original. Baja's right: the shroud underneath really pumped the water thru the filter barrel much more than the new poly agitators.
Bobby in Boston

 

[combo52]

A PICTURE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

One look at the scum under the MT agitator makes my point about the poor cleaning and rinsing ability of MT washers I have never seen that kind of stoup under a WP with neutral drain agitator.

 

[yogitunes]

well to fix that stoup issue is to drill a small hole in te agitator to allow water to get underneath and flush out...

I do this to all mine....keeps them clean and I don't have that air bubble under there taking some of my wash water after the machine starts agitating....

 

[bobbyderegis]

I've seen plenty of muck under all brands of agitators. The newer Tag poly agitators have a hole already.
Bobby in Boston

 

[bajaespuma]

In fairness to Maytags, that picture was taken the day I got that set home and the moment I was able to remove it from the agitator drive post. Also, like many Maytag owners I've encountered(including my sister) the owner/operator of this Maytag was one of those housewives who never bothered to remove the lint filter to clean it(or maybe never even knew it was there) so a lot of the "muck" was from poor maintenance followed by years of no use.

One of the reasons I'm interested in vintage washers is I remember the angle that raised me and did our laundry would regularly pull out the activator on on V-12 and clean it, being very careful not to disturb the grease on the spline. A couple of years after she left it was permanently fused on.

 

[kenwashesmonday]

Maytag agitator should be removed and cleaned a few times a year so you know it's both clean and not stuck on.

Ken D.