Maytag wringer EMERGENCY - please respond

[abcomatic]

HI guys, Back again. I have a 1973 Master that I haven't used in about 7 years. (I know, how stupid can I get?). I cleaned it up an hour ago, lubbed the wringer rollers, and filled it with 18 gallons of HOT water to clean the tub. I put old rags and a couple of old sheets and ran them for 15 min. The wringer is good, it washed just fine;HOWEVER, the pump won't drain a drop, even when I put the hose down to the floor drain. The pump runs just fine, -- no water at all.
So the question is: NOW WHAT DO I DO WITH 18 gallons of water in the machine? Help me. Thanks guys, you are the best. Gary

 

[mr-maytag]

Almost sounds like something is stuck in or over the drain hole or hose. It should drain when you drop the hose...even with the pump off.

 

[wetguymd]

I agree with Ted... something is plugged up... it would drain without the pump if the hose is lowered. Remove the agitator and the screen plate and see if something is blocking the drain hole. You might have to use a bucket to dip some of the water out first.

 

[wayupnorth]

Yes, because the hose is lower than the level of the water, every drop practically should come out of the pump and tub thru gravity. That is how we made sure my old Maytag wringer was completely free from freezing in the winter months when stored. There has to be a blockage somewhere.

 

[launderess]

Find Another Hose

Insert one end into the floor drain, the other into the washer at bottom of tub. Gravity will then drain most of the water out of the machine, long as the tub/washer is higher than the floor drain. You may have to give a few good pipes on the hose to start the process.

Once you've gotten rid of the water, and the remaining has cooled follow the advice given above. Something is either clogging the pump and or hose if no water will drain even if the hose is lowered. I shouldn't run the pump until you can find out what is causing the problem. You don't want to pull whatever is in there deeper still.

 

[kenmore71]

I recall correctly either a dime or a penny is the PERFECT size to completely clog the drain hole in the bottom of the tub. Learned this from experience with grandma abut 35 years ago. Once the water cools a bit, pull the agitator and dive in and feel for what is clogging the hole.

 

[mr-maytag]

That's exactly what crossed my mind, Mark.

 

[westie2]

Try this

Clean the end of the hose and blow real hard on the hose to see if you can't dislodge what is stopping it.  You should hear it start bubbling in the washer.  Pump not running of course.

 

 

[mickeyd]

Probably the biggest safest drain guard out there is on the Maytag conventionals. Can't imagine anything outsmarting it. But hey, who knows?

 

When mine wouldn't drain, it was because the pulley was not contacting the drive. By pulling up high and hard on the hose, contact was restored, and the water gushed.

 

But I'm in agreement that yours sounds like a clog. I wonder what it is.

 

I would siphon the water out, and then stick a supply hose into the drain hose and open the tap all the way, using water pressure to blow out the clog. That's how I fixed a clogged dishwasher drain.

 

Good luck, Gary.

 

[marks]

My wringer pump needed to have some water flow through it before it would pump correctly. The easy fix (if it's not plugged up, or the pully or lever is not working properly) is to turn it on, and lower the hose to the floor. Once it gets good water flow through it, it may begin to pump again. Also turning it on, off, then on again to make sure there are no air bubbles trapped in the impeller. Hopefully it's not something major! Good luck!

 

[abcomatic]

What a mess!

HI guys, Thanks for all of your thoughts on this drain problem. We siphoned water out of it to the base of the trap. I blew at the end of the hose several times and did get bubbles in the tub. I took a hose and screwed it to the end of the hose and to the water line and turned it on too. Lots of bubbles and then water all over me! lol (I need a shower anyway. When I got bubbles coming into the tub, I lowered the hose and some water came out but not much and the pump didn't do a thing. I did notice that there is some sort of white/gray sand looking particles though. I bet it is all limed up from our wonderful Illinois water?
I put some vinegar in there and it is there now. I'll try this and see what happens. Is this a good idea or not? "Oh what a world, what a world." Gary

 

[stan]

I have a E2LP

mine is a lot older, but same machine. If it were me, I would take off both hoses, tub to pump hose, and pump to drain hose, and check them out. Once the tub to pump hose is out you should be able to see straight down to the floor directly under.
Somethings in one of those two hoses! The tub to pump hose is short, and should be easy to clean out in your kitchen sink!

Let us know!

 

[wringer]

My two cents worth

if you can blow through the end of the washer hose and you get bubbles then it is somewhat open. However, after having sat for so long there may have been water left in the hose that has evaporated leaving some hard water particles in the hose to clog it. I wonder if you let the hose full of water, attach it to the washer and leave it set for a bit if it may not soften up and then flush out with pressure. Also, the pump may also be corroded with sediment after having sat. I always drain my hose totally before putting it back on the hook. If you have to remove the two hoses and pump to clean them it is not a hard job just time consuming. It may be that a button or dime has gotten into the drain hole and wedged sideways. I doubt this tho since there is the protective screen. Good luck on getting your prize up and draining again.

 

[abcomatic]

OH JOY, OH RAPTURE, OH BLISS

YEA, It is draining and pumping just fine! My friend put CLR at the opening to the drain today when I was at a retired teacher's meeting. The CLR sat for about 7 hours. We lowered the hose and water came out just fine. I filled up the tub and let the pump run, turning it off and on several times; all kinds of calcium came glopping out of the pump and finally ran clear with high pressure.
Thanks to all of you that told me what do to. Thanks again guys, Gary

 

[stan]

Oh Good

Glad you got it!

Got to love the Dear old wringers!

so it go's to show you, not to let the old girl set so long without using!
And to do what Tim suggested up thread... always drain completely if it's not going to be use for a while.

Happy washing!

Wringer style!

 

[arbilab]

Excellent.

From the "EMERGENCY" in the title I thought your arm was caught in it and you were one-handed texting. Though really I shouldn't joke about that. They didn't call them "mangles" for nothing. Grandma wouldn't let me anywhere near the wringer on her Thor. Confirm the release bar works, just in case it's ever needed.

 

[wringer]

Glad

your got it working properly ! I was almost certain it was just plugged with water, soap and other things from the water after setting for so long. Happy Maytaging !!!!!

Jim