MOVING A MAYTAG E2L

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7 WEEKS AGO TODAY!

I brought this little beauty home. AND I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT HEARTACHES EVER SINCE!!!!

HA! Just kidding. Got the whole thing reassembled in about 4 hours. I had to overcome a few obsticals. Like not knowing what I'm doing! I bet next time I can do it in half the time.

I'll do a few test loads tonight! She's all back together and as pretty as a picture, so here is one!

e2l-arry++10-6-2012-18-57-39.jpg
 
Beautiful

Umm what "next time" the hell you've been through, can't imagine you'd even consider a next time LOL!

A couple of thing I"ll give you an heads up on, now that she's ready to wash, and pump... If the pump lever linkage is adjusted a little to tight, the lever may pop back over to the OFF position by itself, its no big deal (mine dose this and haven't bothered to re adjust)

As Mike said up thread, the pumps are mighty, and will empty that tub right quick!
While its pumping out, don't be surprised if you lid rattle's !LOL (mine dose, and never been able to stop) Also no big deal.

After what you been through this little things, will seem like heaven!

Beautiful job Larry
 
She shore is purty!! :-) WONDERFUL, AMAZING, FANTASTIC! You did it!

When you tested it without the tub, was it quiet? Agitator gear connected well?

You'll have to let us know how you like that pump. Have you tried it out yet before washing? Maytag's literature said it would empty the tub in 2 minutes or less. Once the wheel connects to the flywheel, the impeller in the pump really shoots out the water.

Enjoy, Larry; you've done great!!
 
Well,

I must have done something backwards because now you push in to start the agitator and pull out to stop. But I can live with that.

There's more bad news. I used it tonight and first I saw 1 spot of Bosco on the floor. I traced it back to the pulley shaft from my EBay replacement transmission. It was old because it looked nothing like the fresh oil I put in today. So I wonder if that will stop or I'll put my other PU back in and hope for no more locking up. I put a bucket under and by the end of washing there was quite a bit.

Next, I go to empty the machine with me new pump and NADA! It ran when I hooked it up but must need some final adjustment. At least with the longer hose and goose neck it was easier getting it to the floor drain.

And now the REALLY sad part. Lots of drainage out of the vent. Nice puddle of the new oil I put in today with a lot of water mixed in. So there is a BIG leak but damned if I can spot it. I kind of suspect that 1 lone screw. All the bolts are tight.

So . . . maybe not for a while, but I need to pull the tub again, and get another set of gaskets and bolts from Phil. Maybe when I pull the center plate I'll get a clue of where the leak is. Try my original transmission that I know wasn't leaking from the pulley shaft.
.
DAMN!

Not the results I was hoping for but I won't let this haunted machine beat me!
 
Oh no, Larry i have followed your posts and great photo's.  I had a moment of worry, when you mentioned using the that alternate PU.  Maybe the old girl, just wants her original heart back, so to speak.  You have reworked all of it maybe just too much "new" at one time.  alr
 
I'm dying here

My God this old girl is being difficult!

Where could the Bosco come from? You had all that cleaned out?

Leaks! ...You had new tub bolts and new rubber washers?? Could it be the center plate seal? I know you put a new one on, before the tare down, but ... ??

Think we all know you well enough now, that we know this wont get the better of you, but I'll tell you, it sure causes me to pause at the idea of doing mine!
I know that I'll have to do this sooner or later, but after reading this... Umm, think that will be a later LOL
 
I have no idea

I will remove the tub again. I'll have to! Piece of cake for an old pro like me. I have to drain the PU again now that I know it has water in it. But you're right Stan, new bolts, new seal, I don't know where I went wrong.

So here's what I'm thinking of doing next. Pull the tub. Then figure out the adjustment on the pump. That'll either run against the pulley when "ON" or not. An easy enough adjustment. Unless it's already making contact and I got a bum pump. I'll have to remove the center plate again and get another new gasket. Switch out the P.U. to the one it came with. That one didn't leak at the pulley seal.

Now, If I put the original back on and it goes back to locking up again, which is why I didn't put it back in the first place, then I have an operation between units. Make one working unit out of 2.

I'm tempted to use my cork gasket this time. It just covers for much more real estate than that rubber gasket. I'll try ANYTHING at this point. If it doesn't work I'm no stranger to failure here.

Another advantage I have here is I know there are no holes in the new tub. So the only possible leaks have to come from the bolts and/or the center plate seal. Next time I put it back together I'm going to give them all a coat of Goop.

But right now, I'm drying tonight's wash and I'll be going back to using my front loader for a couple of weeks. Some advise I got from Stan at the start of this. He said "I can just walk away" for awhile. And after 7 weeks of this I think I'll be taking a break.

I'm not giving up but I really think I need a break after today.

I appreciate everyone's support. I'll be back!

Larry
 
Think the

cork gasket is certainly worth a try at this point, so is the "Goop" (good stuff) Don't know what P.U is better? my guess is that the one that it came with, locked up because of that piece of metal.

Did you hear the pump when it was engaged? They make quite a roar when the fly wheel and pump wheel meet. It may be just a little short, (adjustment) where it's not quite touching.

Sure can't blame you for taking a rest from it, you certainly deserve one!

We're here to help, when you you try again!
 
There's icing on the cake I forgot

That red label on the back with the patent numbers? I bought one from that guy in Ohio. So today I figure I'll put that on. Find out, it's not some peel back and stick label. This is some ancient thing from some print shop in Newton Iowa. How this Ohio guy got them is beyond me, But alas, they're not only old, they're VERY brittle! Directions say to lay momentarily in water. When's the last time you read that for an instruction for a sticker? Well anyway, I put it in that water then when I tried to peel it off the backing, it disintegrates into just a pile of mush.

I find that only fitting. But watch out when ordering decals and labels. That sometimes aren't what you'd call, strictly fresh.
 
Larry ... you are too close to give up!! Now listen ... you were in a hurry to get it done; mistakes can happen and especially for it being your first time. Slow down and go through it thoroughly.

You're right about the pump; you can adjust that later. That's the least of your worries. It's probably just a matter of moving the pump closer to the flywheel.

Start with the tub to center plate connection. Does the tub rest on the top of the center plate or is there more than a 1/8" gap? If there's more of a gap, that means you do not have the power unit adjusted right and it's not close enough to the tub. You've got to use the bolt that's holding it to the cross frame to move it closer. The rubber gasket on the center plate is MORE than enough. Do not use the cork gasket; it's not right for those center plates. Also, when tightening those 1/2" hex-head bolts, don't over-tighten; make sure you have a secure connection of the rubber gasket to the tub.

You've got the agitator connection wrong. Look at the drawings in the service manual. The "toggle" for the agitator needs to be pushed all the way forward towards the power unit before you put the agitator control arm, pin, and spring back on.

If you truly have water running out the right angle drive breather hole, you DO have a major leak! Again, double-check your work for placing the water seal in the center plate; make sure you did that correctly. Also, that little screw could be problematic. Phil stopped using those screws and is using a piece of solid rubber. You pull the rubber through the hole and then cut it off flush to the center plate. When placing the center plate back on the machine, you have to use a rubber mallet to tap it down so it makes complete connection; VERY important to have that hole blocked.

I'm unclear as to why you would have so much lubrication coming out of the breather hole unless water is mixing in and making the lubrication too thin. There must be a lot of water getting into that transmission to do that; especially after only one use. You've got to go through and make sure those connections are water-tight.

Once you do all of this, Larry. You should run the machine without the pump for a good 10-15 minutes with the agitator on so you can see if it develops oil leaks. If no leaks and you're ready to put the tub back on, make sure the tub lines up well and you have a solid connection to the center plate; don't use GOOP ... address the connection instead. Water test the machine with a bucket of hot water in it and let it sit there and then turn the machine on and let it agitate.

I know it's frustrating but you really are close; I think it's just the connections you've made.
 
Lordie, Lordie !!

It took me 2 cups of coffee to get this far in the thread today Larry. I agree that you need a bit of a rest from good ole Bessie May. She sure is cantankerous. I could not have done all you have done my friend. I say friend because you have become a great friend to all of us here following your journey with Bessie May. Geoff, I would have given my eye teeth to have had the opportunity you had when you were young working on these babies. I love to go to the Amish shop just to watch Myron working and doing a meticulous job of restoring. He is only 20 and just got married the 3rd but acts and works like someone who has been doing it for many more years than he has. He learned from his father who has done this his entire life. He used to rebuild them for Lehman's in Kidron, Oh but quit there and started his own business because they didn't want him to do the good job he was doing. They wanted them in the back door and out the side door in a very short period of time. Sloppy as I said when I saw one of them.

Another thing I have noticed and heard from others Larry is that the E's make more noise than the J's and N's because of the space between the tub and skirt. I have found that to be the case with mine.

The greatest of luck to you Larry. Please keep us updated on your progress and what you do. You will make it through this and Bessie May will be your friend the rest of your life. You have a lot of your life in here now !!!!

Best !!

Jim
 
Geoff made some good points

I wondered if over tightening could be an issue. I tightened the hell out of those bolts. I do think water got through that 1 screw hole. If I can't find a rubber piece to fit maybe I'd just fill it in with something else.If I ever get that far.

I still have the issue of oil leaking out the pulley shaft. I did file a complaint with Pay Pal that this part does NOT work correctly as advertised. Probably nothing will come of that though.

The gap between the tub and the center plate did seem large to me and I thought about raising the power unit with the adjustment bolt on the bottom but the service manual says 1/4 inch and I didn't want to second guess the pros. But some of the "instruction" on that manual leaves a lot to be desired. Some instruction is very "step by step" while some of it is very vague. Especially to a novice.

I will say that after sleeping on it, this morning I wanted to rip it apart, sell whatever I bought, agitator, pump, hardware even that tub if there was a buyer. Then list anything salvageable like the motor, leg extensions and casters and wringer rollers. Finally take the skirt frame, legs and wringer post and housing to the metal scrap yard in Golden and recoup at least some of my financial loss. I still might. Everyone has their limit!

But for now, a cooling off period. I moved it into a storage room in the basement and threw an old blanket over it and shut the door. Out of sight, out of mind. Then spent the next 1/2 hour cleaning up the mess the Exon Valdez left on the floor!

e2l-arry++10-7-2012-10-39-8.jpg
 
Well, that passed

my foul mood and I'm back on the case. I took it apart again. That goes faster every time. It looked to me like the pump wheel was making contact with the pulley so I'll check that out from below next time I have water in it? I might have gotten a bum pump or it is just an adjustment.

I had to disconnect the agitator activation shaft so during the re-install I'll do it correctly. But having them opposite really I could have lived with.

Took of the center plate and the trans was FULL of water. So not just some leak, we're talking BIG HONKIN' LEAK(S)! The thing looked like it was left over from Hurricane Katrina! The bottom side of the rubber gasket for the center plate was all wet so that tells me something. Next time I will raise it with the bottom bolt to level with the tub. Whether that's a 1/4" or more from the support frame to the bottom of the unit. I'll definitely need new gaskets. They both tore. So here's my list of questions.

1.Do I need to use another new set of new bolts? I used 2 of the set from Phil to connect the Center Plate to the Power Unit. I cranked those on pretty tightly and when I removed them that washer/rubber seal part stayed on. Then since I used those 2 there, I was 2 short for the tub installation. So for those 2 I used the same 1/2" bolt from Ace with a rubber washer, then a lock and regular washer. I used those where the center plate connects to the tub but NOT the power unit. Was that OK? I mean, for $7.50 I can get another set if it will help.

2. That damned little screw. I had a hell of a time getting that back in yesterday. I think it compromised the gasket because today when I opened it up, the gasket had broken at that location and looked to me like that was at least one of the leak paths. So since Phil fills those in with rubber, could I fill those in, the hole in the Center Plate and the mating hole in the Power Unit, with sealant? So long as it's flush with the surface? It sounds like Phil uses the rubber thing as a plug and a plug is a plug? Rubber piece or sealant.

3. Since there was so much water in the rt.angle drive, should I redo my grease job where that meets the vertical drive?

4. The EBay transmission seemed to work fine but it was leaking oil from the pulley side of the worm gear. Should I attempt to repair that? The Service Manual shows washer, seal, washer, spring washer, washer, snap ring. Or is that asking for trouble? Do you think I'm safer just switching back to the original transmission? I have a little paranoia about getting that back in and then a recurrence of the mysterious locking up episodes.

I'd like to avoid a 3rd tear down if at all possible.Maybe one of these days I'll have a working washer. I think I'll go downstairs now and see if the Valdez has stopped dripping.

Thanks Guys!
 
Your hilarious dude

I knew it would'nt get you down for too long LOL

Think we need Geoff for those questions, but one thing for sure is you have to get the water out of the right angle drive.
My vote is that you use to the P.U she was came with, but lets wait for Geoff to stop by!

What little screw are you all talking about?Do you have pics so we can see? (your probably sick of pics by now, but we enjoy them!)
 
Yea, I'm hilarious all right!

I could hardly keep a lid on the hilarity last night! Gotta laugh to keep from crying!

Here's a pic of the infamous screw hole. Where the red nozzle is pointing. There are 2 bolts near the shaft that connect directly to the Power Unit, nothing to do with the tub. Then this goofy screw at the top that is nothing but trouble. And from what I'm hearing now, isn't even really necessary.

e2l-arry++10-7-2012-20-06-37.jpg
 
Oh I see

WTH is it for? plug that thing up!
You got a pic of that rubber seal that went around the center plate?
Want to see why Geoff says not to use the cork!

How long did it take you to get it all apart!
 
Darn,

I am of no help to you but certainly am standing by you watching your every move. I knew you would not give up. However, it is always good to get away from things for a bit. I just looked at my 3 gals and the E has a black rubber plug in that hole and the other two have screws in them. I have no idea what they are for but the hole is filled as stated above. Geoff will be here soon to give you some help I am sure. He will know about this situation. I am wondering if the cork gasket rather than the rubber O ring type may have been the problem? I am told that the cork one was only used on the older models with the cast aluminum tub. Anyhow, you have a lot of support here but no help in person LOL. Good Luck Larry !!! Keep us informed as we all care !

Jim
 

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