My New Maytags

[danemodsandy]

Hello:

Well, I finally made the move- I now have a pair of vintage centre-dial Maytags! Thanks to everyone here for all the stuff I've learnt from you- without the encouragement of the example set by people like Greg and DADoES and Steve in Florida, I might not have done it.

Here's a picture of the new babies; I'll post more when I've had a little time with them. They're from Craigslist, and they were owned by a woman who has moved to a retirement home; her son sold them to me:

 

[gadgetgary]

Best of Luck

With you new Maytags. I just got my first back in October of last year...I guess one of the last of the DC....no center dial.

 

[peteski50]

New Maytags

Hi Sandy,
What a Beautiful set. Best of Luck with them.
Peter

 

[danemodsandy]

These are my consolation prize- I was really heartbroken a few days ago when Rich (TrainGuy) posted those gorgeous 1966 keyboard Lady Kenmores! Too far away, and more of a resto project than I'm qualified to handle at this point. Reading that those lovelies were headed to the krusher was almost more than I could bear...

I spent all night thinking, "It's only money," and "Surely someone on AW.org would have a white Kenmore dryer top so that I could respray the dryer and have a matched pair."

From the standpoint of daily use, I think these Maytags are probably more what I need anyway. But I'll always have a soft spot for keyboard LK's; I still miss my '66 washer. Never did have the matching dryer; I had a Kelvinator dryer back then.

 

[charbee]

Congrats on the new babies!

And dontcha just love Craigslist?

A few days after we found our gorgeous DE606 Dryer, we snagged a rather beat-up A407 for twenty bucks. Still works great, so we're using it as an "interim" machine until we can get the matching A606.

We had never seen a Center-Dial Maytag washer go through its cycle, and so we rigged a plastic hanger between the lid and switch, and watched the A407 do its thing...excellent turnover of the clothes, and way-cool how the spinning/draining happens, with that excellent VORTEX! So cool! And soooo very quiet!

Enjoy your Maytags!

 

[danemodsandy]

Breakin' 'Er In

Hello All!

They're HEEEEEEEEERE!

I've already run a load of car towels, and I have some questions:

- That is a NOISY washer. Is there something I should be attending to, or have I forgotten what a BD machine sounds like? It's washing just fine, though.
- The lint screen on the dryer has holes in it; I obviously need to get a new one. BUT- unless I miss my guess, that also means I need to go inside the unit and clean out lint buildup. Any tips there? The dryer is very quiet.

The units are not quite what I thought they were from the Craigslist pic. To begin with, the washer is a LA108 and the dryer is a LPE606. They have the cycles I need, and I have bleach and softener dispensers, so I'm well pleased, even if they're not 806's. And as nice as lighted controls are, hey, it's one less thing to go wrong if you don't have 'em, eh?

BUT- they are the dread Almond colour- the Craigslist pic made 'em look white. Again, no biggie- but I can see me looking for white tops and respraying the cabinets. I never did like Almond; it always made me think "Give me some 409 and a rag and I'll get that thing clean and white again."

I have four resto issues for the moment. I need a lint filter for the dryer and a button kit for the washer (both available and no big deal). But I also have some of the gold rubbed off of the control panels- the lower halves, where the buttons are. They're showing silver underneath. Anyone have a cool AW.org Secret Formula for restoring the gold? Also, the dryer shows signs of dryer sheet buildup- anyone have a tip for removing it? I hates me some damn dryer sheets- I won't allow them to be used in any dryer I own.

Anyway, I have a working washer and dryer for the first time in three weeks. And they're vintage! YAY!

 

[brettsomers]

charbee mentioned this, the classic Maytag is a QUIET machine. something must be wrong with yours. perhaps a video with sound is needed?

 

[danemodsandy]

Brett:

The sound is a rrhnrr, rrhnrr, rrhnrr on agitation. Not too bad when you get used to it, but it was startling on first hearing.

 

[danemodsandy]

P.S.: Spin

Brett:

Spin is quiet- maybe a little groan as it stops. Nothing out of the ordinary.

 

[charbee]

Maybe "quiet" is relative?

After a year of using the heinously noisy Whirlpool with a broken spin-brake (that sounded like someone rapidly banging a 50-gallon drum with a hammer every time it tried to stop spinning), the Maytag seems almost silent.

Maybe it's belt noise?

And definitely agree about "almond"...ack...

 

[danemodsandy]

Charbee

"Maybe it's belt noise?

And definitely agree about "almond"...ack..."

Any suggestions on checking belts?

As a fellow almond-hater, you might like to know that the colour was created specifically to hide a certain amount of kitchen grease and schmutz. In the '70s, it was becoming apparent that women were not taking their housekeeping inspiration from June Cleaver any more. And men, of course, held themselves totally apart from cleaning concerns, so THEY were no help. Soooo, a colour that didn't show the lack of cleaning was created, and, sadly, became very popular.

It will probably take a while, but my intent is to find new tops for these machines, in white, and re-spray the cabinets.

 

[goatfarmer]

Might be a normal noise. A new set of belts couldn't hurt.

That's a new style dryer, not a HOH. It's pretty easy to clean out the insides. Unplug it, take out the 2 screws, at each corner of the front, pull the bottom towards you, and unclip the top of the front.
Personally, I would look for a set in the proper color, and trade those for them, the tops are porcelain, and I don't know how you would paint them.

Nice set!

kennyGF

 

[danemodsandy]

Spare "Small Load" Button?

Does anyone's parts stash include a spare "Small Load" button for the washer's control panel?

I'd be eternally grateful! Will pay via PayPal if that's what you prefer.

 

[goatfarmer]

I should have some. I need to know what the back of the button looks like. Is it a slot like this - or a slot like this I(vertical or horizontal)?
Also, is it 3 buttons, or 4?

 

[danemodsandy]

Horizontal!

Kenny:

The slot is horizontal. It's the "Small Load" button in a row of three load-sizing buttons ("Small Load", "Medium Load", "Large Load"). This washer is an LA108.

Just let me know what you need!

 

[charbee]

Belts and Almond

If it's working, just make sure that the belts are genuine Maytag belts. Heard that genuine Maytag belts have to be used, as they are of a special design that is meant to slip a bit. Regular automotive fan belts are a no-no.

And, to folks of a certain age, "Almond" = "Those Awful '80s"

 

[retromom]

Great set of Tags Sandy!!

Congrats on your beautiful set of Maytags! This is one vintage brand that I would not hesitate to use as my daily driver!!

Have fun with them and do lots of sudsy washing!

 

[mayken4now]

Well thanks for the compliment of acheiving your Maytag's. Just a matter of quality and durability that wont hold up to any other, EVER.

Pics are my A608 and DE608. 1979

Steve

 

[danemodsandy]

Steve!

Those are SO GORGEOUS. I have a little way to go before getting mine in anything like that condition!

Tomorrow's job is a search-and-destroy mission- on lint buildup in the dryer. The lint filter has holes in it, and so much lint has gotten into the dryer's air-handling system that the lint filter wouldn't even seat properly in its slot. The lint buildup wouldn't permit the filter to go all the way into place.

One thing at a time, one day at a time, eh?