My New Warhorse: Maytag KA206

[scoots]

Well, it's been 10 years but I finally got a replacement for my old Harvest A207 Maytag washer.

There was an estate sale within walking distance of my house with an avocado A206 for $75. The dials and graphics were all in good condition, the machine was clean and well kept, and the estate salesperson let me run the washer through its paces, so I put down the money and took it away with me. As I mentioned, I had a similar machine, but I wanted to ask a few questions about this one...

The serial number is 330176 MM. What would be the date of construction on this?

 

The Dial has the permanent press cycle. What year was this introduced? Is there a practical difference between this and 1950's "Wash and Wear", or is it just updating the marketing lingo?

 

Also, the permanent press cycle only has notations in the wash time zone of the cycle... the rest of course is blank.  Because of the complicated rinse/spin/cool down program, was this left blank to discourage operators from using these and "forcing" the use of the more conventional (and marked) rinse/spin cycles in the Whites program?

 

I have a pilot light above the dial but it doesn't work... Going through old posts, it seems that Maytag installed non-functional lights.  Is that true? I don't get it... the first words out of a prospective buyer is "why isn't the pilot lamp on?"... What does the salesman say "That's ok, it's just for show" ??

 

Many Thanks...

 

Bill

 

 

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hi Bill, I saw you posted a new thread for each picture of your Maytag. You should just post them as a reply in the same thread. I deleted the other threads but I saved the pictures you posted and will put them here. Thank you.

 

[scoots]

Thanks for consolidating the post Robert

I've never had to post more than one photo at a time ...  I was hoping a moderator would put them in one posting, but it did not occur to do it as a reply.

 

[DigAPony]

Nice score, console looks great, no yellowing or faded paint.

I guess the 206 didn't have the chromed bezel however.

 

[beekeyknee]

MM = June 1971. Too bad about the lint filter. Can you take the filter out of your old one?

 

[christfr]

OH ICKY POO THAT POOR LINT FILTER I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY PEOPLE DONT CLEAN THERE MACHINES BUT THEN AGAIN I GUESS THEY DONT CLEAN OTHER THINGS EITHER.. GREAT MACHINE THOUGH KNOW SHE WILL BE HAPPY TO BE OFF ON A NEW LIFE CONGRATS

 

[scoots]

Lint Filter self-destruct.

Does anybody know why the lint filter plastic is disintegrating? Too much exposure to bleach? Will any aqua filter work? Obviously I need to replace it.

BTW Beekeyknee, the old A207 went to the scrapper long long ago, so no transfering the filter.

 

[akronman]

Ebay

Try Ebay, and I am also learning to try local OLD parts stores. If they haven't moved in 35 years of business, it's no surprise thay have some OLD stuff laying around.

This price SUCKS

Frankly, the way the Maytag filter barely works, why buy one? LOL

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[washdaddy]

What is the purpose of the T in the drain hose? I've never seen one like that before.

 

[danemodsandy]

I'll Bet....

"Does anybody know why the lint filter plastic is disintegrating?"

My guess is that it got banged on the edge of a garbage can or laundry sink. Many, many times.

 

[hippiedoll]

lint filter.....

hey bill/scoots:

i sent you a private email. i have an extra lint filter for sale.

i'll be waiting to hear back from you through my email.

christina/hippiedoll )
peace...

 

[bajaespuma]

Aferim!

That is a gorgeous score!

 

I've always loved the 206's of that vintage ever since I saw my first one in the appliance department of Macy's. After being impressed by the beauty of the 806 with its millions of buttons of shiny glass backsplash I went over to the 206 and thought the black and aqua agitator in the blue tub was a nifty combo. Of course I wanted both of them. I'm still looking for one just like that, with the brushed aluminum trim and the black agitator.

 

[gansky1]

These filters work marginally better if you put one of the rubber filter seals from earlier Maytag washer filters fitted inside the little fingers at the bottom.   These rubber seals are as rare as hen's teeth, you might also find a rubber o-ring that will fit and help seal those fingers a little better.  A lot of trouble for very little benefit, really.  Those little fingers don't fit tightly against the inside of the agitator barrel and much of the water and lint pass right through.  If it fits tightly at the top of the agitator and won't come off while operating, you could cut off the lower, damaged filter section and just have the benefit of the softener dispenser and "the look" without the nuisance of the filter itself.  

 

One of the reasons they degrade over time is that those little holes are able to hold beads of water.  Over time, the water dries (slowly) leaving behind minerals and hard water deposits.  Once the build-up starts, the deposits take longer and longer to dry, exacerbated by threads and lint not cleaned out after each washday.  Eventually the holes close up and the hard water continues to degrade the plastic to the point it becomes brittle.  Age/time and water - the best solvents on earth.

 

[rp2813]

I wonder if that tee fitting served as a vent for the hose if it drained directly into a standpipe.

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>I wonder if that tee fitting served as a vent for the hose if it drained directly into a standpipe.</blockquote> Yes, it's an anti-siphon attachment.

 

[scoots]

Thanks everybody for their input --

I want to thank everybody for their input... I've been looking for a Maytag automatic for several years now with the worst luck... Machines in unacceptable condition or price, flakey owners that don't return calls or aren't home when you show up...

I'm actually happy it's "only" a 206. Everybody dreams of the higher units but I'd like this to be my daily driver and I'd always worry that I was sending an 806 to an early grave.

One parting question, what's with the decal on the top of the control console? Is this because the Maytag builder's plate is on the back of the cabinet instead of in the tub throat?

 

[beekeyknee]

The sticker is on the top of the control panel on the older machines so the owner or repair man could quickly identify what they were dealing with.

It's on the older machines because they sat close to the wall and the placard was hard to read. And also many repairs were conducted under that cover.

 

[beekeyknee]

The sticker is on the top of the control panel on the older machines so the owner or repair man could quickly identify what they were dealing with.

 

[rp2813]

If memory serves me, I think our Harvest 206 had the same decal.  Why it's there, I couldn't tell you.