Need Help with Maytag A50 Twin Tub

[twintubber]

Ok, so I finally got the white Maytag A50 Port-Pair washer last night. (Yaaaayyyyy)
Well it worked-at first! But the oddest thing has happened.
The INTERNAL lid switch mechanism for the spinner completely jammed up.
It did it once as I started to drain dirty "first use cleaning water" from the wash tub. So I unplugged the machine and let it sit for a few minutes and when I plugged it back in it took a little force but it locked and activated.
When I stopped the spinner to rinse the tub out, it jammed again.
I've taken the entire thing apart-back, front and top.
Seems rather a 'testy' little spin lid locking mechanizm/brake system.
To activate, the switch has to be pushed so hard it was actually bruising my thumbs!
Tried using vice grips but even with those I had to clamp so tightly I thought I might break the mechanism so no more of that.
I've adjusted the sliding white plastic guide for the spin brake cable and still to no avail.
Any help/advice/suggestions from any of you Maytag twinnie experts?
PLEASE???
I'm hoping this is a minor issue and can get to enjoying using it soon.
I wanna get this tender little baby up and running.
It's so friggin' CUTE!!!
Heavy as heck though, but I will say this......looking around inside this machine I can say this is definitely when Maytag machines were seriousely BUILT!
This litle baby may be small but it's a tough little guy with the power it has underneath it and the quality of the parts.

Hopefully I will be sealing the Hoover's spin tub tomorrow so that'll be up and running very soon too and I'll share some more adventures in TwinTubbing with you all.
Thanks again Guys!!!

Here's the pic again........................

 

[twintubber]

And the other..............

Pic 2

 

[unclejohn]

A little jewel...

Nice little machine, Scott!

Concerning the problem I do not know about it but I do hope somebody in here might be of some help. I know for sure about the break cable in Hoovers but the Maytag A50 I just dont know since I never owned one of those. Wish some day to find one, although my priority is looking after an old Hitachi twinnie from the early 1970's

 

[twintubber]

Thanks unclejohn!

I love this little machine!!! Can't wait to use it properly.
As I've stated before, it's cute and fun and all, but it will never be a serious washing machine to me due to it's small size and more so, the lack of spin rinsing-which for the life of me I cannot understand.
Maytag supposedly made these twin tubs to compete with the other brands which ALL did spin rinses. And with the completely full sized motors and pump, I find it rather pathetic that these 'MAYTAG' machines are too "wimpy" to do a spin rinse.
So it would be LOT of work to use this as a daily driver compared to the Simplicty/Speed Queen or Hoover machines. Especially for a multiple rinser like I am.
Just sayin'........

But still, to have gotten all three out of the four makes that were popular in the day, and all in the period of one month, I guess I can't complain too much.
Still need to find me the GSW-Easy twin tub and I'm all set!!!

 

[yogitunes]

I have an A50, and use it to spin rinse, and don't see what the big deal is, while true it does not have the faucet inside, many Hoovers don't either, and that does not stop us from opening the lid, splash water over the load, close the lid and spin out....

my A50 used to sudslock alot, and would not pump out until the canister reached full speed.....once I changed the spring on the pump, never an issue

but yes, for some odd reason, the Maytag manual states, wash, spin...drain wash water...refill, rinse, and spin out again.....too much of a waster of water and time for me.....spin rinsing seems better

 

[twintubber]

Thanks for the info Yogitunes!

I wondered if it was from a sudslock, but didn't use that much detergent to begin with.
Also, I would have thought it would 'release' after sitting for a bit, but not so.
But it seems to be in the mechanism in the lid switch that is the problem.
It's hard to explain, but it really is JAMMED.
The amount of force I was using with the vice-grips just to get the tub drained was not acceptable. Nor desirable.
I'm gonna try and get to it later if I can, but I have to dig out the Christmas lights and decorations and get the tree up today. Priorities ya know.
That is, after the Miele and I take a trip around doing some dusting first!
And yeah, the rinsing thing is quite puzzling to me.

 

[yogitunes]

you may find out if could be simple crusty corrosion, causing it to stick....a good cleanout and some lite lubrication, and you may be good to go....keeping our fingers crossed......let us know how you makeout when you get to it....

I know, priorities always get in the way of our fun....after all the hectic uproar of daily life, these little treasures bring us such comfort and joy...all in part with the season....

 

[barcoboy]

Are you going to put decorations on all of your Twin Tubs? :-D

 

[mickeyd]

Honestly, I do have a vague memory of a reference to the A 50 not being able to take spin rinses, and it was a surprise to me; but I have a clear memory of difficulty with the lid switch.

 

Here's how I worked mine: An old fashioned wooden clothespin, with one "pin" broken off--keeping the head intact--jams perfectly into the lid switch slot. Just jam it in to engage the spin, then open the garden hose for a wonderful spin rinse. Never had a problem spinning with the lid open and the water shooting in. It's been a while so I forget the length or frequency of the rinses.

 

Mine operated on the deck and in the garage, and I have one of those green and black 7 Pattern Metal Nozzles made by Orbit, so you can have a blast varying the 7 different spray varieties, one of which is exactly like the spray rinse on the Automatic Maytags. (Seven sprays: shades of Whirlpools past with seven rinses!)

 

About the heft and weight of the A 50: Once, a 70 mph wind gust blew her off the deck and down the side cement stairs into the side yard and onto a cement walk, damaging her trim. She didn't care--started right up and ran like a top. What's nice about the Tag vis-a-vis the Hoover, she doesn't rant and rave during spin, just a hush, a whisper.

 

Try the clothespin. The wooded tweezer spring pin works too, haven't tried plastic pins.

 

OR, if you want it all to code, spray the switch and slot with WD-40.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Maytag Twinny

They are a great machine and fun to use, smaller capacity than Servis or Hotpoint, would you believe I managed to find one over here, a local company where re-fitting an RV from the States, the owner wanted a shower in its place so it now has pride of place with the 206 set and wringer...

Mickey, good trick with the garden spray, I remember Tom Turbo explaining how he uses a similar spray!!

 

[launderess]

Maytag A-50 And Spin Rinses

Somewhere here in the group or elsewhere one also recalls seeing that the Maytag TT's were not designed for nor could perform spin rinses like the Hoover.

 

[yogitunes]

SpinRinses....normally NO....but have done it with no issues....adding a slightly stronger spring on the pump side made all the difference in the world....otherwise this was a RINSE ONLY machine....

a trick I got from RevinKevin, by putting the Hoover and Maytag side by side, wash in one and rinse in the other.....you can tear thru piles of laundry in no time...he did a video, which made loads of sense....Thanks Kevin

 

[twintubber]

Hey barcoboy.....

Never thought of that.
Hmmmmm, now what goes with Avocado green?
Oh the mind wanders.................

 

[twintubber]

chestermikeuk

What a great score!!!
I'm sure you are very proud to have such a rare machine in your collection.
They are fun little toys.

 

[twintubber]

Yogitunes

I saw that video a while ago-it helped inspire me to get these machines.
And for me, the plan was to wash in the Maytag and rinse in the Hoover.
I feel the Maytag is better to wash in since
a): it's smaller
b): it has a little more 'thorough" washing action (in my opinion at least)
c): no spin-rinsing
The Hoover could spin-rinse the loads and a deep rinse in it afterwards.
So, that was the plan.
What's funny is last month I was supposed to get the Maytag and the Hoover-neither have been succesful for me, whilst the Simplicity was supposed to come this month.
Obviousely the Maytag didn't happen last month and the Simplicity did which has been THE bonus of the year for me!
That machine is going strong for me as my daily driver.
Still though, I can't believe I scored all of them in only one month.
Now, there's still the matter of that Avocado green Maytag Porta-Pair set................???

 

[twintubber]

BTW...........

Serial # for those experts who can tell me the manufacture date.
#034811EC
Series 01
Would I be correct in assuming the year embedded in that is 1981?

 

[mr-maytag]

Congratulations on the find! Manufacture date is February 1980. I'm sure spin rinsing in an A50 wouldn't ruin it on the first go-round...I think the idea is that it causes undue stress on something that is not designed to take that type of use, and over time, damage to the spinner might likely occur. I've washed in one of my A50s and rinsed in the other - makes it go much faster and it's fun!

Also - look under the lid of the spinner...there is a screw there and the piece that activates the spin switch can be lengthened. (Maybe you've already tried this...)[this post was last edited: 12/4/2012-08:28]

 

[kitty]

Turn drum

Turn the spin drum to the left about 1 rotation. This will disengage the brake from the belt, making it easier to start. I got one recently and the brake only engages in seriously unbalanced loads. But it is hard to start it, not like you said, with it like jamming like that. HAVE FUN !!!