New Maytag Centennial Gold Anniversary Edition Washer

[maytagmightyjj]

Hi guys. This is my first post to this site and I am really enjoying reading everything and looking at the great collections all of you guys have.

I just purchase a New Maytag (If you dare insult the Maytag name- Whirltag is more appropriate) Top Loader MTW5807TQ. I apologize if I should have posted this to a thread in the archives as I did see where several comments were made regarding this washer.

I am not pleased with this washer at all-- I had a nice Dependable Care Plus I bought in 1996 Model LAT 9704 and gave it to a neighbor who needed a washer. I got the bug for a Front loader is the reason I gave it away (Big mistake). I moved to a new place and had to get rid of the front loader because it would not fit into the closet where my washer and dryer are in the new place. I looked around and bought the Maytags, hoping they would be somewhat like the one I got rid of. I should have know when I saw the "Corkscrew shreadarator" agitator I was in trouble. I thought surely since Whirlpool was branding this as a Maytage they would improve the agitation stroke and slow it down. Ha Ha. My concern now is the Stainless steel basked has some terrible seams in it and I am afraid it will tear up my sweaters this winter when I wash them. I've chewed out Maytag/Whirlpool customer service (pretty much useless) but my local independent appliance store is ordering a new washbasket-- hopefully this one will be better finished on the inside. I am not real confident. So I am just kind of stuck for now. The washer also makes more noise than it should spinning, but I guess I'll just end up putting up with that. There is onliy one model above this one that is a 3 speed-- It might be a bit easier on the clothes and quieter but I doubt it. I haven't had anything torn yet, but I am very careful not to overload my washer. I wish I had my Grandmothers 1968 Kenmore--

I guess I'll use this washer until I can do better. My appliance dealer may let me swap it for something else. Unfortunately, everything he sells is either Whirlpool or GE manufactured-- except for the Front loader foreign makes (LG, etc).

From reading this forum, looks like a Speed Queen would be better-- But the pic of the ones I've seen look just like the Troubled Amanas.

Anybody have any ideas?

 

[andrewinorlando]

The Speed Queen bears only a visual resemblence to the troubled Amana. It is a solid, reliable, quiet, "old fashioned", for lack of a better term, washer with a 3 year parts and labor warranty from its manufacturer. I highly doubt you would be dissatisfied in the least with it. The outer basket is not even plastic, but porcelain on steel with the famous Speed Queen stainless wash basket and 4 vane agitator, 710 RPM spin and matching dryers that can't be beat. Worth looking into...cost no more than that Whirltag you just bought, but they are hard to find. Most retailers do not stock them or even display them if they carry them, from what I've seen.

 

[jeffg]

Just to echo Andrew's comments, we couldn't be happier with our SQ. An AWS76NW has been our daily driver for the last several months and we still can't get over how well it performs, its speed, build quality, and flexibility with regard to water levels, agitation & spin speeds, cycle lengths, spin-rinses etc. Just a great unit.

 

[funguy10]

Just fix the washer. Get the new stainless steel basket you mentioned without the seams and when the repair man comes to install it, have him look at the spinning noise problem and fix it. What everyone here doesn't know is that Whirlpool buying out Maytag means that Maytag appliances now have the same "esay to repair" reputation as Whirlpool's other brands. The "Whirltag" Centennial washer is just another Whirlpool DD Top-Loader and the Whirlpool DD Top-Loader is the easiest washer design on the market to fix.

 

[laundromat]

Maypool

I briefly had one (2 weeks)and after 4 torn shirts and a ruined zipper from the distructive action agitator,I took it back to Sears. I replaced it with an L.G set that I still have. I won another set on EBAY (Asko)and am getting an older model EZ1000C Washer dryer (equator) in mint condition from work as well.

 

[nmaineman36]

Gawd I have to chime in here....after using a Whirlpool washer I dont find half the problems some have. When it comes to loading the washer make sure all zippers are closed and buttons on pants buttoned up. That way when the machine is agitating the zippers wont abrade the other clothes. Plus if one overloads the machine ala a BobLoad then you get what you are asking for. I find when I load it I load it loosely by dropping the clothes in and going all the way to the rim of the basket for a full load. Selecting the right water level...would rather have more water than not enough for the clothes to circulate in. Too many times have I seen on youTube people washing clothes with not enough water in a top loader. If you take the time and do things right you wont get bad results. Never had a torn shirt or a button ripped off something or even a towel with pilling all over. My vanes on the agitator feel like new and they are smooth...no nicks or gouges to be found.
On another note...even the new Stainless steel washbasket will have a seam showing. I have seen the tubs in the New Maytags and I dont think it would be a problem. Even with sweaters. The new Speed Queens even have seams in the wash baskets.

 

[maytagmightyjj]

Well, I knew it would eventually happen-- a t-shirt got a hole in it yesterday-- I'm blaming the washer-- As I mentioned earlier It has a Bad seam in the basket-- as in if you hit it hard enough it will cut your hand.

I called my local apppliance dealer. The Stainless Steel baskets are on backorder-- with no estimated delivery date--hmm-- wonder if others with this washer are having the same issues. This is becoming a real hassle. I looked at the Speed Queens at another store in town-- yes, their SS basket has a seam-- but its as smooth as silk.

I proposed to my Sales person that they take this Gold edition washer back and send me one with a porcelin washbasket-- they have no seams and are smooth. I know its a downgrade in washers, but better to not tear stuff up. (well, if I run it on delicate all the time) After a little time has passed, I will probably try to sell the thing and get a Speed Queen. I just hate to get rid of one so soon.

Maytag customer service has pretty much made it clear they intend to do nothing.

Just a note-- I never over load my machines-- in fact its rarely ever more than 3/4 full-- and I usually leave the water level as high as it will go. But I know what you're saying. I've seen people cram them so full nothing would hardly move.

While I'm complaining, I hate the lid switch-- this washer will only fill with the lid up-- that's it. And they put the switch under the hinge-- you can't even raise the lid enough to peek and see what its doing to your clothes.

 

[mrb627]

I Disagree

funguy,

I have to disagree. I believe the easiest machine to repair is the F&P. You can disassemble this machine with nothing more than a philips screwdriver and a pair of pliers. It is so simple, I find it almost obscene. No gearcase. No spin clutch.

But that is just my experience.
MRB

 

[48bencix]

10 Loads

A friend of mine got a new Maytag set, and the washer lasted through 10 loads. Needed a new water valve. Sears brought a new washer for him and traded for the defective one. So the service was great.

 

[whirlcool]

We've had our Whirlpool DD set since 1993. We haven't really noticed any shredding on our clothing. But some of our old towels have been frayed along the side edges.
Except for two very minor repairs I did myself, they have been extremely reliable machines.
Zipping up zippers and buttoning buttons is very important!

 

[funguy10]

As long as my family has owned a Kenmore DD, there has never been any shredding with both the Kenmore DD machines we hae ever owned. Also, the stainlass steel basket on the Kenmore Oasis does not have sharp seams. But I read somwhere theat the perferations are SHARP on the outside of the basket. There have been no fabric shredding problems in the Oasis and its Total Care Flex agitator either.

 

[andrewinorlando]

Hey Funguy, do you have any videos of the Oasis with the total care flex agitator? I don't think anyone has ever posted vids of that machine, though I suspect it looks somewhat similar to the GE Hydrowave in action.

 

[maytagmightyjj]

My mother has always had Kenmores and then went to Kitchen Aid in 2000-- Still using her 2000 Kithcn Aid. Its not near as rough on Clothes as this new Maytag I have-- which I was told was comparable to the Kitchen Aid Whirlpool used to make before they acquired Maytag corporation. She has never had any problems with them either. I haven't had anything "shredded" but I know that quick short agitation can't be good, so I just run this thing on 6 min or less (it uses the lower speed on all cycles starting at 6 min) until I've had enough of it, then I'll try to sell it to someone. If I really don't like something, I don't usually end up keeping it very long- I've certainly thrown away a lot more than $500 in my lifetime. I got rid of a new car in 5 months once-- hated the thing.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Obvious tip:

When using an aggressive washer, use the minimum amount of wash time available.

My GE top-loader was aggressive. I tended to use the equivalent of the "Fabric-matic" cycle/programme (which used pauses in the wash time to imitate a gently action rather than having a true two-speed motor and action).

 

[funguy10]

do you have any videos of the Oasis with the total care flex

It's on my to-do list. I need a camera to record it with and a magnet for the lid switch.

 

[maytagmightyjj]

Still Waiting

Actually this washer seems to be doing ok-- other than all the noise when it spins. I'm real careful not to ever overload it. I'm still waiting on Whirlpool to send a new stainless steel basket-- Their customer service people are horrible. They cannot tell me or the dealer when they expect to ship this part-- It will be 3 weeks Friday since it was ordered. Haven't had anything torn on the current one- but I dare not wash anything that is loosely knit. So its just sit and wait. Whirlpool customer service has made it real clear they aren't going to do much, and not get in a hurry to do anything.

 

[maytagmightyjj]

Finally got a new SS washbasket in this washer. Boy does this thing look cheap on the inside when they took it apart to replace that Washbasket. I didn't realize they had plastic tubs- of course, plastic won't rust-- I just know my older Maytag had porcelin over steel. I also got that pesky lid switch bypassed. I'll keep this thing for a while and wait to see when the government mandates that manufacturers quit making top loaders-- then I'll probably get me a speed queen. I'm watching the local ads for a older Maytag- knowing my luck, it would tear up once I bought it or start leaking.