New Member with Maytag E2LS

[charsh]

Hello,

I am so happy to have found this site. I have been looking for a wringer washer for a couple of years and finally found one. From the serial number, I believe that she was made in 1974. She has the turqois color release bar and I think she is just the coolest thing ever. (My family thinks I'm crazy)

I have been reading the posts about how to operate her safely. I am most impressed with how well the wringer works, but I'm having trouble washing heavy items like overalls and heavy sweat shirts. The agitator is working, but it doesn't seem strong enough. The items just seem to sit there. It is also making kind of a squeaking noise. Am I doing something wrong? Is this something that can be fixed?

Thank you,
Cheri

 

[bradross]

Overloading?

Hi Cheri,

There are quite a few of us here that own - and love - E2L machines! I've also just responded to a posting by "BobL" who recently acquired one as well!

My first reaction to your statement about the agitation for heavy articles is ... are you perhaps overloading the machine? I wash heavy cotton bathroom mats, as well as overalls and jeans in mine and have no problem. According to Maytag's own instructions (photo attached) ... after filling the tub with water to the fill-line marked on the agitator, clothing should be added only so long as they circulate freely and tumble towards the center of the tub. If you cannot see this "turn-over" of the clothes, then the tub is overloaded.

 

[ea56]

Welcome Cheri

I know you will enjoy AW.org. Now about your large items not seeming to move much. I don't know how much you know about using a wringer washer, but there more differences than just using a wringer to get the water out. Are you putting your dry clothes into the tub and then filling with water and adding detergent? If you are this may be why you are having a problem with large items not moving around.
When using a wringer washer you need to fill the tub completely with water BEFORE adding the laundry. And be sure to fill the tub to the water line, or about 2 to 3 inches from the top of the tub, then add the detergent, turn on the agitator and begin adding the laundry and keep adding, but only enough so that the water and laundry keeps moving freely. So if you are washing overalls, depending on how large they are you may only be able to wash 2 to 4 pairs at a time. Maybe 1 or 2 blankets at a time, just follow the rule that the items need to keep moving, You will get the hang of it quickly. Now if you already knew all of this I apologize, but I can't think of any other reason that you may be having this problem. But I'm sure someone else here will have some suggestions.
Eddie

 

[charsh]

Thank you for the replies. I am putting the water and detergent in first and adding items one at a time. I am not seeing any turn over of the clothes. It can't handle one heavy overall. The agitator doesn't seem to have much force. It's hard to tell where the squeaking is coming from, but it is the wet tennis shoe kind of squeak another poster mentioned.

Thanks again,
Cheri

 

[dermacie]

this happened to me

My agitator actually wore out in the spline area. Mine had a metal spline and was not repairable so I ordered a new one from Phil. If your agitator lifts off you could probably see if its bad. I would take photos there are many people who can help you with this. My spline was stuck to the post and need to be cut off. The wringer washer are simple machines and most repairs if need can be done by yourself.

 

[geoffdelp]

Cheri ... sounds like your agitator spline is wore out. Try this test ... remove the agitator and plug the machine in. Pull the agitator control lever to "on" and see if the agitator shaft is agitating at the right speed. It should be forceful and if you grab it (be careful!) it shouldn't stop. If it is running at the right speed, then your agitator spline is damaged and those can't be repaired any longer; you will need a new agitator. Ebay usually has them for sale by "Phil" in Ovid, NY. Also look for a new rubber stop ring; it should be replaced when the agitator is replaced. It is located toward the bottom of the agitator shaft. When you get the new one, just cut off the old one ... it's easier. The new one can be replaced by wetting it with water first.

The squeaking? Well ... could be a myriad of things. If it sounds like it is under the agitator shaft, then it is probably the center seal. Again, it's an easy fix and should be done because that seal keeps water from going into your transmission. Under the agitator, on the center plate/agitator shaft, there's a retainer clip, a metal washer and then the seal. Again, you should be able to purchase online.

These machines were designed to handle heavy items; overalls should not be a problem. I wash 3-4 pairs of blue jeans at a time in mine and it handles them really well. There's plenty of sloshing using the correct water level to the top of agitator as Brad and Eddie pointed out.

Don't forget to make sure there is a thin film of Vaseline on the agitator shaft. You should do that at least once a month, more if the agitator is hard to remove.

A little bit of maintenance on these machines will keep them running for a lot of years!!

Good luck!!

 

[charsh]

Thank you for your help.

The rubber stop ring is gone. I also noticed that if I gently push on the agitator in any direction with wet fingers, it starts sloshing really nicely. Does this point toward a worn agitator or something worse? Interestingly the agitator is black and I noticed that most newer washers have the teal color.

If the center seal has allowed water into the transmission, can the oil be replaced while changing that seal?

Thanks again for your advice and patience.

Cheri

 

[tinkr]

Adding gear grease

In the transmission (gear box) requires a complete teardown of the machine.. Did it NO FUN..
My gear box was shot. In my pink E2LP. Took months to find a replacement.
If you want to see the mess check out thread.. Need help restoring a pink E2LP.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but if the water seal is bad wouldn't it allow watery grease to come up into the tub? Leaving traces on fabric?

Replacing it is not a bad idea. Phil Sells a kit on ebay with the stop ring.

As for the squeak. Dry or a slightly loose belt can cause a squeak.

On occasion my E2lp will squeak but stops once it runs. I use EXTREMELY hot water. We have checked it out and never found it.
The machine is 52 years old it was well cared for so a complaint or 2 is bound to occur.

It was used to was saddle blankets on a horse farm.

Ran 3 loads today ( in my white machine)1 hr. total Gotta love the efficiency of a wringer.

Yup I have 2 So much labor went into the Pink one She is right now a JUST FOR SHOW.

 

[geoffdelp]

Cheri ... sure sounds like a bad agitator. If you have the turquoise accents, then the original agitator was also turquoise. The black one was for older machines; I'd replace the agitator.

Yes ... not having a stop ring would cause the agitator splines to not connect properly to the shaft. I'm surprised the agitator hasn't floated up to the top of the washer when you have water in it.

No ... you are not able to add lubricant to the transmission with the center seal out. That does require you to remove the tub and the center plate. It's not that it's so hard to do, but you have to have the right tools.

I'd say your best bet would be to replace the stop ring and agitator and see what the machine does from that point. Try not to use it until you do.

What most people don't realize is that the center area of the center plate was "protected" by the agitator. On the turquoise agitators, there is a "cup" of sorts around the spline area ... it was used to keep water from standing around the center of the center plate where the agitator shaft is.

If water has gotten into the transmission, the water has a tendency to make the lubrication stiffer and can sometimes cause the agitator to move back forth slightly when it is disengaged.

 

[e2l-arry]

Water in the Power Unit

You'll know soon enough if you have a water leak into the Power Unit. In most cases this is the cause of oil seeping out the weep hole and leaking down the left rear leg. The water displaces the transmission oil and forces it out the vent. Very common on these old machines.

Geoff is right about the cup design on the bottom of the teal agitators. This creates an air pocket and keeps water away from the shaft. Older black agitators don't have that and the shaft is exposed to more water contact. They're designed to be water tight but I guess at some point Maytag Engineers found an additional safeguard by adding the cup to the later agitators. I did get a black agitator a few years ago to match the era mine was produced (1964) but have since gone back to the teal one because it offers more protection against a water leak.

Larry

 

[charsh]

New member with Maytag E2LS (update)

Hello again,

Good news. I got a new aqua agitator and there is now much sloshing and washing going on with no squeaking. I got a new rubber stop,(I think the old one was making the squeak) but I am waiting for the new agitator seal before I change that out.

Bad news. I can't get the new agitator off. I'm not sure I even have it down all the way. There seems to be more clearance around the bottom than with the old black one.

Even though I cleaned the spline with super fine steal wool and put oil on the spline and the post, it is really stuck. Any suggestions to get it off without breaking a brand new agitator. :-(
Cheri

 

[e2l-arry]

Since it's so new . . .

I would think it would pop right off. Try some very HOT water and see if that loosens it. It should have about the same clearance on the bottom as the old one. Once you get it off put lost of Vaseline on the shaft and the inside of the spline. Remove it after each use, Let us know what happens!

 

[charsh]

Well, I did several loads of wash, in hot water and the agitator did come right out when I was done. Unfortunately there seemed to be some oily residue that helped it come off. It did not look like the vegetable oil I used when putting it on. I hope that it isn't oil from below the seal.

The new agitator seal is on the way, but now I am worried that it leaked into the gear box. I'm not going to do any more washing until I install the new seal. Any suggestions about what to do in addition to replacing the seal? I really love using this machine, and want it to last.

 

[e2l-arry]

Vaseline!

Is what you need to coat the shaft and spline with. There should be oily residue on the shaft. Vegetative Oil will wash right out. With your new blue agitator there is a cup the keeps water away from the shaft. I just did 4 loads in mine this morning and when I removed the agitator the top of the seal under it was dry. You should be fine to use yours.