Oh Great, Gyrating Gurus – Your Pearls of Wisdom, PLEASE!

[marukap]

I will be heading to Los Angeles in early June to visit my family. My mother has been using the very same Maytag A806 (series 02) washer that yours truly picked out ALL BY MYSELF as a mere pup of 17 years back in 1977.

I do not recall that it has required any significant service in all those years and it is still running as strong as ever.

A couple of years ago I did change the fill hoses to the steel reinforced type. But, on this upcoming visit I'm planning to give it as much of a spa treatment as I can muster.

I've ordered parts from eBay (mostly) and they are waiting for me in CA.

I'm planning to:

1) Replace the balast (starter?) and, if necessary, the bulb for the fluourescent lamp. It has been producing no more than a sickly flutter for the past 20 years.

2) Replace the four-button water level switch. The Ex-Lrg button is starting to get rather "crunchy" and the fill level on extra-large can be really really really high . . .sometimes.

3) Replace the water inlet valve, hose screens and washers. The flow rate doesn't seem to be as torrential as it once was. Besides, it seems to me that it would not be a bad idea to replace a 30-year-old valve BEFORE it decides to fail.

Now for the scary part:

4) Replace the two belts.

5) Replace the motor glides.

Am I asking for trouble with these last two steps? Yes, I will have a repair manual there and I am reasonably handy, but I don't want to turn Mom's Maytag washer into a Maytag planter.

I also ordered a new belt for her Maytag DG410 dryer. I will, of course, clean out all the internal lint build up while I'm in there.

I would appreciate any insights, advice and/or warnings any of you may have to offer.

Yours,

Marty Kaplan

 

[mayken4now]

Marty, you are right on target. The belts and motor glide are very easy to do. Perhaps just lube the motor glides and make sure they are clean. Those are rarely worn.

Steve

 

[volvoguy87]

Belts

Replacing Maytag belts is quite possibly the easiest and fastest repair in recorded history. I just did the belts on my A208 and it took all of about 2 and a half minutes. Tilt the machine back, the motor slides and releases belt tension. Tilt, remove old belts, install new ones, put the machine level again. The belts are different sizes so you can't screw up the installation. Just be sure to use genuine Maytag belts, they cost about $23.00 a pair at my local Maytag dealer. When you are finished, just be sure to make sure that all 4 legs touch the ground (my laundry room has an uneven tile floor) and the machine is level. A tilting machine will bounce, bang, and walk during spin. Since this machine is in daily use, it's probably a good idea to get a plastic drip pan in case of a future leak. They are about $20.00 at Home Depot or Blowe's and are a good insurance policy for any machine, regardless of type or age.

Good luck, it sounds easy,
Dave

 

[marukap]

Thanks for the input, guys. Those belts won't know what hit them!

Marty