old maytag dishwashers

[bpetersxx]

Does anybody have pictures and advice on vintage maytag dw

My junk sears TOL is going out and would like to
replace it with a vintage maytag

Rows of pushbuttons are preferred

 

[gregm]

I know some people have mixed reviews on these machines and maybe your looking for an "older" one but I have a '75 portable, I think its a great machine, noisy, but a great machine, I just replaced the whole "sump/impeller" assembly and the belt. Your suppose to "lightly" grease the belt so that it slips just a bit when the reversible motor kicks in.

 

[gansky1]

I found a 1971 model a couple of weeks ago at a sale. This is a little different from the Maytag belt-driven design of later years (began in 1975) as it has a separate pump & motor (direct-drive) in the back of the machine with a deep sump & filter assembly. This model is a pressure fill, not timed as all later models were. There is no fan-forced drying here, convection only using the heating element. It washes beautifully and is MUCH quieter, much to my surprise, than the later, belt-drive models.

I would also love to find one of the rapid-advance timer models (all push button control) machines.

 

[gansky1]

Here is the lower tank and sump area. The Micro-Fine filter (stainless steel!) is on the left side, the pressure switch on the right.

 

[gansky1]

Ready to wash!!

Here is the famous Maytag "upside down" racking. It makes a lot of sense in some ways and seems to utilize the capacity very well. Never a glass missed in this machine!!

 

[appnut]

Ahh a Maytag family, right in front of the 906's. Greg, your timer dial is more what I was familiar with on these units than GregM's.

 

[bpetersxx]

adding to the fray this is the one I was considering

 

[lightedcontrols]

WU901

By far the best dishwasher of this vintage is the WU901. It was the top of the line Maytag! I have one on loan to a friend in Florida. I was belt drive so if the pump leaked, it wouldn't short out the motor. The belts are still available too. Was a great washing system. Plates on the top and glassware, pots, pans, and anything else on the bottom. Only drawbacks to the machine was that they were a little noisy and that wash tower. Mark Lightedcontrols

 

[JerseyMike]

Mark (Lightedcontrols) mentioned "Plates on the top and glassware, pots, pans, and anything else on the bottom." That was one of my favorite things about those old Maytags! As far as I know, Maytag was the only company that offered that design.

(They made a top loading portable model too. You don't see very many of those. So they must be VERY rare!)

Mike

 

[appnut]

Pete, why didn't you do more than just consider that all-button rare model?

 

[maytagbear]

Oh, Memories!

Our first dishwasher was a WC400 from 1973. Lasted 20 years with only minor repairs.

I listened to the service man, and we got a new one in '94. (Not a huge mistake, but a mistake. By then, Maytag had gone to a plastic tank, and fake woodgrain top).

I loved that machine, and the racking.

If I could find a WC400 nearby, in running condition, I would love it. When it shows up, it will show up.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[bpetersxx]

The all pushbutton model is one of the models I can choose from as the Maytag app dealer has about 6 models to choose from

Bad news is some of the models are newer models and have been parted out to fix other DW

 

[re563]

I had one of those 3 button Maytags years ago when I lived in PA. I LOVED IT. It held everything and cleaned exceptionaly well. Sure wish Maytag would bring back that reverse racking on their new tall tub machines

 

[partscounterman]

Loved my Maytag DW too!

I had a belt drive WC401 just like the one pictured. It was super simple to repair and maintain. It was a little noisy, but it did a job! My only gripes were that it did not heat its own water (you had to go to the all-pushbutton built in for that) and I thought that silverware would have fared out better in the bottom rack. Also, a little longer main wash cycle would have made the old Maytag belt drive on equal footing with any machine made today. I was very happy with mine. Never a dirty glass thats for sure!

 

[gansky1]

The 401 or "x01" series was the first of the belt driven design. I'm not sure about that model you had, but the WC-400 I have does energize the heater during the main wash and final rinses. The all-button models did have a sani-rinse option which would be nice...

 

[kenmore1978]

Speaking of Silverware...

Having had a chance to live with the flatware-in-door idea of Whirlpool, I can say now that I really prefer the traditional place somewherein the lower rack. I find that bits of food get stuck between the basket and the door, and I have to be careful not to put bowls and other large items at the front of the lower rack in order not to block the spray to the flatware. Other things I miss that the '78 Sears machine had:

cycle progression lights
time countdown
ability to modify wash times
Pots & Pans cycle had more water changes

In comparing cycles Ifound that equivalency was:

Sears Whirlpool
Water Miser Normal rinse,wash,rinse,rinse
Normal Heavy pre-wash,rinse,main wash,rinse,rinse

What the WP DOES have that's better is that Rinse & Hold has 2 rinses to the Sears 1

I wonder why Maytag did such a radical engineering change so soon after introducing their line of dishwashers.

The center tower thing is almost inescapeble. And even on my Sears machine, sometimes the arm that was bolted to the back of the tub to support the upper wash arm got in the way. The best system I've seen so far for supplying the upper spray arm is the later KA machines solution.

 

[kenmore1978]

Failing KM DW

So is the failing KM machine a D & M, GE, or WP built one?

 

[bpetersxx]

I am not sure but we got it in 1995

model # 665.15921691

electronic model

 

[partscounterman]

whirlpool built kenmore

665 in the model number means its built by whirlpool