Pre '66 Maytag questions

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dnastrau

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 9, 2007
Messages
763
Location
Lords Valley, PA
Greetings everyone:

A pre '66 Maytag has popped up on Craigslist not too far from me and I wanted to see if I could ask about these machines.

In particular:

Do these share many parts with the '66 and newer machines?

Are parts super hard to come by should replacements be needed? I know Whirlpool has discontinued a lot of Maytag parts lately from other posts that I have read here.

Can it be transported on its back? I wouldn't want to mess up the suspension, tub or transmission.

How well do they perform? I'll bet the answer is "very well" on this one!

Thanks in advance for any advice. The timing of this for me isn't great especially with two feet of snow on the ground, but if it is still available I may try to get it. If not, maybe someone else here can save it. With the lighted controls it must have been a TOL model.

Andrew S.



http://scranton.craigslist.org/app/1620608800.html
 
RUN, don't walk to get it! Get it! Get it! Get it!

Nice machine! for $30, I'D almost drive to get it... True, parts are harder to get but they can be found still. That is a classic example of a Real Maytag and would not only look wonderful in any collection but with normal care, should last a good number of years still. It does share a large amount of parts with the helical models. Better to try to brace the tub and transport upright but in a pinch, you could lay it on it's side (well padded of course!)

RCD
 
OLD MT WASHER shock hazard ?

I think its a 142 having the black buttons a late 1950s machine in any case. It don't hurt the machine one bit to lay it carefully on its side but the back may be best this is true of almost any washer. I have moved hundreds of machines in station wagons never having had a problem in fact one of my good friends in Ohio has an appliance business and has never used anything but his Taures wagon to deliver new and rebuilt washers and dryers. The late 50s MTs had smaller suppression springs and had much more trouble with out of balance loads this was improved in the early 60s and finally made much better with the interduction of the 06 series in 1966 with its longer springs. I did like the motor tension system for the main drive much better in the early machines. The motor was on an offset pivot to allow slippage going into spin but when running in the wash direction it wouldn't slip allowing it to wash a much heaver load. MT didn't fix this problem of slippage with heavy loads until the late1990s, I have never seen any other washer that would sit there and slip and lose agitation speed with a large load. You would likely have to address a lot more little problems with a washer of this age if you want to make it a daily driver but its differently worth getting if you are up for a project. But if you want a vintage washer to use ever day a 06 MT or BD WP KM etc is less trouble to get and keep running.
 
Picking up in an SUV

Well, I haven't heard back from the seller yet... Fingers crossed.

So, transporting one of these on its back in an SUV would be OK? Would I need to do anything inside the cabinet to avoid damage? That would be the easiest way for me to get it home right now.

Thanks again!

Andrew S.
 
So, transporting one of these on its back in an SUV would be

Yeah, that will be fine.

Would I need to do anything inside the cabinet to avoid damage?

Before I got a genuine Maytag tub block, I used to carefully stuff blankets around the outer tub to keep the tub both centered and from moving around.
 
Blankets around tub

Thanks for the tip!

The washer is still available and I am scheduled to pick it up tomorrow night. Hopefully all will go well - thanks for all of the advice!

Andrew S.
 
Wow Andrew

Good Luck!

I transported this machine in the back of a Rendevous, on its back with absolutely no problems.

I call this machine 'The Mutt' since it seems to have be restored using other machines. All in all, it is a true Maytag workhorse.

gadgetgary++3-2-2010-14-31-39.jpg
 
Thanks Gary!

I am excited to say the least! Even my wife and 6-year-old son are excited! This will be my first vintage machine if it works out. Up until now I have been living vicariously through everyone else here.

The seller mentioned that they ordered a new set mainly because "...their dryer died..." but also because the motor on the washer was intermittently shutting off. For $30 I don't care - I'll fix whatever is wrong with this washer. Maybe I will get lucky and the dead dryer will turn out to be the match for this washer, but I am not getting my hopes up.
 
The A700 comes home!

Well, the A700 is home (at least out in the Grand Cherokee in the driveway until tomorrow.) Getting it out of the owner's house was not easy. It is a good thing his neighbor was there to help!

From the ID tag on the back:

Model A700 - Serial 229972CY

Can anyone decode the year and month for me? The Internet wasn't much help with models before 1980. My guess is somewhere in '60 - '63.

I am impressed with the condition of the machine. The biggest cosmetic flaw is a couple of chips in the porcelain on the left front top corner. I will touch that up with some appliance paint. The rest of the finish looks very good and should clean up well. The temperature and agitation buttons have some wear where the white lettering is worn off. I wonder if I can apply some white paint to the raised letters?

The owner said he ordered a new W/D set because their dryer died (early 2000's KitchenAidPool) and the Maytag would shut off while running. After I saw where they had this washer I wonder if the problem was that it wasn't level and it was going out of balance and tripping the balance switch. There wasn't a square corner in that room and the Linoleum floor was about as smooth as a topographical map of the Grand Tetons! The piece of 1x4 stuck under the front of the washer to try and level it really told the tale. That may have even been rubbing on the pump/motor belts/pulleys since they are right there.

I removed the front cover and it was remarkably clean inside. Even the rubber hoses seem to be in good shape at first glance. I will give the inside a good cleaning and may touch up the grey paint if I can find a good match after I treat any surface rust.

The pump drive belt looks original and somewhat worn but the transmission belt looks like it was replaced at some point. All pulleys spin quietly and smoothly.

I won't have time to test the Maytag until this weekend more than likely. Hopefully I won't find any big problems. Even if I do, this one's a keeper! Not bad for my first one, eh?

Thanks again for all of the great advice and encouragement!

Andrew S.

dnastrau++3-3-2010-23-42-18.jpg
 
ID badge on the back...

This one is hard to see and I can't get another better photo until I unload it tomorrow. As I posted before I think the numbers are:

Model A700 - Serial 229972CY

dnastrau++3-3-2010-23-48-35.jpg
 
Wonderful!!!!!

Absolutely stunning! Congratulations on a wonderful first find! We must see pictures of the console with the florescent light going. As far as wondering about rust around the bleach cup, my 142 has that. My idea is that they just slopped the bleach into the cup and then put the lid down without cleaning the mess first. Look at the lid where it rests on the cup and check for rust and GET ON IT QUICK before it actually eats into the lid edge as it did on mine. Just fantastic! Video, of course, is requested...

RCD
 
Fabulous! You have a great old Maytag in your collection!

Clorox Clean-Up will work wonders on it, just remember the stuff is bleach, so wear old clothes in case you get any on you!

Be careful when underneath. The hoses will be brittle and fragile! That long pump discharge hose is very specialized and is long NLA. You can take two regular hoses with standard 90 degree bend and splice them together if you need to, but nothing like the original.

Best wishes!
 
Clean-up; Long discharge hose

Thanks for the "Clorox Clean up" tip Gyrafoam - I'll post pictures of the results and eventually a video. The part that I am going to be really careful with is the control panel and dial. They are in great shape and I don't want to damage them in any way. I'll probably just use warm water and a soft cloth on those first.

Yep, luckily that long drain hose is intact. I removed it before I tried to move the machine. Some web sites list what appears to be that hose (Maytag #211704; 7' long discharge hose) for between $30 - $60. Perhaps it isn't really the correct "original" one?

I am working today and it is going to be hard to focus - especially since I work from home!
 
Yes indeed!

It is nice to have something to start with that is so complete and in nice cosmetic condition. The only part that I see that is missing so far is the rubber lid bumper.

Work is crazy at the moment but I hope to try running it over the weekend. Cross your fingers...
 
Not bad underneath; service questions

Here are some more pictures. The bottom looks good for being around since November 1961!

I did see a small amount of what looks like oil residue above the transmission pulley through the holes - since it isn't slinging it around I hope it is OK. Can I check the oil level in the tranny without pulling it out?

The main belt looks good but the pump belt is probably original and worn (old Maytag logo). I will probably buy a new set. Does the metal-style pump need to be oiled?

dnastrau++3-4-2010-22-26-58.jpg
 
Not bad in here

The inside looks pretty good too. There is obvious evidence of water leakage in the back; I will have to get rid of that rust. Maybe it was just a leaky fill hose at some point and not a leaky solenoid valve. The outside fill hoses are dated as 1983 - they are dried out and will be trashed. They were not vere tight either. The original metal pump is still here - hopefully it won't leak.

I am not sure if this year uses the felt pads between the base and the tub support/pivot. I think I read that they started using those in '62. I am also not sure if mine is technically a '62 with the 11/61 build date.

dnastrau++3-4-2010-22-32-58.jpg
 
The lower oil seal appears to be good. You are most likely seeing a little oil residue from the 'wet brake'. Maytags use a brake assy that has a heavy oil (like tranny oil) for lube. A-OK! The pump should have a small screw on the shaft housing which you can remove and shoot a little turbine oil (such as Zoom Spout) in to lube it. You cannot 'check' the oil level on a Maytag Helical transmission without tearing it apart. If you don't see a problem and she agitates well, don't screw with it. VERY clean underneath!

RCD
 
Let there be light

Ahhhhhhhh - a nice lighted console!

That's it for now. I hope to give it a water test this weekend. I'll post the results as soon as I can. Thanks again everyone!

Andrew S.

dnastrau++3-4-2010-22-44-58.jpg
 

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