Proud new owner!! Needs guidance :)

[rachel]

Yesterday I bought a Maytag washer and dryer set. The serial number indicates it was built in 1979. I am so in love!!! I now understand men and their classic cars!!! I have been cleaning it and wiping it down every two minutes and will NOT let the kids touch it lol my friends are making fun of me but it works like none I have EVER used before!!!! Looks absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! And I think I got an amazing price for the set, $100. It was a one owner and was being sold in an estate sale after the owner passed. It was pretty dirty but cleaned up so nice!! The first run was just water and leaked on the floor but I have done about five loads since and have not seen the first drop of water outside of the machine! The dryer actually dried a comforter in TEN minutes!! Who is the happiest woman on Earth??? That's right this woman!!! I have been stalking this site since I saw the set just to learn as much as I can so these babies are taken care of the best way possible!! Two things that I read on here that I will agree with 100 % is first, this set will probably out live me and second, after using these machines nothing else will EVER compare!!! <3 I know I need to clean filters in both washer and dryer after every use. But what else do I need to know??? The washer shakes a lot in spin cycle... Is this normal? If not how can I prevent it from happening? The washer is stable and does not wobble or even budge until the spin cycle so I don't know if adjusting the feet at the bottom will work. All advice is welcome and appreciated!!! I want to know EVERYTHING!!! Thanks in advance!!

 

[rachel]

Original service manuals

Perfect condition except for the writing on one from original owner indicating directions

 

[rachel]

Inside washer

Looks amazing!!

 

[firedome]

Welcome and congrats! that's a really great set...

we bought a new Maytag washer in '75 and it was better than any of the 7 or 8 washers we've had since, it was built so well and reliable as a stone ax...
You might want to check to see if Service info or sales brochures are available under "manuals and literature above" ...Again Welcome, enjoy your classic!
PS I love Classic cars too as you can see!

 

[hippiedoll]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

what a beautiful maytag pair you've gotten yourself there!!!
i am so happy, i'm sharing your enthusiasm & joy over your "new" vintage center-dial maytags!!! aren't they the neatest looking washers you've seen!!???
hm hm hm.....

i love my 208. although it is a standard capacity washer & your's is the super capacity sized washer. but i totally understand your excitement & admiration for your new maytags!!!

as for the washer shaking when it is is "SPIN" cycle, i'm afraid i don't know much about the mechanical side of washing machines??
but someone who can answer your question, will be along pretty soon. and they can tell you more about your new maytag "BABIES".

one good thing is that you got the original service manuals. when i bought my maytag, i bought it off of someone on craigslist, who posted it on craigslist for his parents. and it didn't come with nothing but the washer.

once again, CONGRATULATIONS!!!
and welcome to the group.
and thanks for sharing pictures of your "new" vintage set. they look beautiful!!!

;o)

 

[lorainfurniture]

Congrats

On your set. The maytag is touchy. It needs a hard surface to spin without shaking. If it still wobbles and you Are sure the machine and floor are level, you will likely need to change the snubber pads. They lie between the trans and the base of the machine.

It's a bit of a difficult repair, but if you have some mechanical skills you can do it yourself.

You should try and measure the temp of the dryer while it is running. Hot is good, too hot and you may start burning your delicates.

Welcome!

 

[goatfarmer]

Nice find at a great price.

 

Make sure that the washer is level. That's important. If it still shakes, it's possible that the damper pads, located on the base of the machine, are worn, and need replaced.

 

[rachel]

Hippiedoll

Thank you sooo much!! These are the neatest ones I've seen lol I am so happy to have found this group too! You say this is a super capacity?? Lol I thought it was so small I have been scared to overload and though I have an ex large load button I've been sure to keep the loads on the (what I consider) medium side but hmmm that may be considered large to this washer if it's a super capacity lol. How many towels would you consider putting in? I am scared I am going to do something wrong. I guess it is trial an error though I just don't want to hurt them lol

 

[rachel]

Thank you!

I appreciate y'all's help!! A service call only cost about $15 would it be worth having someone look at them? They are on a hard surface. It looks level... Is there a way to tell if they are not besides looking? If I put a little pressure on the front of the machine while spinning it doesn't shake as bad. Does that tell us anything? While moving it yesterday I became very familiar with the pads on the bottom lol they are not friendly!! But they looked really good. That doesn't say much being I am by far no expert. I just want to give y'all as much details as I can

 

[rachel]

Firedome

Love your car and thank you!

 

[tennblondie78]

HOLY COW!!!

I'm so jealous!!! I want a set like that so bad!!! My parents bought a 1978 set right after I was born and it's what I grew up with... You will LOVE them!!!

 

[rp2813]

Very nice score! 

 

Maytags had some of the smallest tubs in the industry back when your machines were manufactured.  We had the standard tub size model for many years and it would usually hold six or seven large bath towels.  Your machine will hold at least that many without any trouble.

 

If putting pressure on the front of the washer during spin reduces the shaking, you may just have a leveling issue as has been mentioned above.  On a solid surface, these heavy old Maytags should remain 100% stable during spin.  The only evidence they might provide that spinning is underway would be a slight quivering of the removable front panel.

 

[DADoES]

 
Keep in mind that level doesn't necessarily mean level, although of course it should be PDC*.  More important that the machine's weight is equally supported at all four corners.  Choose one of the front legs and adjust it up or down very slightly, several times as necessary, to see if that eases the vibration.

*Pretty darn close

 

[rachel]

Thanks everyone!!!

I'm on it now!!! I will adjust the legs in the front first. Wish me luck lol unfortunately, I won't know for a few days cause I washed anything and EVERYTHING I could gets my hand on today hahaha I never enjoyed laundry sooo much lol

 

[abcomatic]

Dryer

I have the same set and love it, only in Harvest Gold. I would take off the back panel of the dryer and vacuum out all lint, dust etc. The space where the lint filter is, should be cleaned too. Lint really gets in there, but watch out that you don't ram something in there that will crack or break the fan blades that are close to the opening,towards the front of the machine. You will love this set.
Gary

 

[hippiedoll]

How many towels would you consider putting in,,,

in my 208, that only has "SMALL", "MEDIUM", & "LARGE" load sizes, i would say i put about 7 bath towels for a "LARGE" load. if you are nervous about overloading it, what you can do is start with 7 bath towels and add 1 more bath towel and see how the turn-over of the clothes is. and if it seems like there is still alot of water, try one more bath towel.

if you are putting hand towels & wash clothes in the mix, i usually count like 3 or 4 hand towels as one bath towel. and the wash clothes, i consider about 8-10 of them as one bath towel.
just to give you an idea of how i would calculate it.
and oven/kitchen towels would be considered like hand towels (to me).

but also keep in mind, it's probably better to do 2 medium loads of towels rather than try to stuff one big load of towels and end up overloading the washer. just something to think about. plus, it's not much fun when you realize there are too much clothes/towels, in the washer and you have to start pulling some out of the washer all soaking wet (they are heavy and you make a splashy wet mess everywhere!).
LOL.....

i think i read somewhere the rule of thumb is, to load the washtub 2/3 full, with dry clothes. and that should be a large load. and remember not to "stuff" the clothes in the washtub, you want movement of the clothes in the water.

keep us posted....
(and have fun!!!)

;o)

 

[goatfarmer]

There is no back panel on that dryer, per se, just a small access panel for the motor. The front comes off that one. Still not a bad idea to pull the front, and clean out the inside, AFTER unplugging it.

 

[whirlcool]

For level, you can use a level (obtainable at HD or Lowes or any hardware store) put it on the top of the machine first Left to right. Adjust feet so the bubble is in the middle of the glass between the two lines. Then put the level front to back, adjust the feet until the bubble is between the two lines between the glass. You are done and should have a level machine!

Levels are pretty reasonably priced.

 

[arbilab]

Since the FLOOR is seldom 'level' with respect to gravity, 'leveling' the machine won't solve much. All it needs is equal weight on all its four legs. You know, like a table in a restaurant that wobbles when you lean on it.

So grab the machine and put your weight into trying to rock it. Or get a husky dude to do it, it might take more than you weigh to make it rock. Whichever corner you find moving, unscrew that foot until it no longer rocks.

IOW it's not the machine's orientation to gravity ("levelling"), it's matching the plane of the machine to the plane of the floor. Often you don't need to adjust the legs but only scoot the machine a fraction of an inch. Yes, it is quite common for floors to be out of flatness. And yes, the machine is that sensitive to one foot not sharing the weight with the others.