Requesting info on this vintage Maytag set

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

The agitators are different for the orbital vs. the pitman transmission. You can't go by color alone because the first orbital transmission machines came with the aqua "shark fin" agitator as some call it. Most of the orbital transmission machines had white "shark fin" agitators. The power fin agitators for the pitman transmission machines were either aqua or black and had 4 vanes at the base and nothing on the barrel of the agitator. Counting the holes vertically will tell you whether it's standard capacity(3) or large(4) If you can't see the water level switch in a listing.

Reply#18 shows an aqua orbital agitator standard capacity

In the original listing pictures there are no "shark fins" on the barrel of the agitator and if you look closely you can see 4 vertical holes in the agitator barrel making it large capacity. Of course in this listing you can also see that the water level goes to extra large.

Hope this helps and is not overly complicated.
 
The caution of course is that someone could have replaced just the transmission OR the agitator individually as part of a prior repair, and ended up with a mismatch.
So seeing a particular agitator on a 35+ year old machine doesn't "guarantee" a particular transmission...
 
that is a beautiful, full featured set...

unfortunately, when you find/see a set like this, you dont have time to ask questions, you need to jump on them, as we seen with this set, their gone in no time...

dont mean to sound rude, but while one person is procrastinating about something, another person is snatching them up....not just with machines, but a lot of things in general...

simply put, Money Talks!...

if your not sure of the transmission, remove two screws and pop off the front....would not be the first time I done that before purchasing a machine...I even done that in Sears, jumped over to the tool section, grabbed a screwdriver and popped the top....

BTW...you will be surprised a set like this will fit in the back of a Grand Cherokee with ease...after all, it was designed around a washing machine dimensions!
 
Thanks for the shark fin tutorial.  I dug up the thread I launched when I was looking at the 712 back in 2017 and it didn't seem as cut-and-dried in that discussion.  Those upper fins are a dead giveaway for sure.
 
Yes, absolutely.....no time to procrastinate!  You are not being rude — you are quite right!  In this case, the set had been sold by the time I saw the ad (it was listed a week before I saw it).  But yes that’s good advice for the future. 

I have seen a couple of other interesting sets on MarketPlace and I’ve sent the sellers messages but they haven’t read the messages yet. 

I have a Ford Explorer and I was hoping to place the machines on their sides. Is that ok for TL washers and dryers to be transported like that, or does it depend on the specific brand/model? 
 
On Maytags like this, you have to be sure to tape the lids closed, or they will swing open and get dented when you put them on their back/side. Might also pop the washer lid off, and send the hinge balls flying. Bring a few cleaning wipes and plenty of tape, as the detergent residues can prevent the tape from sticking.

On the washers I've moved, I've also popped the front cover and stuffed towels back in and around between the tub and the cabinet - so that the tub doesn't smash around when it's on its side and dent the cabinet outward. (I read this tip on the forum here). Only takes one screwdriver and a couple minutes to do.
 
Reading my last post, I used wording that could be interpreted two ways (whoops). So to be more clear:
You should tape the lids down to prevent the washer lid from popping off.
I don't think it is advised to intentionally pop the washer lid off unless you really have a good reason.
 
While they can be transported on their sides, it's certainly not best practice to do so. If it is close by, you can rent a pickup by the hour at Home Depot or Menards, and if further, renting a pickup or cargo van from Enterprise, Hertz, etc. isn't overly costly.

Taping lids and doors is recommended regardless.
 
on their sides, it's certainly not best practice to do s

I've transported many Maytag's laying down on their back side with no ill effects.

As Yogitune's mentioned when a minty set like that comes along buy first ask questions later.
 
as with the Jeep,

I lay the machine on its right side, slide and twist with the backside of the washer up against the front seats....

and the dryer goes in next, most times it has to lay on its front(remove the door knob) as to clear the wheel well humps....but have had clearance with laying it on its left side, and the rear of the cabinet facing the rear hatch....

I also have a Mountaineer/Explorer, I need to check dimensions if it will work the same....

I also have a rear carrier that slides into the towing hitch....using a blanket to wrap the dryer, and laid down sideways, and then ratchet strap it in place to secure....

many idea to consider....but never had an issue laying a machine on its side....sometimes you may have to add something like these noodles to secure the suspension if needed....

 
I do have some pool noodles.

They won't really help much on a vintage Maytag washer, the tub design is different.

You'd have to remove the front panel and wrap them around the tub, Probably easier to stuff moving blankets in there instead at that point.

As mentioned I transported and wrestled many Maytags up and down stairs without damage.

However, I always use an appliance hand truck.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top