oldskool
Well-known member
A trip to Tulsa appears to be developing! Does anybody know if this would be a good cleaning & reliable Maytag DW and is it possible to convert portable to built-in? Thanks - John
Reverse Rack Maytag Portable DW?
- Thread starter oldskool
- Start date
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What
does REVERSE RACK mean?
does REVERSE RACK mean?
MT REVERSE RACK DWs
Good cleaning yes, quirky loading and poor ability to hold really large pans etc. Also noisy and poor drying results if used on air-dry setting. It can be converted to a built in machine and overall not as reliable as a GE, WP, WP built KM or a KA of the same time period but much better overall than about any other DW of the period. Its a fun machine to experience if you haven't ever used one, but I don't think one will ever make it into my kitchen.
I do have a TOL 1988 Jenn-Air version of this DW that has been very lightly used and has a BRAND NEW complete pump module in it [ which is NLA now ] The first $350.00 gets it otherwise if a customer needs the pump I will sell the part and scrap the machine.
Good cleaning yes, quirky loading and poor ability to hold really large pans etc. Also noisy and poor drying results if used on air-dry setting. It can be converted to a built in machine and overall not as reliable as a GE, WP, WP built KM or a KA of the same time period but much better overall than about any other DW of the period. Its a fun machine to experience if you haven't ever used one, but I don't think one will ever make it into my kitchen.
I do have a TOL 1988 Jenn-Air version of this DW that has been very lightly used and has a BRAND NEW complete pump module in it [ which is NLA now ] The first $350.00 gets it otherwise if a customer needs the pump I will sell the part and scrap the machine.
John - you will be able to build this machine in - once the cabinet, top, and wheels are removed, the dishwasher is standard 24-inch model.
Mark- 'reverse rack' refers to the way the older Maytag dishwasher racks were arranged. In most dishwashers plates, pans, and bowls would go in the lower rack and the glassware, cups, and more delicate items would go in the upper rack; in a Maytag of this vintage, the plates were in the upper rack and the glassware in the lower rack. That's why they are often referred to as "reverse rack"
I had a "modern" one very briefly in Ogden and it was in pretty bad shape... It had been abused and the mineral-rich well water took its toll on the machine, so I parted it out...
Mark- 'reverse rack' refers to the way the older Maytag dishwasher racks were arranged. In most dishwashers plates, pans, and bowls would go in the lower rack and the glassware, cups, and more delicate items would go in the upper rack; in a Maytag of this vintage, the plates were in the upper rack and the glassware in the lower rack. That's why they are often referred to as "reverse rack"
I had a "modern" one very briefly in Ogden and it was in pretty bad shape... It had been abused and the mineral-rich well water took its toll on the machine, so I parted it out...
Grab it John, before it gets away!
Read the 37580 thread.
Barry
www.automaticwasher.org
Read the 37580 thread.
Barry
Pre-Holiday Maytag Reverse Rack Wash Load
Traded out the GSD2800 for the Maytag RR, for the Holidays. The Maytag Reverse racking system is the great for holding large pots and pans. Here are two roasters, with lids for both (the lid for the one in the lower rack is on the right side, you can only see a corner of it) and a glass baking...
www.automaticwasher.org
oldskool
Well-known member
Thanks
Thanks for the advice/input everybody! Will check further and let you know what happens.
John
Thanks for the advice/input everybody! Will check further and let you know what happens.
John
lotsosudz
Well-known member
I had a RR Maytag, and it was by far the best washing dishwasher I ever had. They are very loud, but if you listen,you will hear those fine jets really doing their thing. One thine you should notice if you get it, is their ability to really shine the silverware. When if first got mine, I noticed a big difference in the shine of the silverware. It looked as though it was polished. As far as pot scrubbing, I never found anything that could touch it. just my opinion.if you have good hot water, there is nothing that they won't wash.
Hugs, Lotosudz
Hugs, Lotosudz
I Agree lotsosudz
had two magtag rr in my time and never found loading or cleaning to be difficult. Not only was it not difficult to load, but held more than most dishwashers and could tackle odd shaped items more easily than others. I do disagree with the loundness. IIRC, they weren't any louder than any other dishwashers I heard in other peoples homes. I do miss the sound of the jets doing there thing. I always new everything was gonna come out clean.
had two magtag rr in my time and never found loading or cleaning to be difficult. Not only was it not difficult to load, but held more than most dishwashers and could tackle odd shaped items more easily than others. I do disagree with the loundness. IIRC, they weren't any louder than any other dishwashers I heard in other peoples homes. I do miss the sound of the jets doing there thing. I always new everything was gonna come out clean.
MaytagA710
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2011
- Messages
- 422
I've only ever used a RR Maytag DW once, and I loved it ever since. I have been trying to find one here in the city. They are nice machines and versatile loading abilities. But just like John/Combo52 said, big baking sheets/pans, pizza pans, cutting boards can be annoying to try and fit in. They are loud, and require the hottest of hot water to work exceptionally well. They always produce predictable results!
Turquoisedude's/Pauls WU902 is parted out, to me! lol
Turquoisedude's/Pauls WU902 is parted out, to me! lol
Just brought this home a little more than a week ago, for a playtime diversion and more importantly for parts to keep my WU-601 running for many years to come. It was in remarkable condition for it's age though it had been painted with what appeared to be a roller over the original harvest gold. Roger and I stripped it for parts Monday and it was on it's long journey to becoming a KIA by that afternoon when the scrap metal guy picked it up. We salvaged the nearly perfect racks, a weak spot for Maytag dishwashers all through their production, the motor and pump pulley (pump was bad and the pulley on my 601 had been bent) as well as the functioning timer. Would have saved the light socket and bulb but this model didn't have one - only the devious trickery of a red lens.
They are decent performing dishwashers but as mentioned above, need copious amounts of hot water and tend to be on the noisy side, especially the belt-drive models while draining. Portables are a bit noisier, our 1981 Maytag nearly identical to the first picture seemed like a freight train roaring along when it drained but was "tolerable" during circulation.
They are decent performing dishwashers but as mentioned above, need copious amounts of hot water and tend to be on the noisy side, especially the belt-drive models while draining. Portables are a bit noisier, our 1981 Maytag nearly identical to the first picture seemed like a freight train roaring along when it drained but was "tolerable" during circulation.
Our first dishwasher
was a Maytag WC400, and it ran very well from 1973 to 1994. If I could find one around here in decent or better condition, I would grab it.
No other dishwasher holds my Franciscan Starburst nearly as well. Needed only a few minor repairs.
These babies could scrub the chrome off of a trailer hitch. (Almost).
The reverse rack loading was so sensible. Never had a glass come out with schmutz.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
was a Maytag WC400, and it ran very well from 1973 to 1994. If I could find one around here in decent or better condition, I would grab it.
No other dishwasher holds my Franciscan Starburst nearly as well. Needed only a few minor repairs.
These babies could scrub the chrome off of a trailer hitch. (Almost).
The reverse rack loading was so sensible. Never had a glass come out with schmutz.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
surgilator1
Well-known member
while i was building an apartment for my mom in the back of my house about 5 years ago, i found a new never installed rr maytag on the side of the street. it was bol with a white control panel instead of the black panel pictured above. it has now been used daily by my mother for 5yrs now. did my own little added insulation package when installed so noise is moderate. (highly recomended because this machine is noisy) loading ease was a challenge for me. compared to the 2 tall tub maytags that i have in my kitchen: i found the loading of odd items(plastic lunchroom trays that i use constantly for cutting boards,cookie sheets and tall dutch ovens did not fit very well comparatively) however i am comparing 70-80s technology to 2010. washing results very good with 140 degree water temp and there has not been any nasty buildup of crud in the nooks and crannies of the machine itself. i do like the ease of loading silverware in the upper rack.
John (Combo John, that is)
You said you had a TOL Jenn Air. DON'T part it out!! Please! That would be one less RR Maytag in this world. It's like killing off an endangered species, ha.
You have mentioned several times you don't like the racking. Why don't you put it in your kitechen and live with it wor a while, at least a few months. You will never want to go back to a standard racking system.
I love the way the racks arae designed. An engineer at Maytag was very brave, in the 1960's, to go against the going paradigm and reverse the racking. It's very intuitive and natural to load--and much more flexible than other racking systems.
The silver ware bowls and plates require no bending, they are just there at an arms reach for you.
Pots and pans wash very well in either rack. And in the top rack you have the advantage aof a full wash arm above the pots anad if you have run over on the sides or bottom of a pot or pan it will scrub it off and shine the outside of the pot beautifly.
As far as cookie sheets and serving trays. I can't get these into my GE 2800 any more than I can the RR. Large 4 and 5 quart dutch ovens and platters up to 14 incles, as well as roasting pans, fit beaautifully in the Maytag RR. No a very deep stock pot won't but won't fit into most other dishwashers either unless they are a tall tub, and you now how well most new tall tubs are at pot scrubbing (ugh).
The one thing everyone agrees on is that the RR is almost unbeatable for the capacity. In my 1985 Maytag brochure, they say their dishwashers are unbeatable for holding dishes..and I have found that to be true.
Is your Jenn Air the elctronic control panel model, or a high end pushbutton model, John? Either way the TOL models have the option of a longer wash time.
That's my only major complaint on the BOL RR models. The 601 has only about a 8 or nine minute wash time (but 3 final rinses!) My 242 has only about a 10 or 11 minute main wash.
It's scrubbing ability is amazing, considering it uses only a comparatively short main wash period. Compare this to the GE Potscrubber main wash of 45 minutes on the P&P cycle. So on really caked, burnt on messes, sometimes my GE does a little better, because of the longer wash period.
However, the electonic control models have the ability to double the wash time on the Pots and Pans cycle, to about 16 minutes. Then the scrubbing ability actually exceeds the GE.
So if you have a TOL Maytag, I would hang onto it, and use it for your daily driver, John. Or at least sell it to someone on this site. I would hate to see it get dismembered, destroyed and parted out.
Anyway, if you insist, I hope someone on this site buys sit. It will be well worth the $350. I can't because I am too far away, but some of you close to John I hope will take him up on this.
You said you had a TOL Jenn Air. DON'T part it out!! Please! That would be one less RR Maytag in this world. It's like killing off an endangered species, ha.
You have mentioned several times you don't like the racking. Why don't you put it in your kitechen and live with it wor a while, at least a few months. You will never want to go back to a standard racking system.
I love the way the racks arae designed. An engineer at Maytag was very brave, in the 1960's, to go against the going paradigm and reverse the racking. It's very intuitive and natural to load--and much more flexible than other racking systems.
The silver ware bowls and plates require no bending, they are just there at an arms reach for you.
Pots and pans wash very well in either rack. And in the top rack you have the advantage aof a full wash arm above the pots anad if you have run over on the sides or bottom of a pot or pan it will scrub it off and shine the outside of the pot beautifly.
As far as cookie sheets and serving trays. I can't get these into my GE 2800 any more than I can the RR. Large 4 and 5 quart dutch ovens and platters up to 14 incles, as well as roasting pans, fit beaautifully in the Maytag RR. No a very deep stock pot won't but won't fit into most other dishwashers either unless they are a tall tub, and you now how well most new tall tubs are at pot scrubbing (ugh).
The one thing everyone agrees on is that the RR is almost unbeatable for the capacity. In my 1985 Maytag brochure, they say their dishwashers are unbeatable for holding dishes..and I have found that to be true.
Is your Jenn Air the elctronic control panel model, or a high end pushbutton model, John? Either way the TOL models have the option of a longer wash time.
That's my only major complaint on the BOL RR models. The 601 has only about a 8 or nine minute wash time (but 3 final rinses!) My 242 has only about a 10 or 11 minute main wash.
It's scrubbing ability is amazing, considering it uses only a comparatively short main wash period. Compare this to the GE Potscrubber main wash of 45 minutes on the P&P cycle. So on really caked, burnt on messes, sometimes my GE does a little better, because of the longer wash period.
However, the electonic control models have the ability to double the wash time on the Pots and Pans cycle, to about 16 minutes. Then the scrubbing ability actually exceeds the GE.
So if you have a TOL Maytag, I would hang onto it, and use it for your daily driver, John. Or at least sell it to someone on this site. I would hate to see it get dismembered, destroyed and parted out.
Anyway, if you insist, I hope someone on this site buys sit. It will be well worth the $350. I can't because I am too far away, but some of you close to John I hope will take him up on this.
Maytag Reverse Rack - Music to my ears
In 1980 when I was in high school, my folks bought at Maytag WC700 dishwasher. We loved that dishwasher! It still works but is now seldom used by my dad. Since then I have either owned or used a Maytag WU482, a Jenn-Air DWU599W (presently insalled in kitchen) and a Maytag WC401. The DWU599 Jenn-Air was one of the last models to come out of the Newton, IA plant. It has the direct drive module and is quiet compared to the belt-drive models. The DWU599 was a Craigslist find for $48 and was 15 years old when installed in my kitchen. Another Craiglist find was the WC401 (from 1975) that I got for $36. It was barely used in its lifetime and had the plastic wrap still on the butcher block top! When I run that thing, it sounds exactly like the WC700 and the memories flow. MUSIC to my ears!!! The majority of the reverse racks do not have automatic water heating, which is their only drawback in my opinion. They hold a LOT and clean beautifully.
In 1980 when I was in high school, my folks bought at Maytag WC700 dishwasher. We loved that dishwasher! It still works but is now seldom used by my dad. Since then I have either owned or used a Maytag WU482, a Jenn-Air DWU599W (presently insalled in kitchen) and a Maytag WC401. The DWU599 Jenn-Air was one of the last models to come out of the Newton, IA plant. It has the direct drive module and is quiet compared to the belt-drive models. The DWU599 was a Craigslist find for $48 and was 15 years old when installed in my kitchen. Another Craiglist find was the WC401 (from 1975) that I got for $36. It was barely used in its lifetime and had the plastic wrap still on the butcher block top! When I run that thing, it sounds exactly like the WC700 and the memories flow. MUSIC to my ears!!! The majority of the reverse racks do not have automatic water heating, which is their only drawback in my opinion. They hold a LOT and clean beautifully.
MT REVERSE RACK DWs
Hi Barry, Michael and others for your thoughtful responses.
Both my 1987 WP and 1984 KA DWs will easily hold a 20 quart stock pot and I get decent sized cookie sheets in both at the sides of the lower rack.
As you guys mentioned the lack of automatic water heating a big negative as I am not going to run my whole houses water temp above 130 degrees just for a DW.
I don't like the silverware basket in the top rack as it sprinkles items in the lower rack when you are unloading [ these MT DWs never dried well unless you use heated dry or remember to leave the door open overnight ] I see no purpose in burning many pounds of coal every year just so my dishes will dry a little faster plus the heated drying shortens the life of the racks etc too much. Also the in door silverware basket in the WP is far easier to load as you only need open the door about three inches and drop in say a dirty spoon from countertop height.
With the HUGE cutout in the lower rack and the lack of it being able to wash items in the corners of the upper rack if big bowls are placed below it really doesn't hold as much as I can get in my WP or KA. I also don't like the fact that neither rack is flat.
I give MT credit for trying something different and this machine if used properly was a top performer. As you know I worked for MT in the 1970s and installed, servieced, and removed and scraped HUNDREDS of these DWs. And in talking to hundreds of customers about this machine I found the love of this design was far from universal. Remember it was MT that discontinued this design, not Whirlpool, not the Dept. Of Energy but consumers spoke and MT eventually listened.
I have also used several of these machines, Jon [ Jetcone ] had a TOL BD MT DW in his house on the Cape for many years and I used it many times during my stays there. It has been replaced by a standard tub SS tanked WP built DW which I think he and I both like much better overall.
In closing I think these are very interesting machines differently worthy of a collectors trust and a good machine for a collector to have in thier kitchen. But while I collect all kinds of different major appliances and I have an estimated over 200, the appliances that make it into my home and kitchen most be top performers in almost every way, including reliability. And one thing I don't like to come home to is a broken appliance and these RR DWs never achieved great reliability and were always a little more prone to leaks, which is the last thing I want from a DW.
The Jenn-Air model I have has the mechanical push button with an additional delay wash timer with its own dial on the left side of the control panel. I also have a TOL MT DW about the same age that has only been used about 6 times that will be installed at our museum.
Barry while I prefer not to scrap this DW if I use parts of it to keep another going it doesn't make much difference. I could probably arange delivery to you if if you want it. In the last three months I have seen at least 12 MT RR, 30 porcelain tub KA DWs and 20 WP BD washers and 30 MT helical drive washers and matching dryer pairs crushed, unfortunately you can't save them all.
Hi Barry, Michael and others for your thoughtful responses.
Both my 1987 WP and 1984 KA DWs will easily hold a 20 quart stock pot and I get decent sized cookie sheets in both at the sides of the lower rack.
As you guys mentioned the lack of automatic water heating a big negative as I am not going to run my whole houses water temp above 130 degrees just for a DW.
I don't like the silverware basket in the top rack as it sprinkles items in the lower rack when you are unloading [ these MT DWs never dried well unless you use heated dry or remember to leave the door open overnight ] I see no purpose in burning many pounds of coal every year just so my dishes will dry a little faster plus the heated drying shortens the life of the racks etc too much. Also the in door silverware basket in the WP is far easier to load as you only need open the door about three inches and drop in say a dirty spoon from countertop height.
With the HUGE cutout in the lower rack and the lack of it being able to wash items in the corners of the upper rack if big bowls are placed below it really doesn't hold as much as I can get in my WP or KA. I also don't like the fact that neither rack is flat.
I give MT credit for trying something different and this machine if used properly was a top performer. As you know I worked for MT in the 1970s and installed, servieced, and removed and scraped HUNDREDS of these DWs. And in talking to hundreds of customers about this machine I found the love of this design was far from universal. Remember it was MT that discontinued this design, not Whirlpool, not the Dept. Of Energy but consumers spoke and MT eventually listened.
I have also used several of these machines, Jon [ Jetcone ] had a TOL BD MT DW in his house on the Cape for many years and I used it many times during my stays there. It has been replaced by a standard tub SS tanked WP built DW which I think he and I both like much better overall.
In closing I think these are very interesting machines differently worthy of a collectors trust and a good machine for a collector to have in thier kitchen. But while I collect all kinds of different major appliances and I have an estimated over 200, the appliances that make it into my home and kitchen most be top performers in almost every way, including reliability. And one thing I don't like to come home to is a broken appliance and these RR DWs never achieved great reliability and were always a little more prone to leaks, which is the last thing I want from a DW.
The Jenn-Air model I have has the mechanical push button with an additional delay wash timer with its own dial on the left side of the control panel. I also have a TOL MT DW about the same age that has only been used about 6 times that will be installed at our museum.
Barry while I prefer not to scrap this DW if I use parts of it to keep another going it doesn't make much difference. I could probably arange delivery to you if if you want it. In the last three months I have seen at least 12 MT RR, 30 porcelain tub KA DWs and 20 WP BD washers and 30 MT helical drive washers and matching dryer pairs crushed, unfortunately you can't save them all.
Thanks for the offer, John. It it were the electronic control panel BD model, I would be probably be interested.
No, I realize you can't save every machine, but I, like many on this site, just cringe at the thought of a vintage appliance going scrap. Especially one that is creme de la creme.
Funny how different people can have diferent opinons about the same thing. The BD RR Maytag will always be on my top two list, along with the GE 2800.
I doubt if I have had as many dishwashers as you, but I estimate I have installed and performance tested somewhere between forty and fifty machines in the last 30 years.
Out of all the dishwashers I have had, and I have had many models of GE, Maytag, Whirlpool, Kenmore/Whirlpool, Kitchen-Aid, Frigidaire and grew up with a D&M Modern Maid. Have had recent tall tubs and old conventioinal tubs. But the RR Maytag will always be, in my opinion, the easiest to load, with the most intelligent, intuitive and versatile racking. Cleanability, on the models with the non-extended wash is only slightly less than GE tower wash systems. I find with the extended wash it is everybit equal if not a small tad better.
Like you, I don't have the space to keep all of the ones I would like to. I usually sell, or more often give my machines away after I have wrung then through the wringer, so to speak, with my testing for several months. I get bored and have to go on to a different machine. Kind of like Elizabeth Taylor and husbands, hehe.
But the two machines that always outshined the others, and the ones I don't depart with (and use for dail drivers) are the GSD2800 GE and the BD RR Maytag, as these are the holy grail of dishwashers.
My ultimate find would be the electronic RR BD Maytag. (WU1000 ??).
So if you find one of these, John, let me know (please).
No, I didn't know you worked for Maytag. That is cool! What did you do?
No, I realize you can't save every machine, but I, like many on this site, just cringe at the thought of a vintage appliance going scrap. Especially one that is creme de la creme.
Funny how different people can have diferent opinons about the same thing. The BD RR Maytag will always be on my top two list, along with the GE 2800.
I doubt if I have had as many dishwashers as you, but I estimate I have installed and performance tested somewhere between forty and fifty machines in the last 30 years.
Out of all the dishwashers I have had, and I have had many models of GE, Maytag, Whirlpool, Kenmore/Whirlpool, Kitchen-Aid, Frigidaire and grew up with a D&M Modern Maid. Have had recent tall tubs and old conventioinal tubs. But the RR Maytag will always be, in my opinion, the easiest to load, with the most intelligent, intuitive and versatile racking. Cleanability, on the models with the non-extended wash is only slightly less than GE tower wash systems. I find with the extended wash it is everybit equal if not a small tad better.
Like you, I don't have the space to keep all of the ones I would like to. I usually sell, or more often give my machines away after I have wrung then through the wringer, so to speak, with my testing for several months. I get bored and have to go on to a different machine. Kind of like Elizabeth Taylor and husbands, hehe.
But the two machines that always outshined the others, and the ones I don't depart with (and use for dail drivers) are the GSD2800 GE and the BD RR Maytag, as these are the holy grail of dishwashers.
My ultimate find would be the electronic RR BD Maytag. (WU1000 ??).
So if you find one of these, John, let me know (please).
No, I didn't know you worked for Maytag. That is cool! What did you do?
