Road Trip...YAY!

[2manycats]

I have only been on the group for about a month, but I have loved old washers since I was a child. I remember helping my grandma do wash in her old Maytag (I got to swish the clothes around with a stick in the rinse tub after she wrung them out .

 

About a year ago I decided to look for an old 50's style washer and dryer. I love getting my hands dirty, so I'm not afraid to tear them apart and fix them up. But finding an old Washer-Dryer from that era is difficult! I guess most were sent to the scrap heap once their usefulness was depleted, and that is why the scarcity? I don't know.

 

One night, I stumbled upon Brad Ross' Maytag model 30 on Youtube, and I was in love! I decided to search for a wringer washer, which proved to be easier, but still difficult to find one that really "spoke" to me. Long story short, I finally found and purchased a washer, and I can't be more excited! 4 hours away, I found a Maytag model 32 that is in beautiful shape, which I will be road tripping to get this Saturday. YAY! 

 

I am sure to have plenty of questions about restoring, getting parts, etc, but you all have been so helpful...THANK YOU!

 

Attached is a pic of the old girl. I will keep you posted.

 

Jeff

 

[wiskybill]

Congrats, Jeff

Here, in my local area, wringer owners seem to be awfully proud of their
machines as it is usually reflected in the asking price.

Have a safe road trip!

Bill

 

[bradross]

Pics please!

Hey Jeff - great news about your find! And a pump model at that! I saw that listing on Craigslist, so I'm glad a fellow wringer fan - and AW member - has grabbed it! I'll be looking forward to seeing more pics (and perhaps a video) of your Model 32! Don't hesitate to ask if there's anything you need to know about restoration; as you know I completely dismantled and restored a Model 30.

If you give the serial number, one of the guys with the chart can identify the month/year of manufacture.

Safe travels!

 

[yogitunes]

congrats on your find.....would love to see more pics when you get them.....

wringers are a high commodity for your surrounding areas...popular, yes...but no one wants to give them up..

my parents and family are from Uniontown, McClellandtown, Masontown area south of Pittsburgh, every one we visit all have wringers, but they do have Automatic dryers....and as Bill mentioned, you can't pull them from those machines for nothing...

 

[2manycats]

Thanks everyone. I am really stoked to pick it up tomorrow. Just got to remember not to wear my Steelers shirt being so close to Baltimore lol.

 

And Brad, I'm sure I will have plenty of pictures and questions! The owner said he has had it more than 8 years, and he never even plugged it in when he bought it. Even if it runs fine, I will no doubt be disassembling and cleaning the motor before running a load.

 

I do have to transport it on it's side...Is there any places to watch out for leaking issues?

 

[bradross]

Transporting on side

should be no issue, as long as you ensure the oiler cap is turned shut. Probably a good idea to wrap some plastic around it, too. Of course, do the same for the wringer pipe.

I transported mine all the way back from Iowa with no problems.

Since the seller says he has not turned the motor on in quite some time, perhaps I might suggest taking along some WD-40. Plug it in when you get there, and if need be, spray some WD-40 in the oiling port on the motor. Mine was initially seized, but after having done that, it fired right up and purred like a kitten!

 

[2manycats]

Thanks for the info Brad. I grabbed my can of PB Blaster and put in in the tool box for tomorrow's trip.

 

I am excited to see it in person for the first time!

 

I keep watching your restoration videos and it just amazes me the rollover the old Maytag has...and how incredibly quiet it runs. 

 

I'll be posting pics for sure! 

 

[lamont]

Let that PB sit for 10 min after spraying it in the motor before trying to apply power. That stuff is REALLY flammable until the carrier evaporates.

 

[2manycats]

It's Home!

After an 8 hour trek to Maryland and back, I am happy to say my Maytag model 32 is home. I just had my stepson help me get it into the house, and this old girl is HEAVY!

 

Talked to the previous owner, and he said it was his great aunt's. Either her husband or father had an appliance store somewhere in PA, so he is almost positive that she was the only owner. When he cleared her estate some 8 or so years ago, he decided to throw it in his truck and bring it home...otherwise, it was going to go into the dumpster!

 

I haven't done much but get her into the house and get a serial number - 703146R. Can any Maytag experts out there help me decipher the year? 

 

Some of the things I have noticed so far:

The pump and hoses were unbolted from the machine. All the hardware was in the tub, but the pump was frozen, and I'm guessing that someone took it apart and decided that they didn't want to mess with it. I got the pump cover off and the impeller is brass, and after a bit of fiddling, I got it free...but I want to get it apart and cleaned up before I put it back on.

The motor turns free, but the belt pulley is rubbing somewhere, so I want to take the belt cover and belt off before I put power to it. 

The transmission shifts beautifully, and the tub and agitator is immaculant. No pits at all YAY!

The wringer rollers were welded together, but a little fiddling got them separated with no chunks missing. The bottom roller is alligatored.

 

That is about it for now. I will get some good pictures of her tomorrow to post, but for now, I'm beat! Thank you all again for all the help and expertise!

 

Jeff

 

 

[bradross]

Pics please!

Hey Jeff ... looking forward to some pics when you get the chance! Curious to see the pump disassembled.

 

[2manycats]

Here is a couple pics of the pump and motor. The pump will need new bushings installed and the dampening collars that absorb the vibration of the motor turned to a big gooey mess, like melted gummy bears. The motor was loose on the frame! I have been cleaning parts and I ordered a thick rubber sheet to make new dampeners.

I am also going to tear down and clean the motor because it is stuffed full of mouse nest...it did run well when I tested it though

More later...

 

[2manycats]

well this is embarrasing...

I just noticed that my photos did not upload properly...and why it took the photo from the previous post is puzzling?? I guess my phone isn't the best way to upload photos?

I will make a new thread for the restoration when I get home from work today...Sorry for the delay.

Jeff