Starting At The Beginning - Maytag Wringer

[wrungfinger]

Our three year old automatic washer stopped working - its computer brain is scrambled...the hot/cold mixer gave up and the drain pump sounds like it is burned out. Enough. So I pulled out the Maytag wringer that my wife used growing up on the farm in NE Iowa. It still works.

I began disassembling it last night, cleaning and evaluating. I removed the grease on the wringer parts, which has hardened, removed the rust and water deposits, and oiled and greased and reassembled it. The wringer is a wonder to behold!

Today I have started disassembling the washer itself.

I have been informed that it is a Maytag Model E2...produced October 1965. Just for reference: it has a square aluminum tub...its serial number is 19638 XT and is stamped into the metal on the rear of the machine just below the aluminum basin...it has a red emergency shut-off on the wringer...and it has raised metallic letters that spell out MAYTAG on the front of the machine instead of a decal. The decal on the rear that identifies the model has fully disintegrated.

Are there parts and service manuals available for this machine?

I'll start there with a question and an introduction. I'm sure glad that this forum exists. I'm sure that I will have more questions shortly. I see that I will need new gaskets as I see that many are leaking.

We have long thought of going back to wringer washers and now with our kids gone the laundry is more manageable. We give up on fully automatic washers...it's the last straw with this one...yes, it's back to wrung fingers for us (my wife no longer has braids so I think has gotten over her nervous tick when it comes to wash day )

Thanks for any help...

Craig

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hi Craig and welcome. There is a comprehensive Maytag wringer washer service manual here...

Maytag Electric and Gas Wringer Washer Service Manual

Maytag Electric and Gas Wringer Washer Service Manual

www.automatice.org

 

[gyrafoam]

The Maytag manual washers are still a hot commodity because they keep on going.
If your wife has any relatives left back in Iowa, you should have them searching estate sales for minty Maytag Automatics, which also keep on going. Probably getting harder to find parts for the old Automatics, though, thanks to Whirlpool.

Best wishes, you will get it up and running!

 

[wrungfinger]

...thank you!

...started it up yesterday...there was a problem reversing the wringer. Took the wringer gear apart and the gear that drives the lower wringer roller itself is badly worn so i removed that. Is it better to look for a new gear or are the entire wringer portion available?

...and I cannot remove the agitator, it seems to be frozen in place. Is this common?

 

[launderess]

According to the various copies of Maytag service manuals

For wringer washers, Maytag advised for wringer head it was often better to simply replace the thing than dive in with repairs. Though they did list how to go about various repair jobs. What part is damaged/broken. If possible take pictures and post, then others can advise. If lucky a replacement can be had from various sources.

Yes, stuck agitators are *very* common with Maytag wringers. You can search the archives for a listing of myself and others who had to deal with that situation.

Basically what happens is that often previous users did not heed Maytag's advice about removing agitator after each wash day, allowing tub to dry before replacing, and or occasionally applying lubricant to shaft. What happens is the shaft and spline (if am using terms correctly) fuse together.

If you are lucky it will only be hardened muck, grime, detergent and or soap residue combined with God only knows what else that is binding the agitator to shaft. Try filling the tub about halfway with the hottest water possible. Allow to sit for half an hour or so, then drain. Now attempt to dislodge the agitator. If no luck, repeat.