The city of Atlantis may be lost, but the washer is here to stay!

[murando531]

After over a week of cussing, she's back. Maybe not in her original glory, but I did my best to bring her damn close to it.

For starters, I got the transmission and like I posted in the old thread, it came intact with the suspension frame and brake assembly all together. So, easy swap right? Not quite, because the brake ended up being completely seized together with rust. I can't even break it apart with a hammer. So, after taking the assembly back out for like the umpteenth time, having to remove the springs each time which were tedious with the nickel method (tedious but works like a charm), I removed the brake assembly from my old transmission which is in glorious condition because of being preserved in transmission oil over these years. I cleaned it, installed it on the "new" transmission setup, which thankfully shows not a single sign of rust or corrosion, and after some struggle with trying to line the outer tub and seals properly, got everything back together and from that point, it was like spreading butter on fancy toast.

I was half expecting to hear some form of squeak or screech from bearings, but not a peep. I'm so pleasantly shocked and so very happy it's working so beautifully. I put it through the paces, even leaving it filled with water and bleach for a couple of hours to keep an eye on the concrete floor underneath for leaks, but not a drop of oil or water ever once appeared, even inside the cabinet.

So I have a few photos and then compiled all the video clips I made into one single video for all to enjoy.

 

[murando531]

Some photos afterwards...

 

[murando531]

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[stricklybojack]

.
Great work. You will enjoy using even more now than you would had you never loaned it out!

 

[foraloysius]

Great job! A modern classic restored! Thanks for the video, I love listening to washer sounds.

 

[ken]

Job well done. Now you know there aren't any hidden surprises waiting since you went through it the way you did. You now have satisfaction of knowing you'll get many years of use.

 

[mrb627]

Same Series

I had an upper level model. The one with the detergent dispenser in the lid. I liked the machine, but the agitator had those pinch points under the fins that kept snagging holes in things. I ran it mostly with the gentle wash button set as the turnover was pretty damn strong. It has a great hum to it when agitating too!

Good restore work!

Malcolm

 

[johnb300m]

Absolutely job well done saving such an amazingly built and great looking washer. It still looks stylish even today!
Timeless.
Enjoy Andrew

 

[maytagmike]

Beautiful machine

Congrats on an excellent rebuild. I had a MAV6200 and I really miss that machine. I sold those machines when i worked for Maytag.

 

[yogitunes]

nice job on restoring it back to a functioning machine....

some don't give these machines the credit they deserve....if taken care of, they will last a long time.....

if you overlooked when rebuilding, make sure to spread a layer of grease for the motor to slide side to side.....

the most weak spot is the pump.....other than that, the ones I had worked really well....

I would like to see the internals of that transmission...and how the dual drive functions.....

in time, I would search around for the detergent dispenser and a stainless tub....for a few nice upgrades...and then maybe a matching dryer......they are a nice set....

 

[murando531]

Thanks everyone. I've been on Cloud Nine since last night. It definitely brought back memories and a few tears.

Ironically, Yogi, I intentionally left the grease that was around the motor for that reason. It slides back and forth perfectly though I did tighten the bolts slightly because it moved a little -too- easily. The detergent dispenser would definitely be a cool upgrade if I can find one, though I do quite love the polypropylene(?) basket. The stainless does look nice but it would take away a bit from the sentiment.

And you're right, I don't quite agree with the reputation these machines are given by some people. Once you figure out exactly what you're doing, it's very easy to work on, and the components are rock solid, especially by today's standards.

There is a video or two that I found in searching for repair methods of the inside of the transmission. I was surprised to see that it has two sets of gears to power the agitator shaft from two sides of the gear, rather than one like the GEs and Whirlpool DDs. Those nylon gears are probably the only reason it didn't lock up entirely while losing oil. The one thing I would like to see more in detail is exactly how the transmission is able to "slip" enough that the motor and pulley spin at full speed while the basket gradually ramps up. I'm actually not entirely sure how WP DDs do that either, whether by means of some sort of slip "gear" or a mini version of a torque converter.

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[yogitunes]

it is a unique design, for both the tranny and how the one belt with the flipping motor works....

the main thing about the trannies double set of gears, as compared to a pitman tranny, is the equal balance, not requiring a counter balance weight...

I have watched the belt in action of slipping, but still somewhat puzzled that it actually works.....I guess that's the reason for the motor to flip side to side, as to where the grip/torque is used from either side......just doesn't seem like it would work, but it does...

not sure why they built the Norge design different than the traditional Maytag setup.....they seem close enough, it could have been a true Maytag underneath....the only advantage I like was the slower longer stroke as the pitman transmission had....plus the bigger agitator...

in any case....you still got a nice machine there.....

thanks for the videos....

 

[mtn1584]

The feel good story if the week!

Congrats on your hard work and I am so happy you got your machine back in working order the way you like, now don't loan your things out anymore!!!
As Marie Barone said on Everybody Loves Raymond..... "THIS IS WHYBWE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS!!!!!" LOL
My mother used to say the same thing to me!
Now give your Maytag a nice coat of Turtle Wax and cover her top with a towel so she doesn't get scratched!
Mike

 

[appnut]

Andrew, congratulations!!  I'm so happy for you and the diligence to get this done!!!

 

[super32]

I have repaired a ton of those. I got it down to about 45min to do a transmission. The later ones with the double fins on the auger were quite aggressive with turnover.

 

[gusherb]

Very nice work. You totally brought it back from the dead and it looks and sounds great.

 

[murando531]

I couldn't resist any longer!!!!!

In order of photos: I took the opportunity to clean and vacuum and sort through everything on the shelves, which explains why it's so barren. I moved the Bravos into the guest room for now. Its feet are clean and there's no way water could drip since the drain hose is elevated out of the cabinet, and it's pretty so it won't be an eyesore.

I thought the Atlantis would come close to the size of the Bravos but forgot just how gigantic it is. The Atlantis feels so short and small in comparison. It's funny that in its time, the Atlantis' tub was huge in comparison to the WP DDs and plastic fantastic GE's and Franklin Frigidaires at the time. Now it can barely hold half of what the Bravos does on a normal basis.

I've already washed a full load of towels with OxiClean added, with a 20 minute soak in the middle of the wash. Then ran what whites I had that could be bleached, and washed on full water level with hot water and bleach. Now its running yet a third full hot bleach run, but without clothes, and the agitator cap and bleach dispenser are soaking in the sink. I'm hoping that with repeated cycles with good detergents and bleach now and then, the interior will whiten some to almost its former glory.

This is only for 2-3 weeks, tops. Just a couple of loads in have thrown a heap of memories and emotions at me. The sounds and watching its behavior and remembering all the little quirks about it are bittersweet. But, I feel barbaric lol. Despite the long spin times for a washer of its era, the clothes still feel more moist than they do coming out of the Bravos. On top of that, even with a full cap of Persil Power Pearls, a half scoop of OxiClean, and the Heavy wash time and hot water, there were stains on the white wash cloths and some of the dish towels that would come out effortlessly in the Bravos with no additional effort beyond a normal dose of detergent. The dryer took almost two hours for that load of towels that is half of what it normally handles, so the difference in what high spin speeds can accomplish is almost breathtaking.

Still, I love the Atlantis to pieces and in its time, it was a magnificent performer. It sure beats the hell out of a Speed Queen, no harm intended.

I'm sure I'll get to play with it plenty of the next couple of weeks or so. This smaller capacity makes me wonder how in the world we as a family of four weren't having to wash every single day. David and I don't typically accumulate enough for a proper full load in the Bravos for colors, darks, whites, and towels individually until two weeks or so. I may be back to the old days of washing a load every few days!

 

[Ultramatic]

Great job!

 

 

Love that soothing washer sound!

 

[johnb300m]

I can't imagine what your water bill is gonna be now.
Heehee!
(Ducks and runs)