The last helical drive generation finds a new home

[MaytagA710]

I constantly look at Kijiji here in Nova Scotia, especially for Maytags. Seldom does something nice come up, mostly Amanatags/Performas... So one day this set popped up on Kijiji, and I inquired. The seller said someone was supposed to come by and pick it up. Drat, I thought I had lost it. Later that week the seller emailed me and told me they were still available. So just this last Sunday I drove up to the Annapolis Valley and retrieved my new set. Here they are all cleaned up.

 

 

 

[MaytagA710]

Here is the dryer as it came in. Very dirty and dusty. I first tackled the washer.

 

 

 

[MaytagA710]

Since I bought these from the Valley, they run off of well water. High in iron content, the tub was stained. Here is the washer without the front of it.

 

 

 

[MaytagA710]

Money shot. The filter and tub are DIRTY.

 

[MaytagA710]

Here is the shot of the control panel. Dusty and a little dirty.

 

[MaytagA710]

I took off both access ports just to see. There was some cob webs on the inside of the machine. It is nicely well kept. I really started to admire how well built these machines were, and how they were designed with the mechanic in mind. SO EASY to access everything!

 

[MaytagA710]

Top cover tilted back. You can see the damage from hardened and iron heavy water. At this point I really thought it was almost impossible to recover the tub, as I took the tub cover off and tried to wash it with CLR, it led to no luck. HOWEVER. I used SOS pads, which are similar to Brillo pads with OxyClean. It did QUITE a number on the tub, and did not wear away any of the porcelain. =

 

[MaytagA710]

Cleaning out the control panel. I am going to order a new water injector kit for it soon, I want the water to be able to flow free into the machine, and I dont want any hard water deposits on my clothes.

 

[MaytagA710]

Now it is time to clean the dryer! Again, this machine is so well put together, and everything is so easily accessible. No wonder why Maytags were expensive, those engineers had to be paid high salaries if they are going to come up with something so easy.

 

 

 

[MaytagA710]

She is a little dusty on the inside, but the Filter Queen 700 will sure make light work of that! I ended up completely filling its bucket with lint LOL.

 

[DirectDriveDave]

Beautiful!

Those look like they are TOL?

 

[MaytagA710]

Is this anything to be concerned about? Some of the insulation has peeled away/disintegrated leaving an exposed wire. Looks like some left behind ozone/plasma traces are on the wire. What is the best way to fix it?

 

[MaytagA710]

With the drum removed, I can better clean out the dryer. I also removed the exhaust pipe and opened the blower assembly found ten cents in it! Yes! Its already starting to pay for itself.

 

 

 

[MaytagA710]

And here is the final product/result. About 1 solid days worth of cleaning.

 

[MaytagA710]

Now I am just showing off LOL. This is my "Maytag Ad" photo. This set is in that book! I was so happy to find a older Maytag washer. But even more happy to find a set. They are a LA712 and LDE712. Almond colour, yes, I know. I didn't think I would like it too much, but it has started to grow on me completely. I will try and get a video later this week.

 

Does anyone else think this is turning into Maytag Month?

 

[DirectDriveDave]

Excuse my earlier post while you were still posting those pics. lol

But as for that wire, my best advice would be to have it replaced. (I'm not too experienced with electrical work)

 

[MaytagA710]

No problem for a mid post lol. These were TOL machines for the Maytag lineup at the time.

 

[DirectDriveDave]

Excellent, it's so great to see these vintage machines worked on like this.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Very nice set. The jumper wire between the high limit and the element terminal post usually gets to looking like that due to the nut being loose. The poor connection causes the wire to heat up and burn. Just Re-end the wire OR Maytag actually sells the jumper wire (p/n Y304693).

RCD

 

[bendixmark]

basket discolor

Maytag used to make this stuff called ROVER that if you put it in the machine and let it sit for an hour it would turn the basket gleaming white again.You can also pour a 2 liter coke in there and let it sit overnight.That is a really nice set,I love almond.Those are 1985-86 as the dryer has a gray drum.

 

[toploader55]

Fabulous Set

I think this series of Maytags are "Handsome".

 

[gansky1]

Looks like a very nice set. Just like the brochure! Iron staining is unfortunate but the upside is that the water is often soft.

Nice Filter Queen shot, too

 

[combo52]

1980s MT PAIR

Nice cleanup and servicing job, these look to be in pretty good shape they should last you a long time. Of corse these are far from the last Helical drive washers as MT continued to make these through 2006 and WP actually pulled the plug on them. It is about the last of the original style transmission that was used in Helical Drive washer however.

 

The burned wire on the heater terminal was a common problem, because MT used a brass screw and nut which conducted to much heat from the heater element to the wire connection. This constant heating and cooling can lead to slight loosing which causes heat build up and wire failure. This is why WP, GE and I think every other dryer uses plated steel terminals for hi-temperature, hi current applications. The other reason MT had so much problem was the eyelet that was crimped on the end of the wire  two small, if you use a heavier one that has more mass and heat sink ability it will not get as hot and will last longer.

 

[MaytagA710]

@Drew, excellent, thanks for the P/N, I have a service manual for big load 06 and 08 series, but not 10s or 12s. Thanks very much, that will be replaced post haste! No messing around with 240V for me lol.

 

@toploader55 Yeah these and the 10 series are a handsome design, very contemporary. Timeless even.

 

@ John/Combo52  The terminal on the other end of the wire, which is out of the frame, does seem pretty small for the gauge of wire. I am going to replace it this weekend.

 

@bendixmark This weekend I am going to send the machine through with a process (LOL) of Lime/Iron-Out, CLR, and then Bleach. OF COURSE not all at once. I don't want to die.Too bad I couldn't put the tub in some Lime Softening or Cation process LOL

 

@ Greg I love the FQ 700, it is really powerful. Some of the members over on Vacuumland get about 110 inches of water lift on their FQs! It's definitely the most powerful vacuum in my collection. Here is a picture for your viewing pleasure. 

 

 

 

[rp2813]

I like the masculine no-nonsense look of this series.  They are indeed very handsome machines whose panel design brought the Maytag look out of the 50's and into the 80's.   No more hitting the timer knob with the lid.

 

You are going to enjoy these machines for a long time to come.  I am loving seeing all of these Maytag scores!

 

Kevin, you really started something last month!  Something really good!

 

 

 

 

[pulltostart]

Beautiful set. Congratulations on your find!!!

Lawrence

 

[macboy91si]

Dryer Drum Color

"Those are 1985-86 as the dryer has a gray drum. "

 

This is a confusing statement, what other color were the drums? My 1979 Big Load machine has the same drum in the same color?

 

-Tim

 

[polkanut]

Great find, too bad the washer isn't an LA712S though.  Suds-Saver machines rock my world!

 

[mrb627]

SWEET!

I love the cabinet design on these machines. They look like they should snap together like a couple of LEGO's. Just awesome!

Malcolm

 

[yogitunes]

Ralph...don't kid yourself....that lid still hits the control knob....but I always thought it was a safety issue when the lid is opened, say, to redistribute a load, or empty the machine, almost reset for the next command.....

I like the Regular cycle on this model....it has a prewash/soak which will continue into the Regular cycle non-stop....almost a double wash...add an extra rinse and you would have great results every time on a heavy load...