Hey all. Have an opportunity to pick all three of these up. Dishwasher is unused. Thoughts?
Thoughts on these items?
- Thread starter jil1000
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repairguy
Well-known member
I’d say go for it.
If you got the room...
Grab 'em. Love that Superba.
Grab 'em. Love that Superba.
The 806 washer and KDS-15 dishwasher are TOL models. The Maytag DE500 is one step down from TOL and has the early designed electronic moisture control system. All three units are well known for being extremely reliable in their heyday.
The bad news.....the DE500 is 60 years old and the other 2 are very close behind. They have also been sitting for 30+ years, which is not ideal. These are not machines the one immeadilty slams into daily service right off the bat.
The dryer will need to be completely disassembled, drum bearings, blower bearings, and idler pulley bearing oiled. The motor is probably the round style which can be disassembled and oiled. Probably needs a front seal. Will need new belts, for sure. Slip ring will need polishing for proper contact. Don't lose the spring and carbon brush during the removal process. The electronic system may or may not work from the get go.
The dishwasher will need new hoses, probably a new inlet valve. Best to immediately replace the lower seal at minimum or water intrusion will take out the motor bearings. You don't want to hunt down a motor for this machine. Everything else may work fine, might have to fiddle with the detergent bi metals to get them functioning correctly.
The washer will probably need lots of works to get it functioning up to par. The oil is probably sludged up in the transmission at this point. New stem and boot seal and probably tub bearing while you're in there. Replace the belts. I'd remove the front panel and keep a close eye on the original pump top cover seal. These can dry out and leak. Will definitely need a motor carriage kit, springs (original springs are tiny and too light), rollers/glides, tracks cleaned and lubed. The original rollers have probably crumbled at this point. New tub to pump hose is critical unless you want a flood. The original is probably rock hard by now. Should have the extremely rare 8 finned agitator that was only used on the 906/806/606 models in 1966-1967. These older agitators have a metal insert that likes to weld itself to the agitator shaft, making it a real pain to remove. A 30 year nap may be to your advantage in that area, making it easier to remove.
The bad news.....the DE500 is 60 years old and the other 2 are very close behind. They have also been sitting for 30+ years, which is not ideal. These are not machines the one immeadilty slams into daily service right off the bat.
The dryer will need to be completely disassembled, drum bearings, blower bearings, and idler pulley bearing oiled. The motor is probably the round style which can be disassembled and oiled. Probably needs a front seal. Will need new belts, for sure. Slip ring will need polishing for proper contact. Don't lose the spring and carbon brush during the removal process. The electronic system may or may not work from the get go.
The dishwasher will need new hoses, probably a new inlet valve. Best to immediately replace the lower seal at minimum or water intrusion will take out the motor bearings. You don't want to hunt down a motor for this machine. Everything else may work fine, might have to fiddle with the detergent bi metals to get them functioning correctly.
The washer will probably need lots of works to get it functioning up to par. The oil is probably sludged up in the transmission at this point. New stem and boot seal and probably tub bearing while you're in there. Replace the belts. I'd remove the front panel and keep a close eye on the original pump top cover seal. These can dry out and leak. Will definitely need a motor carriage kit, springs (original springs are tiny and too light), rollers/glides, tracks cleaned and lubed. The original rollers have probably crumbled at this point. New tub to pump hose is critical unless you want a flood. The original is probably rock hard by now. Should have the extremely rare 8 finned agitator that was only used on the 906/806/606 models in 1966-1967. These older agitators have a metal insert that likes to weld itself to the agitator shaft, making it a real pain to remove. A 30 year nap may be to your advantage in that area, making it easier to remove.
Work…
Thanks for the blueprint Dan!
I love these vintage appliances. And can’t seem to stop collecting them. I have a matching set of vintage Maytags in harvest gold that work, really just wanted the 806 console. But… my working Maytag washer the blue agitator is cracked and does not look as good at the white 806 in the pictures. As far as the dryer, would you take it? Do I need it? I sure want it! But not sure if I actually need it. I’m a registered nurse, not an appliance tech, but I really want to learn how to make these changes and do repairs…
As far as that KDS I saw one with a full stainless front and it was SO sharp. The timer appears to be missing in the pictures. Would you think that is an easy find out there?
I never knew I could feel so excited about appliances.
Thanks for the blueprint Dan!
I love these vintage appliances. And can’t seem to stop collecting them. I have a matching set of vintage Maytags in harvest gold that work, really just wanted the 806 console. But… my working Maytag washer the blue agitator is cracked and does not look as good at the white 806 in the pictures. As far as the dryer, would you take it? Do I need it? I sure want it! But not sure if I actually need it. I’m a registered nurse, not an appliance tech, but I really want to learn how to make these changes and do repairs…
As far as that KDS I saw one with a full stainless front and it was SO sharp. The timer appears to be missing in the pictures. Would you think that is an easy find out there?
I never knew I could feel so excited about appliances.
It would be a shame to part out that Maytag washer. Not too many of those early designs are still around anymore. That agitator is extremely rare! It has a bigger tub than the one you currently have.
The DE500 dryer is the same as the TOL versions minus the lighted console and drum light. These are about the most accurate dryers around with 3 sensors in the path of the clothing. The later Stream of Heat dryers have a small sensor near the exhaust and not in the path of the clothing, like most designs today. It can under dry smaller items that don't rub up against the sensor. These dryers are really not that complicated to work on, they just take a bit longer to tear down as the entire cabinet has to be removed to service items in the front of the machine (door switch, heating element, front seal). Once they're gone through, you shouldn't have to do that for a long time. Don't be afraid to work on one, there's plenty of threads here to source and we'll help guide you.
The timer for the dishwasher looks like it's there, the knob was probably removed to take off the lower panel during the removal process. I bet the lower panel and knob are still there.
Since you don't rely on these machines as daily drivers, you can take time to fiddle around and learn to work on them at your leisure...which is ideal. They're also a great backup incase your current ones give you trouble.
This dryer would be a nice machine to complement your collection. Both the HOH and SOH designs have their strengths and weaknesses where they are superior in their own ways.
[this post was last edited: 5/4/2023-22:38]
The DE500 dryer is the same as the TOL versions minus the lighted console and drum light. These are about the most accurate dryers around with 3 sensors in the path of the clothing. The later Stream of Heat dryers have a small sensor near the exhaust and not in the path of the clothing, like most designs today. It can under dry smaller items that don't rub up against the sensor. These dryers are really not that complicated to work on, they just take a bit longer to tear down as the entire cabinet has to be removed to service items in the front of the machine (door switch, heating element, front seal). Once they're gone through, you shouldn't have to do that for a long time. Don't be afraid to work on one, there's plenty of threads here to source and we'll help guide you.
The timer for the dishwasher looks like it's there, the knob was probably removed to take off the lower panel during the removal process. I bet the lower panel and knob are still there.
Since you don't rely on these machines as daily drivers, you can take time to fiddle around and learn to work on them at your leisure...which is ideal. They're also a great backup incase your current ones give you trouble.
This dryer would be a nice machine to complement your collection. Both the HOH and SOH designs have their strengths and weaknesses where they are superior in their own ways.
[this post was last edited: 5/4/2023-22:38]
Getting all three…
Okay won’t part it out
This is why I am here to get the best advice from people like you who know all the things!!I already made the mistake of scrapping a dishwasher that I regret scrapping.
So in that case, would you let go of the non A08 set I have? It the is non lighted back, the ones in my profile picture. The dryer works, not sure about the washer as I have never used it.
Okay won’t part it out
This is why I am here to get the best advice from people like you who know all the things!!I already made the mistake of scrapping a dishwasher that I regret scrapping. So in that case, would you let go of the non A08 set I have? It the is non lighted back, the ones in my profile picture. The dryer works, not sure about the washer as I have never used it.
Cool batch of vintage appliances
The KDS 15 is a good performer it’s loud and if it’s really unused, there’s no need to do anything to it. Hook it up. Try it out install it if it works.
There is no bimetal on the detergent dispenser on the 15 so there’s nothing to worry about there I certainly would not mess with a nearly new seal on the pump Doing so it would increase the likelihood of something going wrong At this point. Some KD15 dishwashers had trouble with the hoses getting hard and brittle. You can check that just by feeling and trying to bend them. They’re easy to replace if needed.
If the choice is using these older May tags versus the harvest pair you have if you’re looking for something that actually works and you’re going to use I would stick with the newer Maytag’s .
The old DE 500 halo of heat dryer is a museum curiosity it was a poor performing dryer that never rated well and Maytag should have never made it. They finally sensibly discontinued it, it was slow. It was small capacity and the most ridiculous lint filter to clean ever. The electronic control system was not particularly reliable, especially when you add 60 years to a poorly made thing in the first place, they were also a fire hazard not something you’d ever want to leave on while you leave the house.
It all depends on what you want if you’re looking for historic restoration and willing to end up with a product that’s not nearly as good as any other dryer you ever used in your lifetime go for it it just depends on your motive and why you are doing this, good luck keep us informed
John.
The KDS 15 is a good performer it’s loud and if it’s really unused, there’s no need to do anything to it. Hook it up. Try it out install it if it works.
There is no bimetal on the detergent dispenser on the 15 so there’s nothing to worry about there I certainly would not mess with a nearly new seal on the pump Doing so it would increase the likelihood of something going wrong At this point. Some KD15 dishwashers had trouble with the hoses getting hard and brittle. You can check that just by feeling and trying to bend them. They’re easy to replace if needed.
If the choice is using these older May tags versus the harvest pair you have if you’re looking for something that actually works and you’re going to use I would stick with the newer Maytag’s .
The old DE 500 halo of heat dryer is a museum curiosity it was a poor performing dryer that never rated well and Maytag should have never made it. They finally sensibly discontinued it, it was slow. It was small capacity and the most ridiculous lint filter to clean ever. The electronic control system was not particularly reliable, especially when you add 60 years to a poorly made thing in the first place, they were also a fire hazard not something you’d ever want to leave on while you leave the house.
It all depends on what you want if you’re looking for historic restoration and willing to end up with a product that’s not nearly as good as any other dryer you ever used in your lifetime go for it it just depends on your motive and why you are doing this, good luck keep us informed
John.
Reply #7
I beg to differ, never had any issues with my Maytag DG306 in the 4 years I’ve had it other than a bad cycling thermostat back in 2020. Now the customized Maytag dryer I have put together will be a different story, definitely will be interesting to see how it’ll dry with the adjustable thermostat cranked up to 175F, probably will dry small loads in the amount of time Maytag advertised around the late 50’s.
I beg to differ, never had any issues with my Maytag DG306 in the 4 years I’ve had it other than a bad cycling thermostat back in 2020. Now the customized Maytag dryer I have put together will be a different story, definitely will be interesting to see how it’ll dry with the adjustable thermostat cranked up to 175F, probably will dry small loads in the amount of time Maytag advertised around the late 50’s.
norgeway
Well-known member
John is right
About the dryer, small, slow and if you have any mobility issues the lint filter is impossible , like all Maytag products they were built well,
About the dryer, small, slow and if you have any mobility issues the lint filter is impossible , like all Maytag products they were built well,
Reply #9
Maytag HOH dryers are known to be slow but since I put an adjustable thermostat in the customized Maytag HOH dryer I am putting together and set it to 175F, it’ll probably dry fast. Just ran it earlier with no clothes to see it would do and it gets HOT. Willing to bet it’ll dry a small load of towels in 25 to 30 minutes time.
Maytag HOH dryers are known to be slow but since I put an adjustable thermostat in the customized Maytag HOH dryer I am putting together and set it to 175F, it’ll probably dry fast. Just ran it earlier with no clothes to see it would do and it gets HOT. Willing to bet it’ll dry a small load of towels in 25 to 30 minutes time.
I don't find the electric HOH's to be slow when everything is functioning properly and the vent is clean. They dry large items light comforters faster than Whirlpool/Kenmore 29 inchers and even the SOH models. All large items go in my electronic control HOH machines for fast, dead on accurate drying.
The thing that makes the HOH dryers slow is the 150F high limit thermostat they put in after 1966, the older HOH dryers made before 1965 had a 170F high limit thermostat in them I believe. Definitely will speed up the drying time if you put in a L180-40 high limit thermostat. Also be sure the belts are properly tensioned and the thermostats are correct, the Maytag DE306 I picked up back in 2018 worked but also took awhile to dry, turns out someone put a L140-10 thermostat which always cycled the heat off below operating temperature.
Gathering of the minds..
I really appreciate ALL of the discussion and thoughts. Once I get everything I think I will figure out the dishwasher first and go from there. Thanks all for your time!
I really appreciate ALL of the discussion and thoughts. Once I get everything I think I will figure out the dishwasher first and go from there. Thanks all for your time!
thatwasherguy
Well-known member
Congrats on your find!
Those all look like wonderful machines! As for your question about getting rid of the Harvest Gold set, I would advise against it, especially if they still work. I had that same exact washer (A108) in white, and that thing lasted from 1976 until 2013 when the transmission finally went out (I still kick myself for not fixing it). We had had it since 1997, and it had been owned by at least two other people prior to that. I would bet that your gold washer would probably still work as well. I bought a 1978 A208 about two years ago, and it was still working when I got it, and I believe it to have been a high-mileage machine, given all the wear on the porcelain tub coating. All that is to say that these old machines really are as indestructible as they advertised. However, I wouldn't recommend just diving into using either washer until you inspect them. The main area to check is the damper pads. If any of them are missing, then I would strongly discourage running the machine until they are fixed, as it doesn't take long of that aluminum damper riding on the metal base for the aluminum to get totally destroyed (I was EXTREMELY lucky that this didn't happen to my machine, as one of the pads was torn away from the base). These are very simple machines to work on, so perfect for someone wanting to learn how to fix things. At the very worst, you could at least use the harvest washer for parts if it has something major wrong with it, such as a seized transmission. Many of the parts for these have recently been discontinued, so they won't be getting any easier to find, unfortunately.
Hope this helps,
Thatwasherguy.
Those all look like wonderful machines! As for your question about getting rid of the Harvest Gold set, I would advise against it, especially if they still work. I had that same exact washer (A108) in white, and that thing lasted from 1976 until 2013 when the transmission finally went out (I still kick myself for not fixing it). We had had it since 1997, and it had been owned by at least two other people prior to that. I would bet that your gold washer would probably still work as well. I bought a 1978 A208 about two years ago, and it was still working when I got it, and I believe it to have been a high-mileage machine, given all the wear on the porcelain tub coating. All that is to say that these old machines really are as indestructible as they advertised. However, I wouldn't recommend just diving into using either washer until you inspect them. The main area to check is the damper pads. If any of them are missing, then I would strongly discourage running the machine until they are fixed, as it doesn't take long of that aluminum damper riding on the metal base for the aluminum to get totally destroyed (I was EXTREMELY lucky that this didn't happen to my machine, as one of the pads was torn away from the base). These are very simple machines to work on, so perfect for someone wanting to learn how to fix things. At the very worst, you could at least use the harvest washer for parts if it has something major wrong with it, such as a seized transmission. Many of the parts for these have recently been discontinued, so they won't be getting any easier to find, unfortunately.
Hope this helps,
Thatwasherguy.
Glad you all are here!
Thatwasherguy,
Thanks for the input! I honestly am in awe of the knowledge in this group and can’t wait to start learning. If I had 1/4 of the knowledge I’ve seen in these forums I’d be happy! Was thinking of not getting the dryer but the more I read the more I don’t know what to do… anyhow, thanks for all the help and the input!
Thatwasherguy,
Thanks for the input! I honestly am in awe of the knowledge in this group and can’t wait to start learning. If I had 1/4 of the knowledge I’ve seen in these forums I’d be happy! Was thinking of not getting the dryer but the more I read the more I don’t know what to do… anyhow, thanks for all the help and the input!
8 finned agitator…
It has the 8 finned agitator… Can someone tell me which model this actually is? Is it the 806… and what year would one say this is? Anything better about this in reference to the motor? I just brought a Mallory timer to have on hand but thinking this is too old for the timer.. oh well it will be nice to have it on hand.
It has the 8 finned agitator… Can someone tell me which model this actually is? Is it the 806… and what year would one say this is? Anything better about this in reference to the motor? I just brought a Mallory timer to have on hand but thinking this is too old for the timer.. oh well it will be nice to have it on hand.
This is an early 806 model, built somewhere between Jan 1966 and Oct 1967. These early 606/806/906 models had that rare 8 finned agitator which was changed out to the common skirtless 4 fin agitator in Nov 1967 (used through mid 1989). That's a rare 806 washer!
There's a placard on the back of the cabinet that has a serial #. Take a picture of it and we can decode the month and year of this unit.
As far as the motor goes, supposedly in Feb 1968, Maytag incorporated a better high torque motor. I have an early version of this machine built in 1967 and the original motor performs EXACTLY like the rest of the motors on all of my Maytag washers through the 90's. Not sure exactly what changes were made but I can't tell a difference.
Post the timer part# and I'll verify if it's the correct one for this early machine.
[this post was last edited: 8/18/2023-13:37]
There's a placard on the back of the cabinet that has a serial #. Take a picture of it and we can decode the month and year of this unit.
As far as the motor goes, supposedly in Feb 1968, Maytag incorporated a better high torque motor. I have an early version of this machine built in 1967 and the original motor performs EXACTLY like the rest of the motors on all of my Maytag washers through the 90's. Not sure exactly what changes were made but I can't tell a difference.
Post the timer part# and I'll verify if it's the correct one for this early machine.
[this post was last edited: 8/18/2023-13:37]
Pictures
Hey Dan!
I have two pictures. One for my machine, the one we are talking about, and another for a machine I found and might grab today. Black plaque is mine, other is the one I found. Really really want a suds saver in the year I have. If one found a timer that had the added functions could one add to a machine they have?
Or would that be silly?
Hey Dan!
I have two pictures. One for my machine, the one we are talking about, and another for a machine I found and might grab today. Black plaque is mine, other is the one I found. Really really want a suds saver in the year I have. If one found a timer that had the added functions could one add to a machine they have?
Or would that be silly?
