Update: Well got my wringer washer up and running but there's a problem...

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homesteadgal

homesteadgal

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Apr 27, 2014
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Well actually there's several problems but only one that I'm immediately concerned with.
So we finished assembling the old girl last night and just when I think we're good to go we fired her up and the agitator doesn't have any "power" to speak of. Everything is properly assembled, the motor runs and the agitator turns and appears to have full range of motion but it seems to move much slower that it should and when I filled her up to do a leak test (which she passed- no leaks!) the agitator hardly moved the water. The amount of movement there is was barely enough to see the agitator moving under the water and there was no movement on the water surface. Is it possible that the motor is on it's last legs and doesn't have enough torque to move the agitator with much force? I really, really wanna get this machine going but it just seems to be one thing after another so I'm hesitant to buy a new motor without a second opinion. I can try and post a video of the agitator in action this evening if that would help.

In other news the wringer only works in one direction and the agitator knob doesn't work (the agitator stays on all the time whether the knob is pushed in or pulled out). Sounds like I've got my work cut out for me huh? Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
 
To answer other possible questions:

I know it's not an issue with the plastic agitator as I have a couple extra I picked up at a thrift store and both did the same thing. They both have good teeth inside the agitator shaft and both fit tightly on the metal agitator post which also has good "teeth" the agitator stop ring is intact and neither agitator tried to float off of the post when filled with water.

Also prior to the reassemble we did take apart and re-lubricate all of the moving parts with the proper grease or oil. The only thing we did not fully disassemble was the power unit and the wringer head. We did detach the power unit from the transmission and clean it out followed by adding new seals and oil we just didn't remove the last two gulmite bolts to expose the gears.
 
I'm confused . . .

On these washers the Power Unit IS the transmission. If the agitator isn't connecting, the clutch in the power unit isn't actuating. And you say that the agitator runs constantly but doesn't move or agitate. It sounds like your agitator if stuck in the off position. They'll sometimes have the slightest movement with an empty tub when off but usually won't move water at all. Have you checked your agitator handle connection? It moves a little lever on the side of the power unit.I forget which direction is which but that little lever is what pushes the clutch to engage and disengage, making the agitator move or stop. Pop your head under there, move the pull the agitator handle in and out and see just what's going on down there. If all systems are go, you'll need to remove and open up the Power Unit. My guess is your lever isn't connected properly.

The wringer going in only one direction is a problem in the wringer head. I've never delved into one. With a Service Manual you can give it a try. There are a couple of Maytag wringer head assemblies on eBay. If it were me, I think I'd opt to replace it. They just slide off and on and they're all interchangeable. There's one that looks good for $50.00

I doubt there's any thing wrong with your motor.

Good Luck!
 
I agree

with Larry about the agitator. I think the lever is attached wrong and won't allow it to engage. The little lever the rod attaches to has to be in the right position prior to attaching and I can't remember if it is on or off. The wringer housing can be a bit complicated to take apart and put back together because of all of the many parts in it. They say the wringer on a Maytag Wringer Washer is the most difficult to work with. I also think a new unit from ebay may be the answer. I agree also that if it only runs one way that there is something wrong inside the gear box. Just my 2 cents worth.

Jim
 
Question: Before you dig into anything too deeply, does yours have the optional timer? My E2L did something similar and it was the timer being cranky.
 
Well I double checked the lever and it is attached properly. I had emailed Phil about trying out a new motor and he was nice enough to send me a picture of the lever so that I could confirm that it's properly attached. His theory is that there's a problem in the power unit. The more I think about it I'm thinking where the lever meets the gear inside the power unit is somehow messed up. I'm thinking perhaps the lever is detached from the gear and that the gear is only partially engaged creating the weakened movement. As far as my mentioning the transmission, I was thinking that the transmission was the horizontal part that connects the power unit and the wringer post. Is there a name for that piece?

Either way we definitely plan to get this thing going properly. It just might take a bit longer than I had originally hoped. Looks like I might have to get that gulmite wrench after all as we aren't able to use the bolt extractor on the last two bollts that hold the power unit shut because of their proximity to the agitator post. It'll be either that or drilling them out.
 
Nope no timer. I was hoping it would be something simple like that or even that I had attached the lever wrong but no such luck.
 
That horizontal part is called . .

The Horizontal drive. How's that for a clever name? I'm attaching 3 pictures from my refurbishing project. In the power unit you'll see a circular gear that is moved by that straight bar with teeth on it. That moves the circular gear back and forth and that's what drives the agitator. The 3rd picture is the up/down gear itself. When the washer is plugged in, that is moving. When the agitator knob is pulled it raises up that round gear and it makes contact with it's mate on the center plate. You'll see in the other picture where that gear would engage. Your problem is somehow related to that but you won't be able to tell until you get in there. It's a basic design. Not too complicated.

Don't get discouraged. I think I had to remove my tub and power unit 3 times before I got everything squared away. But once you get it, you'll be set for a long LONG time!
 
larry, did you wait for the pictures to appear in the box..then do a preview to make sure they appear - it could be the size. Sometimes this happened to me - and I just had to resize smaller. Or, just try again...but drag and drop the pictures on the box , do a preview and make sure they're still there and send. Also, if they're not the right file extension(likely not a problem), that could be a problem.

Phil
 
The horizontal drive? That is quite inventive

Larry, thanks for the pictures.

I'm not quite sure what to expect when we open it up, I'm hoping maybe there's just a metal shaving jamming something or really anything that we have the ability to fix without buying a new (old) power unit.

As far as the wringer, the current plan is to get the agitator figured out and then we figure we might as well attempt to take apart the wringer assembly and see if maybe something is just gummed up or jammed. I figure worst case scenario we spend a bit of time taking it apart and it can't be fixed so we'll just get a new one. Best case I figure we'll save the 50 or so bucks.

I should preface this next news by saying that I wouldn't normally be so patient when it comes to fixing the E2L but I may have brought home another toy... I just couldn't resist. The machine works perfectly and everything on it is original as far as I can tell. Definitely needs a paint job eventually though. I'll post a new thread with photos and details of my new acquisition.
 
Thanks Ovrphil

But I tried and no pictures. I see them in the box but when I do the preview, they're not there. This is the first time I've had this problem. And I can't drag and drop. As soon as I preview whatever pictures are in the Add Photo's Here box disappear also?? It uploads but then they're gone? Something has changed.
 
That's odd

I wonder if you have something Robert should know about - o/s and internet browser? Or if someone else has the exact o/s and the same browser, they should be able to duplicate that problem.

I'm sorry I can't help further...lost on ideas from here.
 

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