Vintage Maytag Dryer

[calebstevens]

My wife and I love the vintage appliances. We have the 60's Frigidaire oven, the 60's GE Refrigerator, the 80's Kitchenaid dishwasher, the 70's Hoover vacuum, and are now in search of those sleek and sturdy 70's Maytag washer and dryers. I have come across a dryer very similar to the photo below (the one of interest looks a little more off-white)

They claim it works but has been sitting a while after being replaced by a new set. I'd really love to find a matching set, but I think I should grab this one even if it will be a lonely stand-alone dryer.

Realistically, what are the odds I find a matching Maytag washer of the same era, AND in the same color? I'm in Oregon and have only recently been keeping my eye out for these, but I have a feeling they don't pop up often.

Thanks everyone!

 

[maytag85]

If the Maytag dryer is just like the one in the photo, it’s a Maytag DE306 Halo Of Heat dryer. Single temperature, timed drying only. Though, I’d replace the thermostats (cycling thermostat, high limit thermostat) and for sure would out a new felt seal on to prevent items from falling onto the heating and shorting it out. Only other things it will need I can think of is a thorough clean out and lubricantion.

 

[calebstevens]

I was sent a photo of the actual dryer. It is similar to the one I originally posted but not identical.
I assumed all of these style Maytags had the florescent lighting, but this one looks like its textured metal/aluminum where I've seen backlit glass on others.

I am trying to make it over today to look at it. I'd be a little disappointed if it wasn't one of the light-up models.

 

[drummerboy928]

That dryer is not going to have a fluorescent console. Only the top of the line A806 and A906 had the lit up console in those years. All of the other models had a metal insert that was painted white.

~Henry

 

[combo52]

Pre-1976 Maytag halo of heat dryer

It’s relatively easy to find a Maytag washer that matches a dryer like this hard to find top-of-the-line in either 90% of Maytag sales did not have fluorescent lights in this time.

If you’re looking for style and lights, you’d be better looking for a Kenmore or even a whirlpool dryer From the 70s, it might be a little easier to fix a Maytag washer from this. If you find a very low mileage form, but either a whirlpool built washer, or the Maytag may need very heavy duty repairs at this age, even if it works for a while, be prepared to do some serious work on it.

Any dryer from this time. Should have a going over there much easier to fix. Parts are much more available for whirlpool products especially the dryers.

General Electric might be another good washer and dryer to find if you need a matched pair from the 70s but again they’re hard to find with the fluorescent light very few were made.

 

[qsd-dan]

The pictures you posted are 2 different designs. First picture is a Halo of Heat design. The second (and actual picture of the machine) is a Stream of Heat design. Both are near or at BOL so no lights and other features. The SOH is newer, has a bigger drum, is overall easier to work on, and has a much bigger parts support now that HOH parts have been NLA for 13-ish years and started drying up from about that time. The SOH is what you would want for a daily driver and the HOH for fun. Each have their own unique strengths and weaknesses.

 

[calebstevens]

Thank you all for the helpful information. I will be going to take a look at it and will likely snag it. Now that I know the light feature was a higher end option and rarer, I can live without it! I just love the look of these older machines. And I'll keep my eye open for a matching washer.

I'm no stranger to working on old appliances, so that part doesn't scare me at all.

 

[qsd-dan]

Keep an eye out for a TOL machine, they have some really nice features. You can always sell this dryer later down the road. Oregon has a lot of old appliances still in operation there so something is bound to pop up eventually.

 

[maytag85]

The HOH and SOH both have their advantages and disadvantages, but I will note through, the HOH does a much better job at drying large blankets since they are always in the air stream. The SOH has a tendency to ball things up which may require more drying time.

The downside about the HOH is the high limit thermostat is quite sensitive since the later models I believe are rated for 155F to 160F which can cause them to be a little persnickety on the electric models.

 

[goatfarmer]

I have a matching washer. Indiana

 

[combo52]

Older 70s clothes dryers

The the older HOH dryer is much slower due to the smaller fan, smaller heating element and smaller drum the newer post 76 Maytag worked a little better because of the bigger heater, faster, fan and larger drum however, any dryers before 1984 should not be left operating on a tended like when you leave the home also make sure you install them with metal ductwork and don’t have flammable stuff around them.

If you want, you can add thermal safety fuses to older dryers if you tend to run away and leave your dryers run to reduce the fire risk.

A high limit thermostat in both halo of heat gas and electric dryers were both problematic because of the dangerous design of having the heat right in front of it dry clothes, load they had to go with pretty sensitive ones to keep them from catching fire and they still had quite a few fires anyway.

The latest stream of heat Maytag dryers had a lot more plastic in the plastic blower housing at plastic door and lid filter housing so that added a hazard they also had a tendency for the fan to strip loose from the motor shaft, which left the heating element just cycling on the safety thermostat right under a load of clothing that might be dry by that time.

John

 

[good-shepherd]

what are the odds I find a matching Maytag

These days it could take a while to find 70's Maytag washer or pair in decent condition without traveling.

Much better chance of finding 1980's series "12" machines while waiting for a 70's MT to come along.

Parts are interchangeable between the two series.

 

[calebstevens]

Dryer Acquired

First of all, thank you all for your time and information. @goatfarmer, I'd love to take a trip to Indiana, but realistically probably won't happen any time soon.

I did finally pick up the dryer. It is a LDE308 and for as nice as it looks on the outside, the innards are absolutely disgusting. Caked with grime and dust. It has a broken belt that I will be ordering and replacing (and hopefully any other parts I can come across).

I vacuumed up gobs of tiny metal shavings inside which leads me to believe there was some metal rubbing. Would this indicate worn out drum felts, or something else? The motor seems to spin freely, but before I reassemble, I want to scour and replace anything I can still get my hands on.

Sorry I didn't take more pictures of the inside.... my hands were too dirty to even pick up my phone. Thanks to those of you still reading about my mental issues.

 

[qsd-dan]

Recommend a new belt, drum rollers, glides, and idler wheel. At minimum, turbine oil the shafts of the drum rollers and idler wheel if they're in good condition.

Check the all of the seals (front drum, rear drum, blower).

Grab the blower with your fingers and aggressively rock it back and forth. If there's play, you'll need a new one.

Grease the block.

You may have to rotate the drum 180 if the lip got chewed up too much from worn/missing glides or it'll eat through your new set of glides.

I always drill through the motor end caps and soak the wicking's with turbine oil. Heat from the dryer makes the parch after a few decades. Blow the motor out with compressed air, it's probably clogged with lint.

Should be good to go after that.