Well I brought home a new toy... I think I might have a wringer washer "problem"

[homesteadgal]

So after figuring out that the issue with my MT E2L isn't the motor (at least I have an extra motor now I guess) I popped out to do some thrift shopping to cheer myself up and boy did I ever! I found a new machine that I couldn't resist bringing home. I think it's a model 30 but I'm unsure of the exact year it was made. I'll post a picture of the serial number this evening and hopefully someone can date it for me. I have to say I've only messed with this washer for about 3 hours so far but I really, really like it! The only real issues I found with it are cosmetic. The tub had a bit of hard water deposits but I was able to buff most of it away with sandpaper. There is a bit of slight pitting left behind but it's not too deep and since she holds water just fine I'm not too concerned with it. Other than that the machine was just really dirty and needs a nice new paint job (which I plan to do once we finish the E2L). Other than that the only thing I noticed is a very slight chirp when the agitator is engaged. I'm thinking the gear box just needs a bit of oil so I'm planning to add some this evening, let her run for a few and then allow things to sit overnight before doing my first load of laundry with it tomorrow. Any info anybody has on this washer would be awesome!

 

[homesteadgal]

Wringer

And yes it does have the wringer (you can kinda see part of it in the background of one of the photos) I had just removed it for transport and I forgot to take more pictures after I put it back on but before I cleaned it up.

 

[hippiedoll]

very cool.....

homesteadgal!!! nice save there!!

i can't wait to read your progress report when you use this new "toy" with some dirty laundry!!!

keeping my fingers crossed for you......

;o)

 

[goatfarmer]

Grey Ghost? My mom had one for rugs, drapes, etc.

 

[bradross]

Verification of model / year ...

Hi Kim,

What you have is a Model 32 - readily identifiable by the round wringer gearbox. I have attached a pic showing the subtle difference between the two models. The link to the Maytag Collector's Club shows the range of years for each model, but unfortunately, I don't have the manual that identifies the exact month to correspond with a particular serial number. However, there are some members that do have access to that info - Geoff Delp particularly.

Regarding the "clunk" when engaging the agitator, that sounds normal to me. Mine does the same.

What's the condition of the rubber rolls? Good, I hope. So often with these old machines, the wringer has been left clamped, which results in a flat spot on the top (black) flexible roll. As with the E2/J2/N2, the rolls should be released and propped apart when not in use. Mine had been left in the sun, so not only was there a flat spot, it had actually melted a bit. I was able to repair it with silicone "gasket maker".

These were fantastic machines, built to last "forever", if taken care of. If you haven't already seen, there are several threads documenting the restoration of my 1935 Model 30. Here's one of the links...
http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?43434

Have fun with the restoration!

http://www.maytagclub.com/page-10.htm

 

[bradross]

Photo for last reply - unable to upload

Hello again Kim ... there appears to be trouble with the new photo uploading feature, so I'm unable to share that pic showing the comparison between the Model 30 and 32. When I'm able to do so, I'll post it for you. Hopefully, Robert (the webmaster) will resolve the issue soon.

 

[homesteadgal]

Roller condition, etc.

The rollers are in pretty good shape. I'll try to attach a picture of them. There is one very very slight flat spot as well as a couple of places where you can tell the rollers got stuck together at one time but overall they seem like they should be perfectly useable. I guess I'll find out for sure today when I do a couple loads of wash.

As for the squeak I added a link to a youtube video of it so you could actually hear it and tell me what you think. I did spray a bit of wd40 on the the part of the wringer post that moves but it didn't seem to help. The squeak doesn't really bother me I just want to make sure that there's nothing wrong somewhere that could damage the washer.

I did see your restoration thread when I did a search for grey ghosts before I bought this washer as I had seen it in the store previously but they wanted way too much for it so I figured I'd do some research and see if the price went down. Seeing your before and after was actually what pushed me to buy this washer. I was nervous to get it since it's so rough cosmetically but yours came out amazing!

I'll try to post a picture of the serial number as well as a close up of the rollers. Thanks for all the info so far. I'll for sure do an update and post action pictures when I do my first load of wash today.

 

[bradross]

"Chirping" when agitator is engaged...

Hello again, Kim,

I watched the video and commented - no, that squeaking is not normal.
I would suggest putting some regular oil/lubricant, such as "3-in-1", between the drive block (the square part on top) and the post. There is a gap and the oil will run down between the outer post and the inner drive rod.

Try that and keep us posted!

BTW, I still can't upload pics --- I wonder what's the matter?

 

[christfr]

yea brad did an awesome job on his I just love that color. its worth the time and effort to work on youll love it when its done

 

[e2l-arry]

I can't upload

Pictures either Brad.

 

[homesteadgal]

Update

So I put some 3 in one at the square part of the wringer post and let it soak in for a while. It didn't seem to help and I noticed there was a small screw of the side of the wringer post so we tried to remove it thinking it might allow some part of the wringer post to come apart. Unfortunately we couldn't get it unscrewed even after putting wd40 on it and letting it soak. We did notice something odd though. Every time we touched the screwdriver to the wringer post the squeaking stopped. So as an experiment I taped 3 dimes to the post and put the agitator back on and would you believe the squeaking stopped? This seems quite odd to me but it seemed to work. My husband thinks there is some sort of vibration that he calls "harmonics" not sure what that would be but the squeak is gone and everything seems to run fine so I guess I should call it a win?

In other news, my washing is officially delayed until tomorrow. I was soaking the tube with some warm water and soap to clean it really well of any residual hard water deposits before I put clothes in it and as I went to put the hose in the floor drain it split wide open right at the top. Needless to say that was a fun little predicament. We were able to aim the leak at the floor drain and catch the rest with a bucket. Thank god for washers on wheels and floor drains! I did put a new hose on the washer (glad I bought 10 feet of hose for the E2L just in case) so I could finish rinsing the tub but I didn't want to risk plugging the motor in until tomorrow just in case a small amount of water got in it. All in all I guess given the state of my other wringer washer I should be thankful it was just the hose that broke.

Hopefully I really will be able to post some action shots tomorrow! *fingers crossed*

 

[tolivac]

Can flat spotted rollers in washer wringers be "fixed" by running them for awhile like what I had to do with turntables that were left "in gear" by DJ's.Just running the TT's at 78 for several minutes cures the flat spots-just wondering if this would work with washer wringers-figure it would be worth a try.Since washers don't have 78 speed-you would just run it with the rollers engaged.

 

[geoffdelp]

Not sure of date ...

... but I think it is between 1938 - 1940; I know that's a big difference I don't have the dates for the "Z", however. Looks like Maytag was using the same serial numbers for each series of letters so it's a little different with each one. Wished that I could pinpoint it further for you!!

That appears to be the Maytag Model 32; also known as the "Champion". These were in production from February 1937 to March 1941. Maytag started to make their "Modern" wringers in 1939 and note the round wringer post for the round wringer case; that was unique to the Models 32 and 33. It is also the same shape as Model E, J, N.

These were also manufactured using the low post agitator; like in the Model E, J, N and were only made of cast aluminum. If you had one of those it would be called a Model 32-L for "low post".

Does the wringer have a "Press to Release" red bar on top? Can't tell by these pictures.

Most definitely worth restoring; they will run and run and run. Oil everything, if you can!! Mine is like Brad's; a Model A from 1929/1930 and still runs with the original equipment (even the original grease/oil).

 

[homesteadgal]

Yes it has the red push to release bar. I'll try to attach a couple of pictures.

 

[bradross]

Comparison of Models 30 and 32 ...

Here, I'll try that pic again, using the old uploaded that Robert has been kind enough to reinstall...

As you can see, the main difference is in the wringer post/gear box and wringer assembly.

 

[homesteadgal]

Thanks for the pics

Once the two are side by side it's much easier to see the difference. I did have another question for you. I did some wash day before yesterday and everything went well. The only thing I noticed is that to reposition the wringer it seemed like I had to lift it up to unlock it and then wiggle it back down again. I noticed there seems to be a little pin for lack of a better description that locked into one of the several holes around where the wringer shaft that you oil goes into the post. Is this correct or should the wringer spin freely to reposition after unlocking like the E2L does? I just want to make sure I'm positioning the wringer head correctly as it seemed a bit more difficult to reposition than my E2L. Hopefully my description makes sense as I'm not 100% on all of the proper terms for things.

 

[bradross]

Swivel of the wringer assembly ...

Hello Kim:

I'm actually not familiar with the revised wringer lever for the Model 32. With the Model 30, you push down on the lever, which disengages the locking pin and allows the wringer to swivel. Releasing the lever allows the locking pin to drop down into place. Have you tried to push gently down on the lever? Or perhaps it operates as does the E2, where you turn the lever 180 degrees to disengage the locking pin.

Keep us posted. I wish I had a manual for the old 30 or 32 models. Perhaps another member in the group does, and can shed some light on this.

 

[geoffdelp]

No ... you're right Brad ... you press down on the lever and keep pressing down on it while you swing the wringer into the position you wish.

It's unlike the E, J, N because there are no notched indexes on the post; there are just holes available. The notched indexes gave you about 81 different positions (according to Maytag). I believe there are only 8 (?) or so available on this model.

 

[homesteadgal]

Wringer swivel

Hmm I felt like it should swing freely when I push down on the handle. Maybe it just needs a bit of wd40 around the pin as nothing happens when I push down on the lever. I'll give it a quick spray and let it soak overnight. Hopefully that should free up the pin. I just wanted to make sure it was supposed to move up and down before I pushed on the handle too much. Don't wanna break anything I can't replace