I am restoring a Maytag A702. I was doing research on the brake and heard "indexing" referenced. What does this mean and how does it relate to the brake? Ultimately, I am trying to figure out if taking the brake apart is necessary.
What exactly does tub indexing mean?
- Thread starter oatmealman
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Indexing refers to the inner tub moving during the agitation cycle. It's caused by the internal spring inside the brake package getting weak. Up until the mid 90's, the brake package could be disassembled and all parts serviced individually. After the mid 90's the brake package was sealed and Maytag discontinued those parts towards the end of their reign in 2006. A new brake package is the only option to cure an indexing issue. Every time I rebuild a Maytag, especially the transmission, it almost always causes indexing as a strong transmission overpowers the weak spring in the brake package. Replacing the brake package became SOP soon after.
In Maytag pitman transmission equipped washers, this causes a significant reduction in roller over during the agitation cycle which has a big effect in cleaning performance. With the fast 90 degree arc orbital transmissions that replaced the pitman transmission in July 1989, the effect is greatly lessened and has a much smaller effect in roller over and cleaning performance.
Locating an internal spring has been extremely difficult the last 10-15 years. Nearly impossible to find with the very rare exception of an Ebay listing that pops up every 5 years or so. I have an NOS one but holding on to it incase I decide to have it reproduced in the future. These washers are kind of gaining popularity as new top loaders are horribly constructed and are very limited in options and flexibility. I wouldn't purchase any top loader today, including Speed Queen.
In Maytag pitman transmission equipped washers, this causes a significant reduction in roller over during the agitation cycle which has a big effect in cleaning performance. With the fast 90 degree arc orbital transmissions that replaced the pitman transmission in July 1989, the effect is greatly lessened and has a much smaller effect in roller over and cleaning performance.
Locating an internal spring has been extremely difficult the last 10-15 years. Nearly impossible to find with the very rare exception of an Ebay listing that pops up every 5 years or so. I have an NOS one but holding on to it incase I decide to have it reproduced in the future. These washers are kind of gaining popularity as new top loaders are horribly constructed and are very limited in options and flexibility. I wouldn't purchase any top loader today, including Speed Queen.
Thanks for the explanation.
It looks like that one piece brake package WP6-2011900 is going to be difficult to find.
On another note has anyone had luck with any of the various aftermarket stem / boot kits?
It looks like that one piece brake package WP6-2011900 is going to be difficult to find.
On another note has anyone had luck with any of the various aftermarket stem / boot kits?
Wash tub indexing on a dependable care of Maytag
Hi Clayton, this is the absolute last thing you're gonna have to worry about when restoring this machine.
This is really a non-existent problem on Maytag washers in 50 years of repairing them. I've never had a problem with one indexing so as to cause any problem in performance of the machine. It was not something that was ever mentioned even when I was an official factory Maytag tech back in the 70s. It's not in any of the Maytag service manuals, etc..
The older brake packages had a weaker spring in them. They do not get weak with time, they merely designed the brake package to stop the tub in a reasonable amount of time, as the capacity increased with the big load models in 1966 and then UL required them in the 80s to stop within 10 seconds when you open the lid, they put a stronger spring in The brake package.
Good used brake assemblies are a dime a dozen. We still throw these machines away every month and I don't even bother to save the brake packages if you ever need one get in touch with me., But it's probably the last thing you're gonna have to worry about when restoring and using this neat washer.
Hi Clayton, this is the absolute last thing you're gonna have to worry about when restoring this machine.
This is really a non-existent problem on Maytag washers in 50 years of repairing them. I've never had a problem with one indexing so as to cause any problem in performance of the machine. It was not something that was ever mentioned even when I was an official factory Maytag tech back in the 70s. It's not in any of the Maytag service manuals, etc..
The older brake packages had a weaker spring in them. They do not get weak with time, they merely designed the brake package to stop the tub in a reasonable amount of time, as the capacity increased with the big load models in 1966 and then UL required them in the 80s to stop within 10 seconds when you open the lid, they put a stronger spring in The brake package.
Good used brake assemblies are a dime a dozen. We still throw these machines away every month and I don't even bother to save the brake packages if you ever need one get in touch with me., But it's probably the last thing you're gonna have to worry about when restoring and using this neat washer.
Indexing Maytag dependable care washers
I have never had a customer complaint of this problem. I have seen this happen to a minor degree. It doesn't hurt a thing. It actually is protecting your clothing from the harsh agitation of an older Maytag by allowing the tub to give a little bit and not beat up your clothing so much.
I would like someone to show me where this is considered a problem, I have also seen whirlpool belt drive machines index a little bit when heavily loaded , whirlpools before 1971 did not have the fast brake system in the tubs would actually index a little bit. It Never hurt a thing again. Never had a complaint from any customer about this condition. One would be hard-pressed to prove that it caused any type of loss of performance in either brand machine.
John
I have never had a customer complaint of this problem. I have seen this happen to a minor degree. It doesn't hurt a thing. It actually is protecting your clothing from the harsh agitation of an older Maytag by allowing the tub to give a little bit and not beat up your clothing so much.
I would like someone to show me where this is considered a problem, I have also seen whirlpool belt drive machines index a little bit when heavily loaded , whirlpools before 1971 did not have the fast brake system in the tubs would actually index a little bit. It Never hurt a thing again. Never had a complaint from any customer about this condition. One would be hard-pressed to prove that it caused any type of loss of performance in either brand machine.
John
I guess that tub indexing in a model N2L would be a problem./s
"I have never had a customer complaint of this problem."
How many customers are bypassing the lid switch and watching the cycles? I guarantee you it's a damn small percentage. They probably wouldn't even know an indexing tub is an issue unless pointed out to them. You're dealing with people that are completely ignorant to the workings of a washer.
Lets be realistic. The only thing a owner *may* notice is items not getting clean like they used to.
"I guess that tub indexing in a model N2L would be a problem./s"
What kind of idiotic response is this?
How many customers are bypassing the lid switch and watching the cycles? I guarantee you it's a damn small percentage. They probably wouldn't even know an indexing tub is an issue unless pointed out to them. You're dealing with people that are completely ignorant to the workings of a washer.
Lets be realistic. The only thing a owner *may* notice is items not getting clean like they used to.
"I guess that tub indexing in a model N2L would be a problem./s"
What kind of idiotic response is this?
Didn’t know Maytag N2L wringer washers had a inner tub in them..
“You’re dealing with people that are completely ignorant to the workings of a washer”
It’s to be expected when you have a mainstream education system that doesn’t educate people on how to take care of or maintain things, make people smart enough to run the machines but dumb enough to think for themselves..
“You’re dealing with people that are completely ignorant to the workings of a washer”
It’s to be expected when you have a mainstream education system that doesn’t educate people on how to take care of or maintain things, make people smart enough to run the machines but dumb enough to think for themselves..
<blockquote>They probably wouldn't even know an indexing tub is an issue unless pointed out to them. You're dealing with people that are completely ignorant to the workings of a washer.
Lets be realistic. The only thing a owner *may* notice is items not getting clean like they used to.</blockquote> Then presumably they're not noticing any cleaning impairment to an extent of it being a problem?
'Then presumably they're not noticing any cleaning impairment to an extent of it being a problem?"
It's dependent on many factors. Tub indexing is subtle in the beginning and gets worse overtime. Initially, it will probably go unnoticed. As it gets worse, it may become noticeable depending on how soiled the fabrics are. Less soiled clothes will probably continue to go unnoticed. The clothes from a blue collar worker that gets dirty will be noticeable.
It's dependent on many factors. Tub indexing is subtle in the beginning and gets worse overtime. Initially, it will probably go unnoticed. As it gets worse, it may become noticeable depending on how soiled the fabrics are. Less soiled clothes will probably continue to go unnoticed. The clothes from a blue collar worker that gets dirty will be noticeable.
the brake package is officially discontinued
Yikes, although not surprised. I'll be shocked if the bearing kit makes it through 2025.
Yikes, although not surprised. I'll be shocked if the bearing kit makes it through 2025.
the brake package is officially discontinued
It seems from that about everything I need was available OEM about 5 years ago. I'm a little to late to the game it seems..
I think I will leave the brake as is. Finish the washer then see how it performs and go from there. Regardless I am going to look for a brake to keep as a spare.
Besides finding a OEM stem kit, I think the only bottleneck is the timer? Is there a way to test it while the machine is apart? What are the prospects of finding a replacement?
It seems from that about everything I need was available OEM about 5 years ago. I'm a little to late to the game it seems..
I think I will leave the brake as is. Finish the washer then see how it performs and go from there. Regardless I am going to look for a brake to keep as a spare.
Besides finding a OEM stem kit, I think the only bottleneck is the timer? Is there a way to test it while the machine is apart? What are the prospects of finding a replacement?
I think the only bottleneck is the timer?
Here's an NOS one for $36. Grab it!!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2045427549...GVAiUoMxU6bOqCZTiUGZyYBQ==|tkp:Bk9SR7Sp1dn1ZA
Here's the electronic control unit for the DE750 dryer for $30. Grab that too!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2047491453...1E9wyPFbeobrg8ocRBJfPhqX0=|tkp:Bk9SR-qZ49n1ZA
The next hardest part to find for the dryer will be a 302271 pushbutton switch.
May want to grab a pressure switch for the washer if you have spare cash to burn.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2562038263...2ke5yibrRIxgULWDqWJsFlCng=|tkp:Bk9SR6yJhtr1ZA
Here's an NOS one for $36. Grab it!!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2045427549...GVAiUoMxU6bOqCZTiUGZyYBQ==|tkp:Bk9SR7Sp1dn1ZA
Here's the electronic control unit for the DE750 dryer for $30. Grab that too!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2047491453...1E9wyPFbeobrg8ocRBJfPhqX0=|tkp:Bk9SR-qZ49n1ZA
The next hardest part to find for the dryer will be a 302271 pushbutton switch.
May want to grab a pressure switch for the washer if you have spare cash to burn.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2562038263...2ke5yibrRIxgULWDqWJsFlCng=|tkp:Bk9SR6yJhtr1ZA
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Grab it!!
A million thanks!
A million thanks!
Definitely smart to have replacement electrical parts
That's the first thing I tell people who are restoring a vintage washer, dryer, dishwasher, etc. is to have a spare timer controls for it etc..
We have so many transmission, parts, tub bearings, mounting, stem and seal kits, etc., etc. that I will never need those nor will any of my friends.
But you definitely wanna have things like a timer for a washer or dryer and other parts that were really only used on one model.
The brake assembly was used all the way through 2006 they never fail and as I mentioned earlier, we still throw them away I don't even bother saving them It's the one part that almost never fails.
John
That's the first thing I tell people who are restoring a vintage washer, dryer, dishwasher, etc. is to have a spare timer controls for it etc..
We have so many transmission, parts, tub bearings, mounting, stem and seal kits, etc., etc. that I will never need those nor will any of my friends.
But you definitely wanna have things like a timer for a washer or dryer and other parts that were really only used on one model.
The brake assembly was used all the way through 2006 they never fail and as I mentioned earlier, we still throw them away I don't even bother saving them It's the one part that almost never fails.
John
Parts Catalogue
Can anyone point me towards a parts catalogue?
I found one here that's for the early Helical machines up to 1961.
Also, if there is some form of cross reference sheet for Maytag to Whirlpool, that would be neat.
Can anyone point me towards a parts catalogue?
I found one here that's for the early Helical machines up to 1961.
Also, if there is some form of cross reference sheet for Maytag to Whirlpool, that would be neat.
