When did Maytag start to go bad?

[DADoES]

At one point, the administration changed my roster to put me in "typing class".
I bitched and groaned about that, told my mom, and managed to get out of it.
I had no interest of being some kind of "secretary" in the future.
I wanted to use my hands, my brain, to follow my passions.

I had two years of typing (helpful for computer usage), placed 1st at district UIL competition, 4th at regional so didn't go to state. I did go to state in science, tied for 4th or 5th IIRC. Also placed at district in journalism headline writing (which I thought was kinda off-the-wall ... the class was small so everyone who didn't outright refuse was tapped for competition in something).

 

[pstehle]

I would say the year was 1997 with the introduction of the Neptune washer. Then things really got bad after Whirlpool gained for control of them in 2006. Once the Whirlpool architecture was fully integrated that was the end of Maytag reliability.

 

[pstehle]

I would say the year was 1997 with the introduction of the Neptune washer. Then things really got bad after Whirlpool gained for control of them in 2006. Once the Whirlpool architecture was fully integrated that was the end of Maytag reliability.

Whirlpool, once a peer of Maytag and building nearly as good equipment, has systematically destroyed most of the brands we knew. They own nearly all the remaining US brands apart from Speed Queen and Frigidaire, you get more or less the same guts no matter what the sticker on top says. Part of the sacrifice in quality and reliability is due to chasing profits, you can't run any business losing money. The 2nd ingredient is interference by the EPA. Can't use any water, can't use any power, gotta make a profit, so we have plastic transmission gears in a tin housing, with a clock motor to shift into spin, all hanging from a few strands of "baling wire" from a tin housing. As long as they last through the warranty, job done. The Neptune washer and it's "drum splitter" cohort dryer probably was the coffin nail that enabled Whirlpool's purchase of Maytag. Then we got "Maytag" fridges built on a Magic Chef line, about as well made as a 1980's Norge washer.

I just picked up a Speed Queen TR3, built about as well as a Maytag from the 1970's. They have their shortcomings, but I can still have a decent fill, and it's as heavy as a Sherman tank. If I could find a belt-drive Whirlpool that isn't rusting out, that would be a good second choice, but just about all have been sent to China on scrap metal ships.

 

[vacerator]

Was the Neptune released to compete with the first Whirlpool Duet? Whirlpool sourced it from Bauknecht in Germany. Was it a market test before investing in a domestic design? Was Maytag trying to swim rather than sink amongst it's competitor?

 

[DADoES]

Was the Neptune released to compete with the first Whirlpool Duet? Whirlpool sourced it from Bauknecht in Germany. Was it a market test before investing in a domestic design? Was Maytag trying to swim rather than sink amongst it's competitor?

Neptune was in 1997. The WP Duet was in 2001 (and KM HE3).

 

[Chetlaham]

To answer the question in this thread: around 1995 when they released the performas. That was officially the beginning of the end. Performa, Norge, and Amana designs should never have been produced by Maytag.

 

[combo52]

Maytag load sensor agitator with orbital transmission is a superior washing action to the old power fin agitator with the Pittman transmission.

Now, if they had just improved the suspension and added three more springs, gotten rid of the off-balance switch, put larger holes in the wash basket and gone to a neutral drain And self leveling rear feet. They actually would’ve had a washing machine worth owning.

Because I’m a technician I’m not worried about ultimate reliability. I always value performance above ultimate reliability and because I’m a technician I am not gonna put up with inferior performing products.

John L

 

[maytag85]

Some people can hem and haw all they want about better performing machines, time usually filters out certain designs which have not stood the test of time.

As someone who’s had experience with both the PowerFin and Load Sensor, the PowerFin by far has more aggressive washing action compared to the Load Sensor.

As long as you don’t jam the machine full, won’t have a problem with anything getting damaged. Always utilize the gentle wash with fast spin to make things last an eternity.

 

[kenwashesmonday]

A Maytag with a pitman transmission and a PowerFin agitator washes well, rinses well, and extracts well. At the same time, it's the most durable washing automatic washing machine ever made.

What's not to like?

 

[Chetlaham]

A Maytag with a pitman transmission and a PowerFin agitator washes well, rinses well, and extracts well. At the same time, it's the most durable washing automatic washing machine ever made.

What's not to like?

If everyone were like me, the Maytag Dependable Care would be in 90% of all Laundry rooms, OPLs and commercial top applications. There would be agitator variants like the Power Fin, load sensor, ramp and other design variants. Possibly both Pitman and Orbital transmissions based on the model. But the rest like the two transmission options, suspension, seals, cabinet, pump ect would remain unchanged. The motor would be beefed up to around 1 HP high locked torque with a 1.15 service factor and there is physical room in the cabinet to do that. Metal timer, heavy duty 7.5/15 amp inductive make/break switches. Eaton style water valves.

No shorting lid switch, though there might be two lid switches for safety. Control panel design updates of course.

 

[vacerator]

Maytag Neptune debuted in 1997. First Whirlpool (Bauknecht) acquired and sourced Energy star front load washer was 1998. Duet 2001.

 

[Chetlaham]

I'll say this since it is the forum to say it. One thing I often dream about and persistently fantasize about is walking into a 2025 appliance store with 90% of the top load washers being Dependable Cares with various agitators and control panel designs under various names like Kenmore, Maytag Atlantis, Maytag Performa, Maytag Dependable Care, Magic Chef, Amana, Jenn-Air, Modern-Maid, Caloric, Norge, Sun-Beam, Admiral, Dixie-Narco, Inglis, SunRay ect.

Also Maytag Neptune front loads with EM timer, 2/16 PSC motors, heaters and stainless steel outer tubs.

With few wanting anything else in that vision.

One can dream, but reality sure does hurt. Whirlpool could easily mass produce the Dependable Cares in a state of the art factory, but sadly no one is demanding it in large enough numbers to make that a reality. If people only knew, if people only had self preservation.