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Thread Number: 10710
Maytag 606 and 206, any info? |
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| Post# 195191 , Reply# 1 3/6/2007 at 06:53 (6,254 days old) by mayken4now (Panama City, Florida) | ||
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| Post# 195244 , Reply# 3 3/6/2007 at 12:57 (6,254 days old) by pturo (Syracuse, New York) | ||
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Somewhere in the archives, around late fall 06, someone posted a really cool catalogue for Maytags of this era with a features chart. It will solve all of your queries on this type of Maytag. Phil | ||
| Post# 195247 , Reply# 4 3/6/2007 at 13:07 (6,254 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
606's
Hi: These are 1970's, and don't have lighted controls. The dryer of my Maytag pair is a DE606 (Dryer, Electric, Model 606, as opposed to DG606, for Dryer, Gas, Model 606). My washer is an LA108, so not what you're looking for. The dryer is electronic sensor drying only, with no timed cycles available. The centre dial has cycles for Air Fluff, Damp Dry, Permanent Press, and Regular. There are four cycle modifier buttons at the right side of the control panel; you can select Low Temp, Regular Temp, Regular Dryness, and Extra Dryness. The modifier buttons are set up so that you can select one Temp button and one Dryness button at the same time (example: for sheets, I press both Regular Temp and Extra Dryness). End-of-cycle is indicated by a chime. In the Permanent Press cycle, the chime rings repeatedly during the final phase of the cool-down cycle. For other cycles, it chimes once, shortly before the machine shuts off. The electronic drying sensor is quite accurate, and the drying time is much, MUCH shorter than it was on my old Whirlpool machine. Disassembly of the cabinet for service and cleanout of lint is very easy, and the top of the machine is porcelain, not paint like most machines of that era. I have been told that electronic Maytag dryers should be grounded for proper operation, so mine is; it's a simple matter of attaching copper ground wire to the grounding screw on the back of the unit, then attaching the other end of the ground wire to a grounding clamp fastened to a cold water pipe. Easy. Both clamps and wires are in every hardware store worth its salt. You would be pleased by a 606 dryer, I think. Here's a photo of my pair: 
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| Post# 195251 , Reply# 5 3/6/2007 at 13:13 (6,254 days old) by hoover1060 () | ||
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608 Here's my almond colored A608 from 1979. Two speeds, 4 temps, 4 water levels, three cycles(Reg, Prem press and soak) I absolutely love this machine! 
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| Post# 195276 , Reply# 7 3/6/2007 at 14:53 (6,254 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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My Vote:
I say do it. First, you'll gain valuable experience in owning vintage machines, on a pair that is easy to service and has good parts availability. Owning vintage IS a little different, and there's no way to explain the difference until you've lived with it. Basically, though, you learn to be sensitive to your machines, listening to the sounds they make, to be sure they're okay, and you learn to be self-reliant if they need a repair. You also learn the importance of maintenance- vacuuming lint out of dryer cabinets, replacing washer belts periodically, etc. And you learn how to search out parts that the local appliance parts place says aren't available for "them ole machines". Second, you'll have a salable pair that you can resell when you find your frogeyes. There's always somebody looking for vintage Maytags. That will give you workable machines now, and yet the money you have in them can be reclaimed later. The value of new machines is only going one way- down. And you'll be helping to keep a good set of vintage machines out of the hands of somebody who just wants a washer and dryer cheap. Owners like that- who have no real appreciation for vintage, just price- often run vintage machines into the ground, then scrap them. The way I look at it, those of us who own vintage are custodians, not owners. We're taking care of the few remaining machines so that future generations can appreciate them. If all vintage machines were to disappear from the face of the Earth, there would be no yardstick against which to measure the crappy quality of today's appliances. If enough people learn that appliances were once made to be genuinely durable, there could someday be a demand for better quality in new machines. As matters stand, it's been so long since sturdy machines have been made that a lot of younger people think it's normal to buy a new washer every three to five years. It's also normal for us weirdo vintage owners to own "interim" machines while we're looking for dream machines. I personally would like to have Maytag's top-of-the-line A906 washer and DE906 dryer, with electonic pushbutton controls. But those are fairly rare machines; they don't grow on trees. And as I mentioned to Greg here lately, I don't yet feel experienced enough to be a responsible custodian of such a fine and sophisticated pair. The 906 dryer uses a heating system called the Halo of Heat, and it requires more expertise to service than the 1970s Maytags do. Bottom line: Go for it. You won't be sorry, you'll have a fine pair of machines that you can rely on, and you'll learn a lot of ins and outs that will come in very handy when you find your dream machines. Oh, and you'll have some VERY clean laundry. After a month of owning my Maytags, I find that my clothes are much cleaner and brighter than I was accustomed to with my former direct-drive Whirlpool pair. | ||
Post# 195285 , Reply# 8 3/6/2007 at 16:46 (6,254 days old) by goatfarmer  (South Bend, home of Champions) |
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| Post# 195288 , Reply# 9 3/6/2007 at 17:00 (6,254 days old) by bpetersxx (laf in on the banks of the Wabash River) | ||
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| Post# 195289 , Reply# 10 3/6/2007 at 17:07 (6,254 days old) by bpetersxx (laf in on the banks of the Wabash River) | ||
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| Post# 195363 , Reply# 12 3/6/2007 at 22:06 (6,254 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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Ooooh. | ||
| Post# 195378 , Reply# 17 3/6/2007 at 22:36 (6,254 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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Definitely Not Lighted | ||
| Post# 195381 , Reply# 18 3/6/2007 at 22:39 (6,254 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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jimmyb: | ||
| Post# 195390 , Reply# 20 3/6/2007 at 23:27 (6,254 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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jimmyb:
Well, I hope your dryer is cleaner than mine was. It took me a long time to figure out how to get the charcoal-grey accumulation of dryer-sheet buildup off the inner door and the load opening. The secret was to spritz with Windex, wait a few moments, then follow up with a damp sponge sprinkled with Bon Ami, scrubbing VERY gently. Dryer sheets are the work of the devil. Or P & G, I forget which. | ||
| Post# 195404 , Reply# 22 3/7/2007 at 01:37 (6,254 days old) by volvoguy87 (Cincinnati, OH) | ||
Get those machines!
The great thing about vintage maytags is that although the control panels are different, the guts are prety similar. I have an A208 which has proven to be the best washer I have EVER used, either top loading or front, old or new. They are not only built like tanks, they are designed to be servicable, unlike my Amanatag described in the New Washer section under the thread "Norgetag Squeak." Although the control panels are not lighted, they are still very effective, well built machines. If nothing else, they make a good spare set for now and it will get you familiar with Maytag Center Dials before you get an 806 set. Also, when you get the washer, MAKE SURE YOU PULL THE LINT FILTER!! The idiotic former owner of my A208 put detergent in the fabric softener cup, which must have caused some frightening results. The cup was very nasty, but it was nothing compared to the H~@@ in the lint filter. It was stuck in the agitator by a tight paper wrapping which was once partially-dissolved detergent powder. I was almost afraid I would break the filter or the agitator trying to pull it out. I am still trying to get each hole in the mesh filter open again. Even though it's 30 years old, it's still more reliable, and does a better job, than anything available new. Just when you think you have found the epitome of stupid, someone comes along and suprises you, Dave | ||
| Post# 195406 , Reply# 23 3/7/2007 at 01:56 (6,254 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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Dave: | ||
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Post# 195529 , Reply# 24 3/7/2007 at 16:30 (6,253 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions) |
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| Post# 195637 , Reply# 25 3/7/2007 at 23:11 (6,253 days old) by wannapinkset () | ||
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75.00 for the pair. Thats pretty cheap I think. | ||
| Post# 195640 , Reply# 26 3/7/2007 at 23:24 (6,253 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
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SEVENTY-FIVE BUCKS? | ||
| Post# 195647 , Reply# 27 3/7/2007 at 23:55 (6,253 days old) by wannapinkset () | ||
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I dont know what my deal was. Im back to my go gettum self and am going Saturday. Thanks all!!! I love all the wash world support! | ||
| Post# 196349 , Reply# 28 3/10/2007 at 09:10 (6,250 days old) by mayken4now (Panama City, Florida) | ||
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