May is MAYtag month

Seems like a lot of posters are reporting the acquisition of a "new" Maytag to their respective collections this month. Very cool!

I am not a collector, per se, but I did bring home an additional Maytag washer last week. My daily drivers are an LA712/LDG512 that I got for free off of Craigslist about 4 years ago. I love them!

I have been keeping an eye out for a machine to use out in the workshop for rags, etc. A Maytag A212 showed up last week in the CL Freebie section. "Motor is good and belts are new, but something is wrong with the 'switchboard'. Washer is dead." I wasn't sure what a 'switchboard' was, but a couple of quick emails and the machine was mine. After getting it home, it was obvious that something was wrong with the timer. It did not have that crisp "snap" when pulling the knob out.

I opened up the console and checked the timer. No continuity on the that set of contacts. Except for the clock motor, the timer is pretty much unserviceable. I had two in my spares box, but one was for a two speed washer and the other was much newer. The connections were way different. Someone had the correct one on Ebay, so I sprung for it and after it arrived, I installed and gave the washer a test. Success!! Well, almost...

The tub filled with water. The timer advanced and began the agitation cycle. When it came time to spin, the water started pumping out, the tub began to turn, and then the motor overload tripped. I tried it again after it cooled down. Same thing. Then I remembered the ad: "new belts" I managed to tip the washer back and prop it up to have a look underneath. Yup, new belts. They had the right part numbers on them, but not the Maytag logo. Another trip to the parts box. I had two used factory belts. Put them on, readjusted the pump belt tension, and tried it again. This time it slowly came up to speed and behaved just like that classic design is supposed to do. I suspect the previous owners put offshore belts on it and when it wouldn't spin properly, kept cycling the timer, and burnt out the contacts. Regardless, it now works like it's supposed to and as soon as I clear some room, it will have a very easy life of washing shop rags. I guess the morale of the story is just because the belts have the right part number stamped on them, doesn't mean they are going to work.

Take care!

-Jim


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Post# 941065 5/30/2017 at 20:56 (2,515 days old) by jimmler (Nipomo, CA)
Checkrate/Likes 2 Seems like a lot of posters are reporting the acquisition of a "new" Maytag to their respective collections this month. Very cool! I am not a collector, per se, but I did bring home an additional Maytag washer last week. My daily drivers are an LA712/LDG512 that I got for free off of Craigslist about 4 years ago. I love them! I have been keeping an eye out for a machine to use out in the workshop for rags, etc. A Maytag A212 showed up last week in the CL Freebie section. "Motor is good and belts are new, but something is wrong with the 'switchboard'. Washer is dead." I wasn't sure what a 'switchboard' was, but a couple of quick emails and the machine was mine. After getting it home, it was obvious that something was wrong with the timer. It did not have that crisp "snap" when pulling the knob out. I opened up the console and checked the timer. No continuity on the that set of contacts. Except for the clock motor, the timer is pretty much unserviceable. I had two in my spares box, but one was for a two speed washer and the other was much newer. The connections were way different. Someone had the correct one on Ebay, so I sprung for it and after it arrived, I installed and gave the washer a test. Success!! Well, almost... The tub filled with water. The timer advanced and began the agitation cycle. When it came time to spin, the water started pumping out, the tub began to turn, and then the motor overload tripped. I tried it again after it cooled down. Same thing. Then I remembered the ad: "new belts" I managed to tip the washer back and prop it up to have a look underneath. Yup, new belts. They had the right part numbers on them, but not the Maytag logo. Another trip to the parts box. I had two used factory belts. Put them on, readjusted the pump belt tension, and tried it again. This time it slowly came up to speed and behaved just like that classic design is supposed to do. I suspect the previous owners put offshore belts on it and when it wouldn't spin properly, kept cycling the timer, and burnt out the contacts. Regardless, it now works like it's supposed to and as soon as I clear some room, it will have a very easy life of washing shop rags. I guess the morale of the story is just because the belts have the right part number stamped on them, doesn't mean they are going to work. Take care! -Jim

Post# 941085 , Reply# 1 5/30/2017 at 23:46 (2,515 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)
Checkrate/Likes Great story Jim! That A212 and shop rags are a match made in Maytag heaven!

Post# 941104 , Reply# 2 5/31/2017 at 03:13 (2,515 days old) by hippiedoll ( arizona )
Checkrate/Likes 1 *very cool!* Story and a GREAT learning lesson/tip. Thank you. And congratulations on the free maytag 212. Very cool that you had the belts in your spare parts. And that you found the timer for it on ebay. That is OUTTA SIGHT! :oD