Thread Number: 37291
ANOTHER Maytag find: The Highlander
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Post# 554518   11/6/2011 at 10:50 (4,526 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        

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"There can be only one..." Well actually there are 2. Friday I drove up and picked up these pretty nice Maytags and brought them home. These are supposed to be 1965 models, although I'm not entirely sure, there is a date of 5-8-65 written on the back panels of both. When I got there to see them in person, I realized they were pretty deluxe models. The washer is an A502S (a suds-saver!) and the dryer is a DE502 with electronic control.

The washer was my 1st task. Once I got it unloaded I started going over it. I think the old Highlanders are cool looking, ever since I saw Steve's in Roanoke earlier, I've admired them. This washer (which I'm only assuming is called the Highlander) is a model or 2 above that one it seems though. This machine actually surprised me with it's features, it has 2-speeds and a soak cycle along with the suds option, also it has the black bakelite agitator with chrome filter and dispenser cup. The overall condition of the machine was pretty good, a few scuffs here and there but nothing major it cleaned up pretty well. The suds option still works I think, the solenoid moves and it seems to divert water after the was to the 2nd drain. The agitator came right out with a little tug which was good as I've heard these can get stuck. One weird thing about these as compared to my newer ones is that the motor and pump are in the back, which I thought was cool since it has a full cabinet on the front. When I plugged it up there were however leaks which were quickly sorted. The leaks have been going on for sometime it looks like, some baseplate rust, but not horrible. The holes on the tub guard/top were plugged with lint, causing water to pool up and then run down the outer tub sides when the tub rocks and moves, this is a very splashy washer. I took a nylon brush and cleaned the little drain holes in the cover and the leak vanished. I could not figure out how to get the actual top of for a proper cleaning but this sufficed. The machine is very smooth running and quiet, the pilot is a nice touch when it's running and the control panel is really classy.

The dryer is even nicer than the washer in appearance. very clean and no scratched or gouges. The door has no inner liner which is weird and the drum, lint filter and such were in great shape. I did open the back up and found some issues, so they will need to be addressed before running. The belts are unwrapping themselves from age, things seem in good order otherwise, a little dust, but overall very clean. Is there any preventative maintenance items I should take care of while inside the HOH dryer?

-Tim





Post# 554519 , Reply# 1   11/6/2011 at 10:54 (4,526 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
The Washer Control Panel

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The console before cleaning (found the center of the dial later)

Post# 554520 , Reply# 2   11/6/2011 at 10:56 (4,526 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
The Timer

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I love these blue timers with the colors...

Post# 554521 , Reply# 3   11/6/2011 at 10:57 (4,526 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
Suds-Saver!

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The Sud-Saver and Temp controls...

Post# 554526 , Reply# 4   11/6/2011 at 11:38 (4,526 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)        

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A beautiful pair of machines with such clean lines.  You did good!   Any chance of posting a washer money shot?


Post# 554530 , Reply# 5   11/6/2011 at 12:00 (4,526 days old) by appnut (TX)        

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Oh yeah, you done good big time!!!  Clunk!!  on the floor!!




This post was last edited 11/06/2011 at 15:05
Post# 554534 , Reply# 6   11/6/2011 at 12:29 (4,526 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)        
Super Highlanders!

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These are Super Highlanders - the 300 and 500 series were the middle of the line, with the 100 and 200 series being the standard Highlander. The feature rich 502 is pretty much a 702 without the drag. Beautiful set!

Ben


Post# 554556 , Reply# 7   11/6/2011 at 14:53 (4,526 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

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Nice machines!


Post# 554583 , Reply# 8   11/6/2011 at 16:44 (4,526 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

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Very nice shape - congrats on a good find.

You can remove the band from around the top of the cabinet by prying on it gently from the lower edge of the trim with a screwdriver. Wrap the end with a bit of tape to prevent scratching the paint on the cabinet. When you have the band removed, there are three screws on each of the three sides (and two or three at the back IIRC) that will allow you to remove the top. Probably a good idea to do this since you're getting water on the rim of the tub cover, it might be leaking a bit around the fill-flume hose.

I would do new belts on the dryer if it's been sitting for a while, it will be nearly silent running when it's leveled and has a set of strong, supple new belts.


Post# 554598 , Reply# 9   11/6/2011 at 17:49 (4,526 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
Thanks for the Info and More PIcs...

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Thanks for the info and the explanation of the top panel. I feel horrible today, so I've been napping which is why the post stopped mid-run. I took some more pics of the washer and filmed a YouTube vid last night.

-Tim

Here is the inside of the machine as I found it. As I said there was some baseplate rust, mostly towards the center. The dampers seem to be good though, it has a smooth but firm tub movement with no audible squeaks and groans. The nasty looking stuff wipes up easily, it's like damp dust, but it does not appear to be oil just muck of some sort.


Post# 554599 , Reply# 10   11/6/2011 at 17:58 (4,526 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
Suds-Saver!

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The valve appears to work, but I don't have way to use it yet. All of the 800 pound original drain hoses were included as well. Here is a shot of the suds-saver valve, this is the 1st time I've ever seen one, I thought it was pretty neat how it worked and a lot less complicated than I though it would be.



Post# 554602 , Reply# 11   11/6/2011 at 18:34 (4,526 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
Control Panel Assembly

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Here is a shot of the inside of the control panel assembly, it was very clean and you can see the shiny backside of the aluminum fascia. Also there is a nifty pilot light above the control dial. The timer motor emits a neat noise, it doesn't sound like it bad, but it's a neat sound. Is that normal?



Post# 554604 , Reply# 12   11/6/2011 at 18:44 (4,526 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)        
The timer motor emits a neat noise

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It's probably one of those coveted "scritching" timers. 


Post# 554611 , Reply# 13   11/6/2011 at 19:09 (4,526 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
Black Bakelite

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Here is the agitator out of the machine. It's in very good shape, still very glossy and smooth. The agitator has a metal lint filter with the softener dispenser. I have seen only 1 other Highlander in person and it had no dispenser, just a flat top. As I mentioned before it came out very easy which was a sigh of relief.

-Tim


Post# 554612 , Reply# 14   11/6/2011 at 19:23 (4,526 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
Agitator Baffle

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The agitator on this machine has a baffle in it I presume for the lint filter. It was very clean, no buildup or anything. Here is a pic, I myself had never seen one before.



Post# 554631 , Reply# 15   11/6/2011 at 21:52 (4,526 days old) by akronman (Akron/Cleveland Ohio)        
baffles in the agitator

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Tim---somewhere here I saw an ad or Pic of the Day for this agitator, the baffle were also meant to help distribute the soap evenly in the bottom incoming water, poured down the center of the agitator.

 

You found 2 beauties there, congratulations.

 

IF you get either 2 washtubs or a tub and a stand pipe, you'll love the suds return, it's fun and economical and effective. I've seen setups where someone plumbed a standpipe to the trap beneath the single tub, just for a suds machine, but everyone's laundry room or space available is different.


Post# 554633 , Reply# 16   11/6/2011 at 22:01 (4,526 days old) by electronicontrl (Grand Rapids, MI)        
Highlanders

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Beautiful Set!!!


Post# 554670 , Reply# 17   11/6/2011 at 23:21 (4,526 days old) by A440 ()        

Fantastic Find!


Post# 554671 , Reply# 18   11/6/2011 at 23:22 (4,526 days old) by peteski50 (New York)        
The Highlander

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Real Cool set!

Post# 554748 , Reply# 19   11/7/2011 at 08:21 (4,525 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut)        
Am I mistaken?

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Thank you for all the great close-up shots of the machine.

 

That's the first time I've seen the Maytag Suds-Saver diverter assembly attached to the top of the Poly pump. I knew one of those small knockouts that you always see on those pumps was for the bleach dispenser, but now I see that the others were for the Suds Saver pump.


Post# 554750 , Reply# 20   11/7/2011 at 08:41 (4,525 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

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Wonderful set. This is the first time I have seen this particular model here. And then a matching dryer. Great find!

I found the video you made on Youtube. Here it is.





Post# 554772 , Reply# 21   11/7/2011 at 10:36 (4,525 days old) by westingman123 ()        

Beautiful, Tim!

Post# 554784 , Reply# 22   11/7/2011 at 12:05 (4,525 days old) by Kenmore71 (Minneapolis, MN)        

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What I never realized is that the Highlanders were only accessible from the back. I was scratching my head for a bit when I saw the motor, pump, fill valves and suds valves all on one side of the machine. I guess you had to move up a couple of models to get "front panel" service access!

Post# 555026 , Reply# 23   11/8/2011 at 09:04 (4,524 days old) by mistereric (New Jersey (Taylor Ham))        

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Those are lovely machines! I've never seen the suds valve mounted there either, but it makes sense. I still ned to find a good valve for my 700 series at some point.

Post# 555037 , Reply# 24   11/8/2011 at 09:33 (4,524 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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Wow, Tim, that is a great find indeed!  Congratulations!!


Post# 555046 , Reply# 25   11/8/2011 at 10:44 (4,524 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
An "S" for suds--how nice?

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Tim, have you thought of saving the suds right in the other Tag, so you can see if the system works.

Enjoyed the video, gives a better sense of how a Highlander differs from what came next for those of us who don't know.

 

Betting that the black bakelite will put on quite a show as the suds return.

Thanks for the video and to Louis for linking it.


Post# 555087 , Reply# 26   11/8/2011 at 13:23 (4,524 days old) by MaytagA710 ()        

Its nice to see a Highlander video on YouTube, thanks for sharing and congratulations on a excellent and rare find! They are beautiful machines.

 

I have the complete parts breakdown and list/diagrams for the A502S if you ever wanted to see them. Unfortunately, that is all I have. I do have a complete service manual for the 06 series machines, and they are somewhat similar to the "02" series. Let me know anytime and I can scan in whatever you want to see!


Post# 555099 , Reply# 27   11/8/2011 at 13:50 (4,524 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        

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Hey Tim,

 

CONGRATS on finding these!   They look AWESOME!

 

I wasn't a huge fan of the "Highlander" models, probably I usually saw the BOL versions (and I grew up with an A700), but I have to say this 502 version is very, very nice!   And a suds saver model too, WOW!

 

Congrats again!

 

So now you are going to have to change your screen name to Maygatboi91Si..... LOL

 

Kevin


Post# 555244 , Reply# 28   11/8/2011 at 20:56 (4,524 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
MAYTAG HIGHLANDERS

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WOW  Tim it is neat to see a pair of these that survived so well. Between 1956-1965 3/4 or more of all MTs washers and dryers were Highlanders and yet we seen to see more of the top two lines these days that had the nice glass back panels with florescent lights.

 

I must have worked on hundreds of Highlanders in the 1970s and a few in the 1980s. They were the same machine as the better models mechcanlly, if fact your A502 does every thing the A702 does except for the bleach dispenser and lights. All the Highlanders had the Suds-Saver valve mounted on top of the water pump. Buy the early 1960s these were pretty durable machines after they worked a lot of the problems that they had in the late 1950s machines. The main thing we did was replace broken motor rollers, the fill U tube hose, inlet valves and timers. Unlike the more expensive models these had real metal SS hinges so we didn't even have to replace the plastic lid balls that were always breaking on the TOL models.


Post# 555424 , Reply# 29   11/9/2011 at 15:21 (4,523 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
The "Super-Highlander"

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I did not realize this was an actual model, but I was looking around on the interwebs and found this that Ben (Swestoyz) had posted. Apparently these were actually called Super-Highlanders! How neat.

 

John, this machine actually has the nylon ball hinges, not the SS hinges like Steve's had when we visited him. I was expecting the SS hinges as well.

 

-Tim

 

 


Post# 555426 , Reply# 30   11/9/2011 at 15:24 (4,523 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
Lint Filter Agitator

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Also in the same brochure found an explanation of the agitator and what the baffles are for. It seems like I've seen this cutaway before, but here it is. That said I'm not entirely sure how the baffle aides in lint collection. It seems to generate no more or less lint than the A408 with the Power-Fin. Still cool though.

 

A belated thanks for posting these Ben!

 

-Tim

 

 



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