Thread Number: 71814
/ Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
'84 Maytag LA712 Relieves '84 Whirlpool LA5530XKN2 of Duty |
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Post# 950012 , Reply# 1   7/25/2017 at 14:14 (2,438 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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I like these models, nicely featured....especially the speed combos
soaking in CLR works for most hard water grit....some use a vinegar soak as well...some have success, some not.... personal preference for something like this, especially the filter, POWER WASHER!....you could probably use one at the car wash, although not as powerful....keep your foot on it, it will fly away.... the agitator should have a set screw, usually on the same side as the air hole, a little play is not uncommon...you will want to pull it and clean under it as well... |
Post# 950016 , Reply# 2   7/25/2017 at 15:24 (2,438 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)   |   | |
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I'll hazard a guess that your Whirlpool may be permanently out to pasture once you've had the full-featured 712 experience.
This past May I got a 1987 LA712 that looks identical to yours. The filter was in just about as bad of shape. I thought soaking it in water would help, but no. I ended up drizzling Lime Away over it, half the circumference at a time, and letting it go to work. It still took a lot of tedious scrubbing with a wire brush and some poking through stubborn spots with a short length of "piano" wire. |
Post# 950094 , Reply# 4   7/26/2017 at 02:22 (2,437 days old) by stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK)   |   | |
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Post# 950104 , Reply# 5   7/26/2017 at 03:37 (2,437 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )   |   | |
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Go back to the Whirlpool after you baby sit the Maytag a few times as it vibrates and walks all over!At least if you put it on a wood floor. |
Post# 950109 , Reply# 6   7/26/2017 at 06:35 (2,437 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Post# 950145 , Reply# 7   7/26/2017 at 12:47 (2,437 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)   |   | |
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If a Maytag starts to walk, it's not the washer's fault.
My 712 was rock solid and didn't budge on my patio pavers even though they're not perfectly laid and so there's some irregularity to the patio surface. When I decided to put a resin tray under it, which I thought would be better for the leveling feet to sit on, even though the washer felt like it was on a secure footing, it wanted to walk across the patio during spin.
I eliminated the tray from the scenario and the machine went back to staying put.
If you have any appreciation for tank-like build quality and simple, yet effective mechanics that smoothly, quietly, quickly, easily and yes, capably process a load of laundry, you're going to forget about that Whirlpool real quick. You'll also have more control over how you want each load handled, with a full set of options for wash/rinse temperature, infinite water level selection, and speed combinations. You can't beat a 712 or its predecessor, the 806 for flexibility, or the engineering behind vintage Maytag washers for dependability and longevity that quickly became --and still is -- legendary in the field of automatic washers. |
Post# 950230 , Reply# 9   7/27/2017 at 07:07 (2,436 days old) by Bigterkc (Kansas City)   |   | |
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I've worked on dozens of different Maytags in many settings, unlevel basements, pitched garage floors, unlevel driveways as well as gravel driveways and have never once had a Maytag try to walk!.
And I'm prone to overload a machine with jeans and pants, and still never had one walk on me. I've had a couple almost go out of balance, but managed to stay balanced enough to get to full speed and get the cycle done. My mother had a Hotpoint when I was growing up and dad rigged brackets on the floor to keep it corralled to it's spot in the kitchen, it walked so much. My sister had a GE filter-flo that would walk to the wall and bump into it and we could hear it "knocking" an go downstairs and put it back. But my Maytags in service in my various houses and trailers never walked and were so quiet. |
Post# 950540 , Reply# 11   7/29/2017 at 00:44 (2,434 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)   |   | |
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Tangled clothes-as an old Maytag add in B&H Gardens magazine from the 50's stated---"Whipped Wash!" |
Post# 950641 , Reply# 13   7/29/2017 at 15:51 (2,434 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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those stains may be in bedded so far in, nothing will remove it....
some have used an SOS pad, while others have used a Widget/razor blade to slice into the grunge...... and may be one of those things, your not going to win..... yeah, the option for slow wash/fast spin has come in handy more times than one can count....I have always opted for a high speed spin..... funny you mention shorts, I can't deal with shorts costing almost twice what the whole pants do....most of mine started out as full length pants, cut to the length I want, and then hemmed up..... I chuckle too at people paying outrageous prices for pants with rips and holes.....I can do that at home for free.... my 806 has the 50hz pulley setup....switched out the agitator....which still gives a gentle wash if needed....loving the higher speed spin...... keep us posted....lots of luck with your new toy |
Post# 950792 , Reply# 15   7/30/2017 at 13:34 (2,433 days old) by realvanman (Southern California)   |   | |
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Here, this is better... |
Post# 950805 , Reply# 16   7/30/2017 at 16:25 (2,433 days old) by realvanman (Southern California)   |   | |
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I've done two loads in it so far. Maiden Wash First Spin Rinse and Spin |
Post# 950809 , Reply# 17   7/30/2017 at 16:53 (2,433 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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Tip: underloading or using too high of a water level for the load size can cause off-balance to occur on spin-drain machines due to the clothes floating loosely and getting bunched together as the load starts to rotate. This is less likely to occur on neutal-drain machines because the clothes (distributed by agitation) settle down in the drum before spin begins. |
Post# 950821 , Reply# 18   7/30/2017 at 18:46 (2,432 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)   |   | |
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Post# 950860 , Reply# 19   7/31/2017 at 01:49 (2,432 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)   |   | |
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I agree that a final spray rinse would make these machines absolutely perfect. I think the best thing to do is to learn the correct detergent dosage to effect minimal residue after the generous single spray rinse. I will generally select a warm rinse so the spray delivers maximum water volume, then switch to cold after the spray action has ended.
The remarks about underloading/overly high water level are timely. I washed king size sheets yesterday in my 712 and let the tub fill to the top. After agitation had started, I checked for turnover and saw that I could have gotten away with a lower fill level. I didn't know then that this could cause balance problems, but sure enough, the load wasn't balanced going into the first spin. I lowered the water level for the rinse and it went into final spin with ease.
And to all of those who insist that Maytags like to walk off with your laundry, take a good look at that tea cup! |
Post# 950991 , Reply# 20   7/31/2017 at 22:12 (2,431 days old) by leefree (Los Angeles)   |   | |
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I didn't want to scratch it up with a scouring pad or scraper so I uncharacteristically went with patience. On my 512, I had to soak it (full tub of hot water with three or four...ok six, Cascade platinum pods (for dishwasher) and a small bottle of white vinegar) agitated until everything dissolved and then left overnight to sit. That was just to get filter out. Once out, an old toothbrush cleaned up the inside of the still-wet agitator. Then I coated the disgusting filter inside and out with a layer of straight Dawn and put it in a tall cup of half vinegar & water. Two days later did the trick. Again, old toothbrush poked out stubborn holes. My "new" 712 had a better life. Its filter only took an overnight soak in vinegar and cleaning with toothbrush. That chore once,let alone twice, will cure you of ever using fabric softener or too much laundry soap! I love using my 712.
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Post# 951025 , Reply# 22   8/1/2017 at 06:45 (2,431 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Are not caused by using too much laundry detergent, but rather just the opposite.
Too little detergent for water hardness conditions, cheap detergent etc are the only thing that causes this problem.
Fabric softener will leave a gummy deposit, never a hard crusty one.
Best way to clean a crusty lint filter is to soak it in straight CLR or another similar brand, or maybe straight vinegar, heating the solution can also help.
John L. |
Post# 951054 , Reply# 23   8/1/2017 at 09:15 (2,431 days old) by ken (NYS)   |   | |
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We have a laundry sink next to the GE washer. I've often attached a piece of hose to the faucet and made the first spin a spray rinse. As far as Im concerned both spins should have this like many did years ago. Not just the final spin.
This post was last edited 08/01/2017 at 10:27 |