Thread Number: 77150  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Maytag Assembly Questions
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Post# 1010810   10/14/2018 at 18:51 (1,991 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        

eurekastar's profile picture

I've been slowly working on the Maytag A407 and I'm ready to begin reassembly over the next few days.  It cleaned up surprisingly well too.  Because I'm impatient, I ended up buying a new orbital transmission and agitator.  That's disappointing, but I called around locally to see if anyone had the old style transmission and had no luck.  So I'll hang onto the old transmission and wait for a new parts donor to show up. 

 

Before I begin reassembling things, I have a couple of questions:

 

1)  How will I know when I have the correct tension on the suspension springs.  I ended up buying new eye bolts and nuts and didn't think to mark an old one to use as a guide.

 

2)  I've noticed on Youtube that new mounting stems are installed without the washer and retaining clip over the center seal.  Are those videos just skipping that step or is the washer and clip necessary.

 

As always, thank you for the help!  It's been tremendous!





Post# 1010829 , Reply# 1   10/14/2018 at 21:35 (1,991 days old) by potatochips ( )        

I usually have about 3/16ths of an inch of thread below the suspension spring nuts. Thats what a few machines I took apart had from the factory.

 

As for question two, the new tub stem/seal is all integrated in to one. The first iteration of the seal required the washer and retaining clip along side a new agitator shaft seal, but that's all been morphed in to one. So you don't have to worry about it. Some people here believe that was a bad move while others think its par for the course compared to the old style seal.


Post# 1010837 , Reply# 2   10/14/2018 at 23:14 (1,991 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        
Mounting Stem

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I think I must have purchased the old style mounting stem.  The center seal that goes down the agitator shaft is separate from the stem itself, so I guess I will still need the washer and clip.  The kit also has an agitator stop ring. 


Post# 1010902 , Reply# 3   10/15/2018 at 14:25 (1,990 days old) by good-shepherd (New Jersey)        

You'll need to re-use the washer and clip for that style mounting stem, they're not included with the kit. see link:

www.automaticwasher.org/c...



Post# 1010903 , Reply# 4   10/15/2018 at 15:30 (1,990 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        
Thank you!

eurekastar's profile picture

Thank you for posting those scans!  I would have never found them and they're very helpful too!


Post# 1011606 , Reply# 5   10/20/2018 at 21:47 (1,985 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        
Almost Done!

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I spent much of the day reassembling my A407 and I'm almost done!  It's all together and I ran it on the spin cycle for 3 minutes per the instructions with the tub bearing.  I'll run it with water on a full cycle tomorrow to check for leaks.

 

The hardest part was reattaching the outer tub.  I purchased new bolts; however, the new bolts had a tapered end with no threads.  That made it difficult for the nut to catch the threads.  The gasket on the old bolts were wearing thin but the bolts were fine.  So I just transferred the new gasket onto the old bolts...et voila!  Problem solved. 

 

It took me a while to figure out that darn tub clamp too.  But once I figured it out, I felt stupid because it was so simple.

 

Tomorrow will be the maiden wash!  Wish me luck!  laughing


Post# 1011628 , Reply# 6   10/21/2018 at 05:41 (1,985 days old) by potatochips ( )        

I can attest to the tub bolts being a pain the hole. Especially the front one, it requires to hands and one knee.


Post# 1011705 , Reply# 7   10/21/2018 at 19:45 (1,984 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        
Maiden Wash Complete!

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I finally had time to take the A407 through its paces today!  The only thing not working as it should is the Permanent Press cycle.  It will go through a partial drain but doesn't refill with water as indicated in the manual.  I'll run it through again tomorrow just to make sure.

 

But the maiden wash was a success!  It was clanging in the spin cycles.  The damper was banging against the floor.  But I finally realized that it's not sitting on a very level floor in my garage, so I think the clanging will clear up once it is level. 

 

I ended up reusing the old fill nozzle.  I order a new assembly but new style doesn't fit on old tub covers.  But that was an easy swap.  I just need to clean it up a bit.  I'm glad I didn't throw it away! 

 

I also repainted the console and installed a new pilot light.  After a little detailing on the cabinet exterior, she will be good to go!


  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 2         View Full Size
Post# 1011717 , Reply# 8   10/21/2018 at 20:45 (1,984 days old) by good-shepherd (New Jersey)        
new style doesn't fit on old tub covers

You need this style replacement injector hose, If the old one is getting brittle:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-OEM-Maytag-...

(Prices are way up on this stuff, you could get the whole injector kit for that price a few years ago).


Post# 1011734 , Reply# 9   10/21/2018 at 22:40 (1,984 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        

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Thank you, good-shepherd! 


Post# 1011740 , Reply# 10   10/21/2018 at 23:53 (1,984 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        
Video

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Here is a video of the maiden wash!  I stuffed the tub completely full with three large bath towels, two hand towels, three heavy cotton bath mats and one pair of jeans.  As full as it was, it still had very good turnover! 



CLICK HERE TO GO TO eurekastar's LINK

Post# 1011750 , Reply# 11   10/22/2018 at 02:50 (1,984 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

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How is that a new style agitator in turquoise?  I thought they were all white.


Post# 1011769 , Reply# 12   10/22/2018 at 06:21 (1,984 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        
@ askolover

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I don't know...it has the "angel wings" and uses a set screw.  It's overall diameter is smaller than the old agitator.


Post# 1011803 , Reply# 13   10/22/2018 at 13:00 (1,983 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay)        

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I think some of the early orbital agitators were still turquoise.  I remember when I got my '87 A712 last year I had to really zoom in on the agitator in the money shot in order to determine that it had the long stroke transmission, which is what I wanted, because 1987 was the year Maytag switched over to orbital.   Probably once they ran out of turquoise raw product, they switched over to white.


Post# 1011833 , Reply# 14   10/22/2018 at 19:30 (1,983 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        
Clanging

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Well, I moved it into the house and it sits level, but the clanging remains.  I think the problem is with the tub cover.  Either that, or the suspension springs need adjusting?  Not sure. 


Post# 1011864 , Reply# 15   10/22/2018 at 20:21 (1,983 days old) by good-shepherd (New Jersey)        
I think the problem is with the tub cover

Is the inner tub properly centered and not contacting the outer tub on spin?
Try putting hand pressure on the outer tub at various points and see if the noise changes.


Post# 1011868 , Reply# 16   10/22/2018 at 20:36 (1,983 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        
Sometimes I'm really dumb!

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The clanging was coming from the pressure switch hose!  undecided


Post# 1011874 , Reply# 17   10/22/2018 at 22:49 (1,983 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        
New Issue! LOL!

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The washer is now operating as it should!  Yay!  The only thing left is to tighten the suspension spring on the left rear, because the tub is slightly favoring the opposite side.  I also have a new fill nozzle coming this week (thanks to goodshepherd).  Once that's on, I'll put it all together and do a proper video.

 

However, the outflow is faster than my standpipe can handle.  It slightly overflows when it's draining.  The drain doesn't have enough flow capacity and is prone to stopping up about once a year.  So I'll get the plumber to clean the drain pipe out. 

 

I wonder if using some kind of reduction fitting might help to try and restrict the outflow some?  I'll try the plumber first!

 


Post# 1011912 , Reply# 18   10/23/2018 at 15:55 (1,982 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        
Pressure Switch Hose

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Can I shorten the Pressure Switch Hose or would that altar the functionality of the switch? 


Post# 1011930 , Reply# 19   10/23/2018 at 18:40 (1,982 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        
Plumbing Issue Resolved

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Thanks again to everyone for your advice and help!  The drain issue was resolved by reinstalling the old drain hose.  I had installed a new hose as a precaution.  But I examined the old hose carefully today and it still seems to be in good shape.  I discovered that it has a fitting inserted into it at the drain end to restrict flow into the stand pipe.  It works perfectly!


Post# 1011948 , Reply# 20   10/23/2018 at 21:04 (1,982 days old) by good-shepherd (New Jersey)        

How about some photos of the interior cabinet? It was looking pretty nasty last time we saw it.

Post# 1011963 , Reply# 21   10/23/2018 at 23:09 (1,982 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        
A few photos

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Here are a few photos of the inside of the cabinet.  I included a few from a previous thread for a "before and after" comparison.


  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 9         View Full Size
Post# 1012070 , Reply# 22   10/24/2018 at 22:43 (1,981 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        
All Put Together!

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She's all put together and doing laundry chores with her younger step-cousin the Whirl-tag Commercial Dryer!  The Whirl-tag is an excellent performer, so they should work well together. 


  View Full Size
Post# 1012076 , Reply# 23   10/25/2018 at 00:22 (1,981 days old) by good-shepherd (New Jersey)        
Here are a few photos of the inside of the cabinet.

Nice job and you got it done FAST.

Post# 1012077 , Reply# 24   10/25/2018 at 00:50 (1,981 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay)        

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Beautiful job! 

 

Dryers usually outlast washers, but even though the dryer is a few decades younger, it's still anybody's guess which machine will outlast which.  I'd probably put my money on the washer.


Post# 1012117 , Reply# 25   10/25/2018 at 14:22 (1,980 days old) by potatochips ( )        

Wow. Just wow. The inside of that cabinet is factory, good job!


Post# 1012132 , Reply# 26   10/25/2018 at 23:16 (1,980 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

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Looks very nice.  I love the old 'Tags.


Post# 1012213 , Reply# 27   10/26/2018 at 21:23 (1,979 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        
Load Sensing Agitator

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Well, I couldn't help myself and curiosity got the best of me.  I found a used Load Sensing Agitator on Ebay and popped it in today.  I wanted to try an agitator that is specifically designed for the orbital transmission.  And since the A407 is a one speed model, I thought this might be a kinder and gentler agitator while still providing great rollover and performance! 

 

I'm not sure why it's referred to as "Load Sensing" except that there is some play in the auger, which allows it to adjust for different load sizes?  Not sure!

 

But the agitator is in excellent shape.  It just needed a little scrubbing to get fabric softener and soap scum cleaned out of it. 


  View Full Size
Post# 1012216 , Reply# 28   10/26/2018 at 21:37 (1,979 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay)        

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I'm pretty sure that those who aren't so enthused about Maytags as most people are have stated that the load sensor is a good choice for the larger tubs.


Post# 1012286 , Reply# 29   10/27/2018 at 18:27 (1,978 days old) by good-shepherd (New Jersey)        
I found a used Load Sensing Agitator on Ebay

I was going to suggest a load sense agitator for your orbital trans but I couldn't find the Ebay listing anymore, I guess you were the buyer.

Would be interesting to see a vid with the new agitator, supposedly helps turn over with large loads.


Post# 1012297 , Reply# 30   10/27/2018 at 19:45 (1,978 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        
@ good-shepherd

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Yes, sir!  That was me! 

 

I'll be out-of-town this week, but I'll make a respectable video next weekend. 


Post# 1012334 , Reply# 31   10/28/2018 at 07:27 (1,977 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Load Sensor Agitator

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Yay, this will make a big improvement in turn over with large loads, if you can now find a 50 cycle motor pulley and belts you will actually have a very good performing washer.

 

These improvements really help make up for the too short cycle times that MT washers had durning this time period, you will be surprised how much better job the washer will do + you can wash about 1/3 more laundry so you don't waste so much hot water and detergent.

 

John L.


Post# 1012369 , Reply# 32   10/28/2018 at 15:07 (1,977 days old) by hippiedoll ( arizona )        
WOWZERS!!

hippiedoll's profile picture
You did an amazing job on this A407!
The painted console and the beaming pilot light look GREAT! You cleansed up the inside of the cabinet beautifully! It looks like a brand new washer!

LOVED seeing your progress! Thank you for sharing. And CONGRATULATIONS on such a wonderful job you did & superb results you got!

WOOOO HOOOOO!!
:oD


Post# 1012654 , Reply# 33   10/30/2018 at 18:04 (1,975 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        
Thanks!

eurekastar's profile picture

Thanks everyone for you help and kind words! 

 

I'm curious now about the 50 cycle motor pulley.  I've scoured the internet and maytagreplacementparts.com lists it as "available" but out-of-stock with a ship date of November 28 to December 5.  I placed an order for one but I doubt seriously that it is going to be available.  I've found in the past that some companies don't keep their internet order sites up-to-date for seldom ordered parts like that.  The belts for that pulley set up seem to be plentiful.  But I'm not ordering them until I know I have the pulley!



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