Thread Number: 80035  /  Tag: Twin-Tub Washers
Maytag A-50
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Post# 1039619   7/27/2019 at 19:50 (1,705 days old) by SusanJones (El Paso, Texas)        

It seems that both tubs fill when I put water in the wash tub. I just bought this in Minneapolis so I am keen to find out the problem! Shouldn’t the spin basket be dry?

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Post# 1039625 , Reply# 1   7/27/2019 at 20:28 (1,705 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

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what do you have the drain control set to?


a lot of times when these machines set for a while, the dual valve can get stuck.....you next option would be the open the front and check its function...


Post# 1039632 , Reply# 2   7/27/2019 at 21:48 (1,705 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)        

ea56's profile picture
That’s what I was thinking too Martin.

I had an A-50 for about 4 years that I used exclusively, and I never had this happen. My thought would be to operate the spin tub with the drain in the on position, repeatedly turning the spin tub on and off to get the pump to turn on and and off, and maybe this will get the drain valve to open and close, and get the drain functioning properly, and hopefully, if the drain is stuck like Martin think, this may cause it to “unstick”. If not, then like Martin suggested you’ll need open the front and watch how the pump is working.

These are really sturdy machines and do a wonderful job of cleaning and spin out the clothes very well. I hope you will be able to get it up an running, you will love it.

Eddie




This post was last edited 07/27/2019 at 22:04
Post# 1039634 , Reply# 3   7/27/2019 at 22:32 (1,705 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        

combo52's profile picture

It sounds like your drain valve flapper shaft is broken, this was a very common problem, Maytag used the same valve as in there suds-saver automatics and they did this as well.

 

John L.


Post# 1039644 , Reply# 4   7/28/2019 at 00:50 (1,705 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)        

ea56's profile picture
You might like to have this operating instructions for your “new” A-50. I’ve attached the link below.

Good Luck!

Eddie

www.manualslib.com/manual...


Post# 1039645 , Reply# 5   7/28/2019 at 01:40 (1,705 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

What is the best position to keep the drain selector when the washer is not in use?

I always thought the ideal would be the wash drain position, to prevent deforming the "stopper" in the diverter valve.

Now I just read in the manual to switch to spin-drain after draining is complete.

Any thoughts?


Post# 1039646 , Reply# 6   7/28/2019 at 01:59 (1,705 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)        

ea56's profile picture
I always left mine in the spin drain position when I was finished and never had any problems.

Eddie


Post# 1039659 , Reply# 7   7/28/2019 at 06:31 (1,704 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Maytag A50 Drain Valve

combo52's profile picture

Its under pressure either way, the reason it breaks is they used a pot-metal rod that corrodes and breaks.

 

John l.


Post# 1039664 , Reply# 8   7/28/2019 at 07:30 (1,704 days old) by ozzie908 (Lincoln UK)        
Instructions say to rinse in the wash tub?

ozzie908's profile picture
We always use the spinner to rinse by filling with cold water and spinning it out surely that's easier while the next load washes? Or is there a reason the spinner cannot be used for rinsing?

Austin


Post# 1039672 , Reply# 9   7/28/2019 at 09:19 (1,704 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

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you can rinse in the spinner....open lid, saturate the load, and close the lid to spin...repeat until the water runs clear...

I guess it was never a factor, as they never offered an Auto-Rinse system.....

or could have been part of a patent thing back then, since Hoover offered a rinsing system on some machines...

somewhere there was a video/mention of a similar issue with the Maytag wringers, no rinse tub used, just wash/wring a few loads and place on the side, change water, rinse and re-wring the clothing...


Post# 1039708 , Reply# 10   7/28/2019 at 15:07 (1,704 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

Once i forgot mine filling, the water went 1 inch below the top of the spin basket.

It didn't leak, but it was scary... how would I drain all that water?

I opened the valve and used a small bucket that I use for my spin dryer to remove 3 or 4 buckets of water from the washer, waited some time to lower the level in the spin dryer, turned the selector to spin-drain and used a screw driver to turn it on. I was really afraid it would either throw water everywhere through the top of the cabinet or break the belt. Nah... it drained smoothly then after the spin dryer tub was empty i drained the washer... crisis controlled.

John, thanks for the info. I never opened the front of my A-50 so I have absolutely no idea how that specific diverter valve looks like or works, but I imagine there should be a rubber seal or anything that looks like a stopper.

Your information clarifies a lot, so I was doing the right thing, right?

If the rubber gets deformed due to the pressure and starts leaking, for the spin tub is almost irrelevant, but for the wash tub it would be a disaster.

No spin dryer is made so fragile that wouldn't stand that, however, considering it's age, I would never intentionally fill the spin drum with water.


Post# 1039709 , Reply# 11   7/28/2019 at 15:10 (1,704 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

I wonder if those diverter valves that are NLA could at least be replaced by one of those crappy chinese twin tub valves.

Not the best solution but it could bring some A-50 back to life.


Post# 1039734 , Reply# 12   7/28/2019 at 18:23 (1,704 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        

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Main reason not to rinse in main tub for any semi-automatic washing machine (wringer, twin tub, etc...), is if one has reasons to save/reuse wash water.

Otherwise draining wash water, refilling with fresh, rinsing, then getting on with things is perfectly fine.

IIRC Norge marketed "Power Rinsing" with its wringer washers. This (IIRC) was nothing more than rinsing with the machine using "deep agitated rinse" instead of using tubs.

Directions for my Hoover TT call for rinsing in spin tub. Found it only worked well with loads of many smaller items. Things like sheets or blankets were best rinsed in main tub or any other large vessel containing fresh water.

There is also fact multiple filling, spinning, filling, spinning got on one's nerves from noise. That and depending upon what was being rinsed it could finally emerge looking dreadful. I'd never do shirts or anything that was going to be ironed because the process created tons of creases.



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