Thread Number: 82982  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
An old Maytag
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Post# 1072382   5/13/2020 at 20:23 (1,433 days old) by Tomdawg (Des moines)        

I repaired an old Maytag today. A482 series 4
The water valve was bad.
Can anyone tell me how old the 482 is? It has the helical drive transmission.





Post# 1072397 , Reply# 1   5/13/2020 at 21:58 (1,433 days old) by qsd-dan (West)        

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Sounds like a Montgomery Wards model #. Just a guess, but it's probably a late 10 series or 11 series (probably 11 series) washer. If it had ivory buttons and a timer dial knob, it's a 10 series from 1980-1984. If it had brown buttons and timer knob but silver striping around the console and timer dial, it's the short lived 11 series. If it had a gold striping around the console and timer dial, then it's a 12 series. Overall, I'd say mid 1980's.

I think a 482 should a be 4 button water level switch with a 3 button temperature control switch (Hot, Warm, Cold....all with a cold rinse).


Post# 1072500 , Reply# 2   5/14/2020 at 14:01 (1,432 days old) by bendixmark (Winchester Mass)        
A482

That was the Lechmere Maytag in my area 1984-87

Post# 1072528 , Reply# 3   5/14/2020 at 17:16 (1,432 days old) by Tomdawg (Des moines)        
I ended up contacting the person again for a serial number.

The gal laughed. But I had to know!
Serial says February of 88.
I thought Maytag had already switched over to the orbital transmission by then. Guess I was wrong.
You are right, 4 water levels and 3 temps. It is a large tub. Blue, with aqua green agitator.


Post# 1072530 , Reply# 4   5/14/2020 at 17:36 (1,432 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)        
Maytag A482

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The brochure

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Post# 1072535 , Reply# 5   5/14/2020 at 18:15 (1,432 days old) by appnut (TX)        

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that's a Fabric-Matic model.  Reminds me of the style console on the models sold by Montgomery and Lowes 


Post# 1072542 , Reply# 6   5/14/2020 at 18:58 (1,432 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        

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I'm not sure, but I think the switch over to the orbital transmission may have been in August 1989.


Post# 1072618 , Reply# 7   5/15/2020 at 05:25 (1,432 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod)        

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@ bendixmark...

Lechmere !!! What a great store.

I miss Jordan Marsh too.


Post# 1072635 , Reply# 8   5/15/2020 at 08:45 (1,432 days old) by Helicaldrive (St. Louis)        
My first washer!

It was beautiful.

But to be honest, I was very disappointed with it. It was still very heavy and shiny compared to WP at the time, but Maytag’s quality was gone.

It took a long time to figure out that an unnerving noise was a loose motor mount rivet.

The orbital transmission was markedly inferior to the Pittman. The added side fins on the agitator did little except impede rollover. It had to be loaded very lightly to achieve rollover. And it twisted sheets into a rope that didn’t get clean, every time.

The rinse cycle was so short that it had to be reset 2 to 4 times for the load to roll over, e.g., if there were 4 pairs of jeans in it.

The lid totally rusted out in a few years. And the wash basket got a rust spot twice. And the tub seal failed, which was another expensive repair.

I spent a bundle on repairs. Finally gave up after 8 years.

I bought a better featured Maytag again when they finally got a dual action agitator, which vastly improved the performance with the orbital tranny. But still it was inferior to the classic 1970s Maytags. I had to replace the wash basket, then a tub seal, then a water pump a time or two, and then it finally performed trouble free for umpteen years until the motor overheated at year nineteen, and the part I needed was NLA.

I bought a SQ front loader and I’ve never looked back.



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