Thread Number: 90130  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
I think I'm using a 30-year-old washer as my daily driver now, and I'm a bit nervous...
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Post# 1147064   4/21/2022 at 10:36 (706 days old) by ryner1988 (Indianapolis)        

ryner1988's profile picture
Hello all! Wow, it's been a long time since I've been in here. From the way it looks, last time I posted here, I was talking about the Whirlpool dryer I had acquired 5 years ago! I hope all are well. :)

Last week, my washer, Whirlpool model number WTW4816FW, died and was determined unfixable as the part was equivalent in price to just buying a new washer. We were going to just go to Lowes and purchase the Amana version of this machine, but budget constraints and other factors were going to present roadblocks. My wife's aunt and cousins upgraded to a new washer from an old Maytag several years ago, and they still had the old washer out in the barn. Will it still work? This is what my in-laws wanted to find out before we went on a new washer buying spree.

Well, they brought the old Maytag to our house and hooked it up yesterday, and I ran a cycle on hot with bleach, serving the duel purpose of cleaning it out after years of non-use and sitting in a dusty barn, and also to test whether it worked or not. Everything seemed to check out absolutely fine, so they left and I proceeded to catch up on laundry.

Here is how I can tell just how ancient the washer is. The agitation strokes are long and slow, and I know that Maytag switched transmissions in 1989. I know that the orbital transmission type has the quicker, shorter stroke agitation. So the only logical conclusion is that this machine was made before 1989. I am 33, and to think my daily driver is at least as old as me has me a bit on edge. How long do I have before it breaks? Should I be ready to purchase a new washer anyway at a moment's notice? I can't help but wonder these things, and also the fact that I am blind and therefore would have some trouble doing a repair if something were to go wrong has me feeling a bit anxious.

On a happy note, I do love the damn thing. Call me dorky if ya want to, but I loved being able to just turn a dial to my cycle, pull it out, water started filling the tub, and I could add soap and go fetch my clothes while the washer was filling, like I used to do back in the day. It's also so much less annoying to hear in my one-bedroom apartment while it's running, just a nice background hum, not the whomp...whomp...whomp agitation sound of the VMW machines. Gah, that noise drives me crazy!

If you guys can tell me where the model number is usually located, I will try to get it for you so you can tell me more about my machine. To give a bit of a description, though, it has a relatively small cycle dial on the right hand side, and from what I can tell there are just too cycles, permanent press and regular. You turn the dial exactly halfway around to get a 12-minute regular wash. There are three buttons for load size, and three for temperature selection. As I said, I know a model number would be helpful, so I will try to get that eventually.

As stated, I proceed with a bit of trepidation, but am also pretty excited to have this special old washer in my home.

Ryne





Post# 1147067 , Reply# 1   4/21/2022 at 10:57 (706 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)        

wayupnorth's profile picture
That sounds like yours is the same vintage as my 511. I bought the set new in 1984 and still run like new with one $28 part in all these years. I think you will be happy with it.

Post# 1147068 , Reply# 2   4/21/2022 at 11:12 (706 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
Model/serial tag may be on top of the console, back of the machine, or under the lid at a corner of the loading port.  Serial is coded for month & year of factory production.


Post# 1147069 , Reply# 3   4/21/2022 at 11:14 (706 days old) by Pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada)        
a pic of the washer would help

pierreandreply4's profile picture
wouls be nice to see a pic of the washer

Post# 1147071 , Reply# 4   4/21/2022 at 11:23 (706 days old) by qsd-dan (West)        

qsd-dan's profile picture
The model of the machine will be on the top console if you can fill the washer with the lid open.

Post# 1147076 , Reply# 5   4/21/2022 at 12:05 (706 days old) by Good-Shepherd (New Jersey)        
How long do I have before it breaks?

Depending on mileage and condition it could outlast most new machines on the market today.

Even it did have a problem they can usually be repaired without costing a small fortune



Post# 1147098 , Reply# 6   4/21/2022 at 15:46 (706 days old) by thatwasherguy (Kentucky)        
model number location...

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It depends on the machine, but it will be located on a tag either in the right rear corner of the lid opening, or on the top of the control panel cover, in the center. The age of the machine can be determined from the serial number, which is also located on this tag. You can get a rough estimate of the age from the control panel as well. If the timer dial is in the center of the machine, it was manufactured from about 1956 to 1980. If it is on the right side of the control panel, it was made between 1980 and 1989. Congratulations on your find! I’m sure you’ll enjoy it for many years to come.

Thatwasherguy.


Post# 1147102 , Reply# 7   4/21/2022 at 16:18 (706 days old) by ryner1988 (Indianapolis)        
Washing more catchup laundry today and love it still...

ryner1988's profile picture
Today I'm continuing my marathon catchup session by washing bedding. I must say, I'm amazed by how much this machine can fit, relatively to the perceived small capacity. It doesn't look upon first inspection like it holds much, and it certainly does hold less than today's massive capacity machines. But, I was able to get a full-size thick comforter in there with relative ease. I was not expecting to be able to do this.

Post# 1147118 , Reply# 8   4/21/2022 at 19:04 (706 days old) by Good-Shepherd (New Jersey)        
purchase a new washer anyway at a moment's notice?

Vintage Maytags usually give ample notice if there is a problem and still keep chugging.



Post# 1147120 , Reply# 9   4/21/2022 at 19:25 (706 days old) by Good-Shepherd (New Jersey)        
I was able to get a full-size thick comforter in there

Vintage Maytags were not built to wash the big puffy comforters people use today and don't handle overloading well in general: Poor turnover while items at the bottom of the tub a take beating from the agitator fins.

Twin size comforter is largest I will wash in my A712 and even then turnover is almost non-existent and requires multiple pauses to rearrange the load.


Post# 1147132 , Reply# 10   4/22/2022 at 00:13 (706 days old) by robbinsandmyers (Conn)        

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If it was in a barn for any length of time I would remove the front cover to make sure there arent any nests inside the cabinet.

Post# 1147137 , Reply# 11   4/22/2022 at 03:37 (706 days old) by qsd-dan (West)        

qsd-dan's profile picture
Critical areas to address:

The motor carriage is responsible for proper agitation and spin. Anything slightly out of kilter here results in poor agitation, spin, rinsing, and drain issues. Highly recommend you get a kit (205000), clean the carriage/tracks, and install new roller/glides. It comes with new springs as well. This kit has been discontinued so get one now before they're gone.

Check the belts. They're probably original and in need of replacement.

Critical area of attention is the damper pads. If they're still present and in good condition, lube them NOW. These should be re-lubed every 20 years or so under standard residential use. Failure will result in damage to the aluminum damper, which was discontinued in December 2014. All sources for new replacements have long been exhausted.


Post# 1147151 , Reply# 12   4/22/2022 at 10:45 (705 days old) by ryner1988 (Indianapolis)        
Thanks for these helpful tips, but...

ryner1988's profile picture
I'm blind, and my wife is in a wheelchair. Doubtful that we would be able to work on these things on our own. The frustrating thing is, I understand your instructions perfectly and am confident that under the proper supervision, I could follow them. Unfortunately though, once the washer starts acting up too much, she will probably just want to get a new one instead of putting money into something this ancient, and both of our families would feel the same I'm sure. I don't blame them. I think this was only meant to be a stop-gap measure while we wait to be in a better financial place to get a new machine. This one is a great machine though, and I hope it lasts a while. Right now, everything seems to work fine, it certainly agitates and spins properly.

Post# 1147153 , Reply# 13   4/22/2022 at 10:55 (705 days old) by ryner1988 (Indianapolis)        
My plan once this dies...

ryner1988's profile picture
Would be to possibly get a Whirlpool direct drive machine. They still operate in the way that I prefer, and although still old by today's standards, I know parts are much more plentiful than on the machine I have now and I could probably more easily get help if something were to go wrong.

If my family absolutely insists on a new machine, I've decided I want a front loader. I've researched and I believe them to be far superior than the low-end top loaders sold today. Case and point, the VMW machine that my Maytag replace lasted just a hair under six years.


Post# 1148569 , Reply# 14   5/12/2022 at 14:37 (685 days old) by DannyBoy (Texarkana)        
term

Please pardon my ignorance, but what does VMW mean?

Post# 1148570 , Reply# 15   5/12/2022 at 15:00 (685 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
VMW = Vertical Modular Washer, Whirlpool's terminology for the design that replaced direct-drive in 2010.



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