Maytag Washer Water Valves - Changes Over Time

A couple quick questions about the non-thermostatic Maytag washing machine water inlet valves:

1) Does anyone know what changed between the 2-3177 / 23177 / 203177 valve, the 2-14377 valve, and the 2-5613 / 25613 / 205613 vale? All three appear visually identical in outside appearance. The forum here likes to call the valves "universal" over a broad year range, and Maytag themselves makes statements like "This valve is interchangeable with any valve previously used."

Common practice at Maytag seemed to be that parts could be revised on-the-fly without changing part numbers so long as they were functionally interchangeable. So this reverse situation, indistinguishable parts with new part numbers assigned, is an interesting one to me.

2) Does anyone know what changed, that Maytag stopped suggesting these valves be rebuilt? Older service manuals (eg, 1971) have detailed instructions on disassembly and reassembly. But by 1975 (or earlier?), the manuals simply have the text: "This valve cannot be repaired. Should failure occur, replace the complete valve."

This seems to be uncharacteristically strong language - "cannot be repaired"... whereas for other parts, Maytag might have *encouraged* the swapping of assemblies for time/cost efficiency reasons, but they at least still provided information for the detailed repair procedure if desired. The valve assembly obviously still comes apart, and I can't see any reason why individual parts (diaphragms, etc) couldn't still be replaced individually.

3) At what point was the slow-closing anti-water-hammer feature introduced? Was this a silent change, or was a new part number introduced?

Thanks


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Post# 1153332 7/4/2022 at 15:45 (662 days old) by LowEfficiency (Iowa)
Checkrate/Likes A couple quick questions about the non-thermostatic Maytag washing machine water inlet valves: 1) Does anyone know what changed between the 2-3177 / 23177 / 203177 valve, the 2-14377 valve, and the 2-5613 / 25613 / 205613 vale? All three appear visually identical in outside appearance. The forum here likes to call the valves "universal" over a broad year range, and Maytag themselves makes statements like "This valve is interchangeable with any valve previously used." Common practice at Maytag seemed to be that parts could be revised on-the-fly without changing part numbers so long as they were functionally interchangeable. So this reverse situation, indistinguishable parts with new part numbers assigned, is an interesting one to me. 2) Does anyone know what changed, that Maytag stopped suggesting these valves be rebuilt? Older service manuals (eg, 1971) have detailed instructions on disassembly and reassembly. But by 1975 (or earlier?), the manuals simply have the text: "This valve cannot be repaired. Should failure occur, replace the complete valve." This seems to be uncharacteristically strong language - "cannot be repaired"... whereas for other parts, Maytag might have encouraged the swapping of assemblies for time/cost efficiency reasons, but they at least still provided information for the detailed repair procedure if desired. The valve assembly obviously still comes apart, and I can't see any reason why individual parts (diaphragms, etc) couldn't still be replaced individually. 3) At what point was the slow-closing anti-water-hammer feature introduced? Was this a silent change, or was a new part number introduced? Thanks

Post# 1153367 , Reply# 1 7/4/2022 at 20:00 (662 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *AW Inlet Valves* Slow close valves came out in the mid 70s in US washers. These valves while still serviceable generally were not repaired any longer, MT & WP did not sell parts for these newer valves, I have seen some aftermarket parts for them however. I tend to agree with not fixing inlet valves in the field as there is just great a chance for leaks, floods and additional problems if they are not fixed correctly. That said I have personally fixed a few hundred of these newer valves in the field, sometimes I take a new valve and use the valve assembles in an older valve body that is NLA. John L.