Thread Number: 91115  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Am I the only one who feels like I’m going to have a seizure from watching an orbital Maytag?
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Post# 1156209   8/6/2022 at 22:02 (622 days old) by WoodJack99 (Massachusetts/Virginia, USA)        

woodjack99's profile picture
Compared to an older helical one. Especially an early orbital one with the turquoise agitator like the helicals had. That bright color and fast movements. The helicals were so much gentler, quieter, and more soothing.




Post# 1156210 , Reply# 1   8/6/2022 at 22:27 (622 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

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Short stroke transmissions in general aren’t as gentle on clothes and do horribly when stuffed full if it doesn’t have a dual action agitator. Reason why short stroke transmissions mainly the Maytag orbital don’t turn over large loads of laundry all that well is short stroke transmissions simply don’t have the torque of the long stroke transmissions such as the Maytag Helical transmission and Whirlpool belt drive transmission with about a 145 to 150 degree arc.

Post# 1156214 , Reply# 2   8/6/2022 at 23:21 (622 days old) by qsd-dan (West)        

qsd-dan's profile picture
The standard capacity orbitals do pretty well but the large capacity machines without the dual action agitator have a difficult time turning over a full load, especially with jeans. Zero issues in the longer stroke transmission. Maytag should have designed the fins a bit bigger on the large capacity orbital washers. I'd personally swap a Powerfin and just use it that way.

Post# 1156246 , Reply# 3   8/7/2022 at 10:05 (621 days old) by ryner1988 (Indianapolis)        
Short stroke washers

ryner1988's profile picture
I think the primary issue short-stroke machines like the orbital Maytags and direct drive Whirlpools tend to have is overloading. Also as stated above the agitator plays a role as well. My DD machine can turn over a load just fine but because the neutral drain doesn't work right I'm really careful not to overload, as I don't want small items going over the top of the drum during spin-drain and blocking the pump. I admit that I have a tendency to overload if I'm not paying attention, so this actually keeps me in check with that. I fill the machine for sure but once I feel like I have to work to get anymore in there, I stop. Set on the super load setting, a full load does well with the agitator that came with my machine -- the specs said it's a DD surgilator, but I thought that only came on the earlier belt drive washers. At any rate, it does look somewhat different than the dual-action agitator although it is still a two-piece design and seems to work by turning the load over, rather than forcing the clothes to the bottom of the tub.

Post# 1156248 , Reply# 4   8/7/2022 at 10:45 (621 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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I've never had any problems with short-stroke DD machines in all the years of using them:  seven years of granny's 1985 spin-drain Design 2000 (which didn't have a dual-action agitator), my 1991/1992 KA, occasional use of the parents' 1994 KA, occasional use of a 1999 KM 90, a few runs of the 2002/2003 WP Gold that I refurbed, and a couple of the 2002 Catalyst.  I load them up to capacity, and am not overly generous with water level selections or aggressive with agitation speeds.

The WP Gold clip is a set of twin sheets, extra pillow cases, and a bedspread.










Post# 1156260 , Reply# 5   8/7/2022 at 15:33 (621 days old) by lotsosudz (Sacramento, CA)        
Overloaded!

lotsosudz's profile picture
It appears that the top video, the load desperately needed more water added, and the lower one was just plain overloaded



















it appears to me that the top video desperately needed more water added, and that the bottom video shows a overloaded washer. I know that the DD machines held, and handled large amounts of clothing, but to me it seems overloaded. Just my 2 cents.
Hugs,
David











Post# 1156261 , Reply# 6   8/7/2022 at 15:35 (621 days old) by lotsosudz (Sacramento, CA)        
OOPS

lotsosudz's profile picture
Sorry for the duplicate copy!
David


Post# 1156286 , Reply# 7   8/7/2022 at 21:08 (621 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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Neither load was overloaded or short of water. Everything came out fine, clean & freshened.


Post# 1156324 , Reply# 8   8/8/2022 at 13:18 (620 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay)        
You Can't Beat the Pleasure of Long Stroke Action . . .

rp2813's profile picture

Words to live by for me!

 

I remain firmly in the camp with the OP.  The both videos served to validate my sentiments, the first one with audio and the second with visual.


Post# 1156327 , Reply# 9   8/8/2022 at 13:23 (620 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
Hmmm, small wonder how Maytag lid-switches prevented you from viewing ANY action when the lids were opened...



-- Dave


Post# 1156380 , Reply# 10   8/9/2022 at 05:24 (619 days old) by Gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)        

I never had a problem with my big tub Maytag orbital because I didn't overload it.
If I had a complaint it was the final rinse is too short by a minute or so. 90 seconds barely gives a full load a chance to roll over one time.


Post# 1156406 , Reply# 11   8/9/2022 at 11:56 (619 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Short Stroke Mts are far easier on clothing

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This is one of many reasons that MT made the change, having worked for Maytag in the 70s we had lots of clothing damage complaints on their washers.

 

CRs proved this with a test of one speed washers by washing sheer curtain panels Maytag was the only machine in the test that ruined the shear curtains in one washing, GE, WP, KM and even Norge washers with their very strong agitation did no damage.

 

Just a month ago a friend who bought a house in my neighborhood asked me to wash his queen sized mattress pad. [ in his current house he only has a WP compact DD washer that is not large enough to wash this, so he has brought it over to my house several times to wash and I have either done it in a super capacity DD or in my SQ FL washers ]

 

In his new house there is a mid 80s MT A511 fabric-matic large capacity washer, so I told Larry you can wash this in your machine.

 

I loaded it in on the maximum water level, the machine was able to turn it over easily.

 

Well when it was done the mattress pad was badly damaged and a lot of it was scooped out by hand and thrown in the trash, needless to say the MT will be replaced with a good used FL machine as soon as I  get to it.

 

Larry is very into saving water and energy and his CLOTHING.

 

John L.


Post# 1156421 , Reply# 12   8/9/2022 at 15:44 (619 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        
Reply #11

maytag85's profile picture
Are you sure short stroke machines are easier on clothing? I haven’t noticed anything getting damaged in either my long stroke Maytags or in the 2 years I’ve owned my ‘63 Whirlpool belt drive washer.

I even remember reading something qsd-dan posted in the archives where his grandparent’s were still wearing clothes from the 60’s and 70’s back in the early 2000’s that were washed in nothing but long stroke Maytags along with only being dried in Maytag HOH dryers for all those years as well. I can confirm this since my t-shirts didn’t show any wear when washed in my Maytag A606 and certainly didn’t show any signs of cracking on the vinyl decals when dried in my Maytag DG306 gas dryer.


CLICK HERE TO GO TO Maytag85's LINK


Post# 1156434 , Reply# 13   8/9/2022 at 16:45 (619 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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I've posted previously of a long-time family friend who told me of being unhappy with a Maytag toploader.  She needed a new machine and decided "I'm gonna get a Maytag!"  It stretched and twisted and mangled her knitted tops and sweaters, she returned it to the dealer.  Her previous machines that I recall were a GE Filter-Flo (1960s 2-speed) and a Whirlpool LAA-7700 (1974/75).  The Maytag was presumably sometime in the mid 1980s.  The shorter-stroke orbital introduced in 1989.  I last visited her in 2018 before she moved away, she had a Frigidaire frontloader.


Post# 1156565 , Reply# 14   8/10/2022 at 23:43 (618 days old) by qsd-dan (West)        

qsd-dan's profile picture
Ah, it appears grandpa John is off his meds again, or hitting the firewater.

After 40 years of use, I'm still waiting for all of this destructive, worn and torn clothes and bedding. Well, damn, here I sit still using the same old stuff decade after decade. I've retained the same statue since my mid teens and still wear those same clothes but some not in public anymore due to the changing times.

As far as opinions on different machines, it's really subjective and comes down to what one is use to. Yeah, orbitals seem a bit chaotic to me because I grew up being lulled to the sounds of long stroke 'tags. The sounds of Hobart Kitchenaid Aids and reverse rack Maytags also bring me to my happy place but would probably drive most to suicide today. Just what I'm use to. My '63 Frigidaire WCI-63 washer with the Rollermatic agitator drove me up the wall but to a boomer it probably brings back fond memories of being young, parents healthy and full of life, and grandparents still around.

Just continue using whatever brings you joy and pleasure in this world before it all comes to an end.





Post# 1156568 , Reply# 15   8/10/2022 at 23:56 (618 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        
Reply #14

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Same here, I haven’t had anything get damaged in all the years I’ve used long stroke Maytags and Whirlpools. Some of my clothes I bought 2 years ago still look fairly new despite a little cracking on the vinyl decals on some of my shirts. None of my shirts would have any cracking on the decals if they were only dried in Maytag HOH dryers gas and electric.

Post# 1156594 , Reply# 16   8/11/2022 at 08:57 (617 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Long stroke Maytags with Power Finn agitators

combo52's profile picture

Just remember Maytag changed the design because of thousands of complaints over the years of clothing damage I worked for the company I know.

 

There was never any reason to have such a large squared off agitator design in that small automatic washer tub. If I was going to have a long stroke Maytag washer is my primary machine I would at least put a Kenmore Roto swirl or a GE w ramp agitator in it With a 50 cycle pulley like others have done This also gets the spin speed up to a more decent level so it would perform closer to our new Speed Queen Toploader

 

Among the serious washer collectors on this site very few even have a Maytag in their personal use area which is enough evidence for me. Remember Maytag changed this design on their own the government didn’t force them to do it It’s not a Conspiracy it was a company making improvements in their product which were well received by consumers.

 

The last of the dependable care Maytags with the load sensor agitator were by far the best Maytag washers they ever produced.

 

PS, Dan actually I’m back on my meds lol but such comments are not appropriate and will be dealt with if you continue.

 

John L




This post was last edited 08/11/2022 at 09:18
Post# 1156596 , Reply# 17   8/11/2022 at 09:40 (617 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        
Usable Capacity

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There's an eBay sale linked in Shoppers Square for a vintage Norge promotional item touting the ability to wash 10 (ten) full-size bedsheets in the new Norge 14.  Outrageous!  The horror!   :-)


  View Full Size
Post# 1156643 , Reply# 18   8/11/2022 at 17:42 (617 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area)        

My mom purchased a Maytag A207 washer in the Summer of 1973. This washer, and the DE407 dryer, were used until I got the Whirlpool Calypso machine around 2003. I do not remember it ever tearing up any item of clothing or linens. We never overloaded it, and always used the proper water level.

Post# 1156644 , Reply# 19   8/11/2022 at 17:47 (617 days old) by peteski50 (New York)        
Maytag!

peteski50's profile picture
My family had a A810 for many years - never was anything ripped and it always washed really well!


Post# 1156676 , Reply# 20   8/11/2022 at 21:36 (617 days old) by qsd-dan (West)        

qsd-dan's profile picture
The last time Maytag had a #1 rating for their top loading 2 belt washers was the pitman based 712 in the mid 80's. None of the orbital based washers received high marks through the end of the of their demise in 2006. Maytag didn't build the orbital to combat fabric damage, that only you complain about on this forum, it was a simpler, cheaper alternative that could be serviced without removal.

I have used several orbitals and had a 212 along with a A9900. The 212 did "alright" but the 9900 had difficulties turning over the load and without damaging fabrics. That's a lose/lose situation. I fixed the 212 (it came with DG713 I wanted, the seller stated I had to take both machines or no sale) and gave it away to a friend in need. It's still working as far as I know. After playing with the orbital transmission in the A9900 for a couple of weeks, I dropped one of my 4 rebuilt pitman transmissions with a Powerfin and was satisfied again. Speaking of that, I need to take that machine out for a drive around the block. The last time I used it was around 2017.


Post# 1156688 , Reply# 21   8/12/2022 at 01:03 (617 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

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I don’t see how short stroke machines are gentler, l mean I can see that with a machine where you can manually select the wash and spin speeds such as the Kenmore 80 and 90 series machines but as for machines where everything is built into the timer, they aren’t gentler since you can’t manipulate the options.

I can guarantee that more clothes were damaged when Whirlpool went to the direct drive design back in the 80’s vs when the had the belt drive washers with a 145 to 150 degree agitation arc which were far gentler.




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