My first Maytag - used but a goodie. (with a few minor problems)

[Old_Radio_Collector]

I decided to give my 40 year old Kenmore the heave-ho and was looking for a servicable washer cheap.  On Craigslist I found this Maytag for $65  "Works but it may need a belt".

I'll digress here for a moment and say it is a model LAT8826AAE with a UD date code (Feb. 1989)



In talking to the owner (who ended up selling it to me for $50), apparently they had it at another house; they moved and since then it did not work right.  One belt came off repeatedly, so they just bought a new washer and sold this one cheap.

Looking at the underside it became obvious what happened.  It was moved with an appliance dolly from the front and in doing so they broke the pump pulley. 


I knew, worst case, I'd have to replace the pump...but maybe I could fix it.

So, some J-B Weld and a little piece of Garolite to make a firm side, this is what I came up with.  It was a gamble and if it didn't work, Repair Clinic is 15 minutes from where I work and they have them for $67.  So this is my completed, "alternative repaired" pump:





It works!  The machine is now washing its third load of clothes with this pump...

Now my problem:  The agitator has a corkscrew piece, same as my Kenmore machines.  Something is wrong - it is free to turn (or not turn) and as such it does nothing useful.  On the Kenmore machines this would be caused by worn or broken pieces inside the agitator but the Maytag agitator is different.  On the top it just has a deep cup, the cup can be taken off and there's just another equally empty cup under it...but it looks like something is missing.



How do you fix this?  This is my only problem with the machine.

[Washaman]

That hole in the middle is for the fagric softener to drain down after the spin. If you pop the whole top you can see the agitator has other holes in it to allow it to mix into the water. Unlike the Kenmores/Whirlpools there is no bolt in this hole to hold the agitator down. The hold down screw is located toward the bottom on the side of the agitator and if I remember correctly it's 1/4 inch nut. If its agitating slowly make sure you don't have it on Delicates cycle, make sure it's on Normal. If it's on normal it could be a slipping belt? The bearings in the pump could have been damaged also causing it to slip. It looks like a quick fix but that damaged pulley will eventually cut the belt and cause premature wear.

[Washaman]

Also I meant to tell you to check the hold down screw and see if its present, and if you can pull up on the agitator and remove it. If its locked in place and the screw is there your agitator is stripped, similar to the "dawgs" on the Kenmores.

[Washaman]

Looks like they don't sell just the dawgs, similar to a Frigidaire that you have buy to by the whole agitator:
http://www.repairclinic.com/PartDetail/Agitator-Assembly/22001821/454575?modelNumber=LAT8826AAE

[Old_Radio_Collector]

Oh, the agitator itself has a very vigorous action.  It is just that the corkscrew part can turn freely in any direction with respect to the agitator.  The agitator itself (the bottom portion) works fine.

[Washaman]

Sounds like you need to order a new one then.

[Old_Radio_Collector]

Not until I see if there is some way it can be fixed...

[Old_Radio_Collector]

Also, I am used to my Kenmores having an off-balance buzzer that is loud enough to wake the dead.  This does have an off balance switch, but it looks like all it does is stop the machine.  Is there supposed to be a buzzer on it, or is the only indication that it is not running but it should and the power light is on?

[Washaman]

Well if you like rigging things drive a 6 inch drywall screw in it to lock the two together.  Maybe a 2 inch will do the job.

[theoldstoveguy]

The lid switch will open causing the washer to be dead.(light will still be on) To reset lift the lid and set it down again. Reposition clothing if needed.

[Old_Radio_Collector]

Well if you like rigging things drive a 6 inch drywall screw in it to lock the two together.  Maybe a 2 inch will do the job.

I took it apart...it is a different arrangement from the Kenmore and a 1/2" screw locks them together just fine.  But it is also obvious that it was not designed to be repaired.  Perhaps that is why they made the agitator so easy to remove.  It does not do its job if it is locked either.  Oh well, Repair Clinic is open today and I need to go to the shop to get my trailer anyway...so I'll buy an agitator this afternoon.

[theoldstoveguy]

That is the last of the good Maytags built. I wish they still made them, but since they rarely broke down Whirlpool couldn't make as much money selling new. So BYE BYE.

[Old_Radio_Collector]

That is the last of the good Maytags built. I wish they still made them, but since they rarely broke down Whirlpool couldn't make as much money selling new. So BYE BYE.

That is what I figured    I remember a local Maytag dealer had a cutaway model of the Maytag transmission; if I remember correctly there were only a couple of gears in it and not much else.  Over the years I've come to realize that the simpler something is, the lower its parts count, the less likely you are to have trouble with it.  I have rebuilt Kenmore/Whirlpool belt drive transmissions, there are a lot of little pieces in there but hey, there's a lot going on...then I saw the Maytag transmission and was amazed by its simplicity.  Or to put it another way, spending almost $75 for that agitator wasn't such a bad deal - for just under $125 and a little of my time) I have a washer that I am certain will serve me well for a long time.

BTW, does anyone know if the current Maytags are really just the direct drive Whirlpools that we've had for the last 30 years or so?

[Old_Radio_Collector]

The new agitator...I got it yesterday fro Repair Clinic (brick-and-mortar store open 7 days a week!)  I noticed it had a FSP label on it...FSP, that's Whirlpool...oh, that's right, Maytag is Whirlpool now...but the new agitator does work nice...

[Washaman]

Yes, the new Maytags are Whirlpool direct drive, but after all these years Whirlpool has changed the design. And yes, Whirlpool makes all the old parts too.