Step By Step Instructions On How To Operate A Vintage Maytag Washer - By Request

First thing, My machine has been modified to run with the lid open. These machines normally only operate with the lid closed so if you open the lid and it stops it's doing what it is supposed to do.
I had a request from a viewer to make a step by step video showing how to operate a vintage Maytag washer. They just moved into a new house that has a similar washer to mine but they don't know how it works or the proper way to run laundry through it. So here is the video they requested.

[@ericgreen2195]

I love that washer. It deserves lots of credit.

[@EDT278]

A very smart thing to keep this Maytag instead of replacing it with a new one. My family had one of these type ( A806 to be precise) We have it for 35+ years.

[@ferofera8785]

Thanks

[@loucrappi5869]

Love it

[@poveye]

You saved my life... Thanks........

[@tallboyyyy]

Glad to hear my video helped you.

[@user-gn5oy9jq6r]

Thank you so much!!!

[@tallboyyyy]

I'd grab the agitator and shake the whole tub around and see if that resets the out of balance sensor.

[@markhannan2569]

I used to have a vintage maytag washer on the intermediate spin I used to manually switch it to gentle action then before the final spin I manually switch it to normal action

[@EDT278]

The A806 has a warm rinse option. This model was made circa 1970

[@maryrobert80]

Great Video tallboyyyy, One more thing to mention about the lid switch, It also acts as the "out of balance switch" If the load becomes off balance during the spin cycle, the machine will shut off automatically... Raise the lid, redistribute the load all around the tub and then close the lid again and it will resume spinning automatically!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all...

[@tallboyyyy]

That is interesting to know because mine never did that even before I hot wired the lid switch. It would just start banging and I would have to run downstairs quick and stop it.

[@maryrobert80]

@@tallboyyyy Yes, it's a spring loaded switch and the outter tub has a little lip on the back end of it and when the tub starts swaying too much during the start of the spin, that lip would hit the switch and shut it off!!! However if the spring has broken off from the switch, it will just keep banging and not shut off at all!!!

[@lovelyn3rd]

Thank you for this video! Just moved to a place that has one of these and I really wasn’t sure I was using it correctly

[@risingsun9915]

I have this washer and I believe the belt for the spinner needs to be replaced. Any chance you can show how to get into this beast. Lol.

[@DrummerboysWashersAndMore]

Interesting that yours has a Hot/Warm option. My A408S only has cold rinses.

[@tallboyyyy]

I wondered what the difference was, now we know

[@DrummerboysWashersAndMore]

@@tallboyyyy Yes mine was built September of 1978, so the same year as yours. The S part of A408S means that the machine is a Suds Saver model. It’s interesting that on the Suds Saver models they removed the option for a warm rinse. I wonder if it was because they did not have enough buttons on the console to add an extra one with a warm rinse?

[@loucrappi5869]

I want it

[@user-qv3or7rs4l]

How do you rest the washer after an unbalanced load tripped and washer won’t restart?

[@JrsGaragePa]

Awesome video and great machine. I've got a 408 that needs a motor and it's missing half of the wiring schematic. Could you do a small video on the schematic and the control panel so I can double check my wiring?

[@tallboyyyy]

Do you know where the schematic is located? If I've seen it before it was a long time ago and I don't remember where it is. I haven't had the back off the control panel in many years if it's in there.

[@JrsGaragePa]

it's on the back of the control panel on the outside. I'm envious of your washer, I can't wait to get mine running again

[@JrsGaragePa]

I'm curious how you wired your lid switch too. I was thinking about adding a toggle switch

[@tallboyyyy]

@@JrsGaragePa I'm editing the video you requested right now. There is a small problem in that the schematic on the back of my machine is for an A308 washer. I bought it at a used appliance store and apparently the control panel cover got switched. I'm thinking that most of it is probably the same so hopefully you can figure out what you need from what I have. The video should be up in about an hour or so.

[@Jerry-gf9bf]

The reason why they made it to pause like that for a minute before each drain and spin is so that any sand or soil they came out of the clothes with settle to the bottom of the tub and drain and spin out first

[@tallboyyyy]

That may be the sales line they told people as I have heard that as well but the real reason is because the motor has to come to a full stop before the machine changes from agitate to spin because the motor has to reverse direction and run the opposite way to go into spin mode. If the timer advanced to the spot where the agitation stopped and immediately went into spin mode the motor would continue in the original direction and keep agitating. The only way for the timer to bring the motor to a full stop is to advance once to hit the stopping point on the timer and then wait for the timer to advance once more to start the motor running in reverse which engages spin mode.

[@Jerry-gf9bf]

@@tallboyyyy thank you for the information appreciate it I'm wondering my grandmother had a wonderful GE washer actually two of them which I dearly loved and they paused too I wonder if it's the same thing you're talking about or there's really is letting the soil and stuff go down to the bottom so it spins out first anyhow that does happen when it stops like that and surely does

[@EDT278]

Could be unbalanced,also if it stops while spinning.