Washing Machine Dilemma
 

Our 23 year-old Maytag top-loader has a broken tranny (will not agitate!). I'm either investing $300-$350 in a new tranny (and likely many hours of my weekend, plus other parts) or buying a new washer. I'm leaning towards a new one, unless someone can convince me we should preserve this "American Classic".

Worst-case scenario: I fork out on a new washer that my wife hates - we've heard modern washers are a bit crap. With 3 little kids, it gets a ton of use.

What's the reality and any suggestions, please? Also, preferred retailers - Costco, Home Depot? I've lived in the US for 14 years and never bought one.

Bonus question: any love for stackable washer/dryers, or are they only if you desperately need the space?

Cheers!

I have to admit that I love my old Maytag top loader.

But $300!!!

Not that much.

My 1996 Kenmore/Whirlpool DIREECT DRIVE needed a Coupler and put a new pump in as prevenativ. 300. Motors can last 40 years or more.

REPAIR MAN SAID THOSE WERE THE BEST MACHINES EVER BUILT. SO HE SAID KEEP IT EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO PUT A G INTO IT TO REBUILD. NEW ONES LAST 2 TO 3 YEARS AND DO NOT CLEAN AS WELL.

People actually look for those DIRECT DRIVES machines to use.

No.agatation does not mean broken trans..a coupler causes the same thing.

As Tabs says, maybe dive into it and see if you can see something obvious - like a coupler. Seems a shame to buy something crappy.

I fix cars for "fun." I fix airplanes for a living. I also pretty much fix anything else in my life that has broken. I work with a number of gentlemen who live a similar type of life. some of these guys are fantastic mechanics that can and do fix anything.

the prevailing attitude with washing machines is...buy the cheapest one and run it till it stops then do it again.

for whatever it is worth. that is what I have done for quite a few years. i'm ok with it.

We replaced our 20+ year old Maytag with a Speed Queen top load; very old school but works great.

Mike

If you get another washer, get a used one. People sell them all the time because they are moving into a place that already has one. Cheap and they work fine.

I second Mike's "Speed Queen" suggestion. We got one about 5 years ago, and never an issue with it. No computer in it, and built like a tank. Same ones used in laundromats.

Rich Ameticans..wat are ya gona do?

I third the Speed Queen suggestion. They're built like a tank. I have one with none of the fancy stuff, just a few knobs you turn for settings.

I also like the "buy a used one" suggestion. I got a really nice washer/dryer set for my daughter from an older person who was downsizing to a condo and the condo had a washer/dryer.

Another vote for buying a used one. You should be able to find one for under 100 bucks. In the 35 years I’ve owned washers and dryers, I’ve never bought a new one. I still have the used dryer I bought in 1985. I would still have the matching washer, had the female of the species not spotted a slightly newer one at an estate sale 15 years ago.

Every single person I know that has bought a newer design has eventually hated it.

True on the speed queen. Have some in an apartment. They get used daily.

I paid $200 for a nice used glass top Kenmore from a place here that sells used appliances. That was probably going on 3 years now. It gets used almost daily and hasn't missed a beat.

Here's the problem with new units. Almost all are HE ' high efficiency ' which does not clean as well and the cycle takes forever.

I have a brand new Zydeco wash board for sale ... makes much better music than an old one.... $1500 :D.

+1 on the used appliance "clearinghouse"... local one gets all the area's "big box rejects" and tons of older stuff. Several warehouses full... I've used them for rentals before.

For a Pelican... I'll take $1000 for my washboard tho'!

I had this dilemma once around six years ago when I moved into a new house.

Kept the old ones after being lectured by the guy selling the new machines.. New are crap, the old ones are designed to last 15 years or far longer.

Had that urge to buy new and cool machines, washer and dryer. But I also had a set of immaculate Montgomery Wards "Admiral" machines, at least 30 years old now. Decided to keep those. They work perfect and look cool in a retro way.

I did have to spend $100 on a repair on the dryer once. Appliance repair of these old machines is good business these days.

Our washer and dryer are both my wife's machines since before we were married, and our 30th anniversary is in March.

I had to replace a circuit board that controls the lid open, stop the machine function. I went to the local Maytag shop and told him the model and what the issue was. I started to tell him what I found when I took it apart, and he interrupted me, held up his hand and said hang on. He went to the back, an was back inside of 10 seconds. New board in hand. He said this will fix it, just be sure the little mouse trap of switches is adjusted properly. He had even made instructions with a hand drawn diagram on how to install it. It was cheap like 25 bucks. I likely could have desoldered the switch from the board and maybe found a new switch but this was way easier.

My wife has no desire to get some internet connected fancy display front loader super high water saving power saving washer that does not clean well and breaks in two years. One of the ladies she eats lunch with regularly has a new house and it came with fancy washer and dryer. After 9 years she is on her third washer and second dryer.

well

USED IS THE WAY TO GO

I got a miele dryer for 200 list was 1599+ 300 for the bottom drawer/stand
depreciation on a appliance is way more then most items

when I went to look at test the dryer it lit up but did not start
had to put wet cloth in it or the unit does not run empty as it has wetness sensors
to prevent over drying / cooking the cloth with auto shutoff

New low budget ones used to start at $350-$500 but that has pretty much doubled or tripled.
(Take your nitroglycerin pills the next time you go shopping)
$800+ now for flimsy plastic garbage. The quality is not the same.

If you can change oil, you can fix the mechanical side. They are surprisingly simple and easy to work on.
There are a few threads which have links for online parts.