Technical question about old Maytag toploaders.

[vernonmaytag]

We still have a bunch of old Maytag toploader machines, and are starting to have a bit of problem with corroded injectors. The rubber builds up calcium and oxydizes. Once this happens, we get leakback and water on the floor.

Not sure the full purpose of the injectors, aside from preventing backsyphoning. The question comes down to this: Is is advisable to bypass the injector tubes with just a straight pipe?

[marcrab]

I have the same problem you know there cheap enough and very easy to replace them.My experience with anything is if they desighned it that way do your self a favor and don't try to re-invent it .

[Derbunk]

common problem with the maytags, usually a 5 to 10 minute job. Also wondered about it but like Marcrab said not sure i want to reinvent things, but who knows... any comments wise ones?

[Quartermaster]

They are real easy to replace and only cost about $1 each.

Remove the front panel. Remove the bolts holding the top panel and tilt it up and back. Loosen the hose clamp, pull the hose toward the front of the machine. The injector will come with it. Remove the rubber injector from the plastic piece inside, replace with new rubber injector. It may take a little lubrication to get it back into the hose. Reassemble everything and away you go. 15 minute job.

I've replaced mine with a 1/2" piece of copper tubing when I didn't have a spare injector and it works just fine. It just defeats the purpose of the original part. As long as you will have to go through the repair procedure and replace that bad injector with 'something', it might as well be the correct part.

[vernonmaytag]

I suppose. Since it seems to be a common reoccuring problem, I had just wondered if the bypass would cure it.

We need to order 5 or so, may-be 10 (Probably buy a couple of the plastic inserts too while I'm at it.)

[petefritz]

The old SQ's ( and new ones) have this. The old ones I would drill out the back-flow when it started to fill slowley, the customers loved it.. The part is to protect the safe water supply from infiltration of bad water. I am not sure how water can go from the tub back thru the water valve and back into the hoses, all under pressure, to contact the pure public water supply. this is an over engineering feat. I have seen the injector missing in older Maytags.

[DuboisLaundry]

it is a safety "feature" to protect the public water supply in those rare occasions when it loses pressure, perhaps during a backhoe accident that damages a water main. wouldn't want washing machines to siphon back into the supply line if that happened

[solonz]

If they're 10 - 14 years old, wouldn't it just be worth replacing them with new, utility efficient Maytag top loaders, or even Maytag front loaders? They are around $1300/each, and save you a ton on your electric/gas/and water. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but just wondering for arguments sake, because I'm getting into a new mat with 1/2 of the washers (16 of them) being old maytag tops... I figure they should probably be replaced with improved stuff, and freshen the place up a bit, reduce my maintenance headaches, and reduce my utility expenses equalling more profit to boot!

[Derbunk]

as long as they are in good cosmetic shape there is very little to be more efficient on a top. The only thing might me less electric and maybe a little less water, but the basis of operation is going to be the same. Also the newer maytags use a temperature regulated water valve, so that the water can not go past a certain temperature, injects cold water to keep the output a certain temp. If you want to use less water on the older maytags then adjust the water pressure switch.
About 5 years ago we replace a group of old maytags, they were still in working order and would have been for quite some time, but the paint was showing its age and the color.... well lets jsut say the gentleman that droped off the new tops said that he had been with Maytag for a long time and the last time they had produced the avocado green and harvest gold was early late sixties to early seventies.

[vernonmaytag]

It's also a matter of capital to replace ALL the machines. We are in the process of replacing machines. But we have also taken the chance to reuse some of the older machines in the back so that we don't tie up machines on the floor for our WDF and commercial accounts. We will over time be swapping out for newer as time goes by.