1981 Maytag A710

[CossacksChampion]

I am European. We don't have such washers here. I would like to know how long do these washers take from the beginning to the end to clean the laundry?

And comparing to the european washers, would you say these maytag machines clean the laundry properly ?

[TheLucasMollet]

@CossacksChampion between 35-40 minutes

[brthdan]

The orbital trans debuted in July of 1986

[westytoploader]

Thanks for the information, I read some Maytag service literature from 1989 which showed the introduction of the Orbital tranny, but 1986 is also very plausible. Will check again and see what I can find, it's been a while since I first saw that...

[Ilovewashers]

What year did the Orbital replace the Helicals?

[westytoploader]

The Orbital transmission was introduced in October or November of 1988 I believe for the 1989 model line. 

It's a common misconception that the Newton-drive trannies are called "helicals". Both types utilized the same helical drive pulley; it was just the design of the transmission itself that changed. The Orbital tranny was smaller, had fewer moving parts, and also didn't need that big-ass counterweight like the Newton Drive did. So cheaper to produce too, as always happens...

[westytoploader]

And even though as a collector I prefer the Newton Drive, the Orbital isn't as bad as it is made out to be. No different from the DD Whirly-Kenmo's everyone always bitches about. Both have been proven to be extremely reliable, long-lived designs like their predecessors, even under heavy commercial use...that speaks volumes.

[fgbags]

i would like to see the dials on this machine. looks to be in perfect condition.

[Tuthill99]

love it

[mobilemaid]

This Maytag seems to have great suspension during the spin. The "new" used Frigidaire toploader I just bought seems to shake and jiggle on the spin, no matter what I'm washing!

[pbenna]

my spincycle is way faster

[westytoploader]

That might be true but this Maytag is a REAL washing machine, unlike the expensive toys they sell at Best Buy, LG and that other crap. And the normal spin speed for all Maytags, both AMP and helical-drive, is 618 RPM which isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination. This particular load I washed (1 set of sheets, 1 bath towel, and 1 hand towel) was dry in about 35 minutes.

I challenge you to get 27 years out of your LG or Duet without a SINGLE repair...'nuff said.

[Ilovewashers]

My Great Grandmother (who is still alive) owned a avocado colored Maytag Helical drive from sometime in the 1970's until it died in late 2005 or early 2006 and she never had a problem with it. todays Maytags wouldn't even last a decade. What's the staus of that 2003 Maytag dependable care you own Austin? I'm just asking.

[westytoploader]

I agree, a Norgetag or new Whirltag wouldn't have lasted that long, the helical-drive was one of the last good designs in my opinion. The Dependable Care is still going strong in the laundry room, averaging 12-14 loads per week. The Power-Fin agitator I installed in it over 4 years ago has had no effect on the Orbital tranny, either, even though repair literature suggested otherwise. I'd say not bad so far, wonder how many '03 Duets or Neptunes are still in use without any repairs?

[Ilovewashers]

My Great Grandma replaced the helical drive with a Norgetag but she does very few loads of laundry a week. I've only seen it in action twice in one night last december the only problem she has with it so far is that it shakes hard. still I wonder how long her Norgetag would last.

[warsh03]

My uncle had a "Norgetag" and he got a solid 15 out of it, and him and my mother got a Norgetag and they are running okay. They are decent machines, but no where near the powerhouse of these maytags, or even the Borg Warner Norges.

[Tuthill99]

really nice looking machine

[Ilovewashers]

As always the helical drive hum is what I love about these washers.

[engma91477]

isnt this the washer with beige buttons and brown control panel?

[westytoploader]

Yes, the first of the timer-right designs introduced in 1980 and my favorite control panel aside from the center-dial. 4 water levels, 3 speed combinations, 4 water temperatures, as well as Regular, Perm. Press, Soak Only, and Timed Soak (up to 27 minutes) cycles. This isn't the first machine of this type I've found, my A511 that I converted into a "bojacked" A408 had this style panel as well.

[rghfghf]

yep my parent's old maytag washer had that same bleach despencer,but only 1 speed motor(no gentle speed)

[brettsomers]

Yay Maytag. Much nicer than those water-hog, shaky GEs and those neutral-drain, slo-spin Kenmores! (ducks and runs!)

[Ilovewashers]

Shaky GE's LOL you probably wouldn't have wanted to see the really wobbly GE coin operated washers in a local apartment complex in Federal Way, Washington I used to live in when I was little.

[westytoploader]

Absolutely, I agree 100%!