Maytag wringer washer
models with an 'S' (for 'safety') in their model number (like N2LPS,
E2LS, etc) originally used a pneumatic "foot pedal" that's as hard to find these days as an
honest DC politician. Original part #A5626, here's
what the bulb, tubing, and actuator kit looked like:

The idea was, you had to
step on that rubber squeeze bulb, connected to the machine via a
rubber tube, to keep the wringer rollers rotating. If things went
terribly wrong and you got any parts of your anatomy (ouch!) or the
family cat, whatever, caught in the rollers, you could just lift
your foot and the wringers would immediately stop turning (I always
thought it'd be nice if they'd reverse and back your pinched 'parts'
outta there ASAP, but they didn't!).
The problem these days
is, the rubber bulbs are dried, cracked, and crumbling with age
(sounds familiar, somehow!), leaking air and no longer allowing
the wringer rollers to run. Many times you'll buy or 'inherit' one
of these washers and there'll just be a piece of grey rubber tubing
dangling from underneath, with the bulb long-gone, and the wringer
rollers won't turn.
If you do find a
replacement, the rubber will most likely be rotted and cracked
beyond any hope of repair. I bought all of the new ones our
distributors had left in stock and could find for me several years
ago, and they're long-gone at this point.
But there's
good news! This feature's very simple to bypass, making an 'S' model
operate just like all the rest of the Maytag model wringers, so you
don't have to keep stepping on that doggoned bulb all the time (it was
a nuisance, anyway!)
To bypass the feature
once and for all, just unscrew the plastic actuator portion from the
washer leg and 'snugly' screw in a standard 1/2" bolt (13
threads/inch) in its place. You'll see it up in under the washer,
screwed into the wringer leg. Here's one (and don't worry about oil
leaking out around it; all the Maytags did):
Back in the
day, we used one of these Maytag automatic washer feet, which also happen
to have 1/2-13 threads, but any standard 1/2" bolt will do:

Hope that's of help to someone...
Was this article helpful?
Please click the "donate" button on the left side of
this page to help me keep this information free!
Many Thanks! - Dave
Copyright www.DavesRepair.com
This article may be reprinted and distributed freely only
in its entirety, including this message.