Wringer washer

Just bought an Maytag wringer washer. The wringer is not working, but there is a hollow hose, the size of a spark plug wire coming from the bottom of the wringer part, but no place to put the lose end. Do you have any idea where this might go or what it’s for? The model is E2LPS.

Maida Gaddis
Myrtle Creek, Oregon

I truthfully can’t remember a hollow hose coming from any of my old Maytag wringer washers. If the wringer is not working, first engage the machine. The agitator should work. If it does, disengage the machine. Then, with the wringer off (just pull it straight up; the whole works will slide off the drive shaft). Engage the machine again. Then look down and see if the drive shaft is turning. If it is not, your problem is not the wringer but somewhere down further. If it does turn, slide the wringer on again. Turn the wringer engagement handle either right or left (center is neutral). Does anything happen? If the bottom roller turns, maybe the safety has been hit. That’s the (usually) blue, flat bar above the top wringer. If the bottom wringer turns, try tightening the handle on the very top of the wringer. Sometimes you have to gently hold up on one side of the wringer to keep it level while you turn. (DO NOT have the wringer engaged when you are doing this or you might get pinched in the rollers!)

If you can’t figure it out, you can try calling your Maytag repairman. In some areas, they still happily service wringers. You may need to take it in to the shop to save money, but they should be able to get it going for you. — Jackie

Canning at 1,400 feet

I have an All-American Pressure Canner and have begun canning some of our home-grown veggies. We live at 1,400 feet. The canner has both a pressure regulator weight and a pressure gauge, and the All-American manual says to use the 15 PSI weight when canning above 1,000 feet. At 1,400 feet, the USDA and Ball Manuals say that using canners with pressure gauges, one may can at 11 PSI.

My question is, can I begin timing when my pressure canner gauge registers 11 PSI? I am sure the texture of my food would be improved with several minutes less processing time, but I do not want to risk illness.

Also, when boiling water bath canning, my older books all say to add 5 minutes to processing time because of the extra 400 feet of altitude, but I have a newer book that says 2 minutes additional time is sufficient. I have not been able to find any other references supporting this. Has the recommendation changed?

Pat
Covelo, California

I, too, have an All American canner. What I do, as we live at 1,400 feet, is to use the 15 pound weight setting, then by regulating the heat under the canner, I use the dial gauge to maintain 11 pounds pressure.

The recommended addition for 1,400 feet is 5 minutes; this goes for altitudes up to 3,000 feet. — Jackie

Stewed tomatoes

I’ve been trying to find a recipe for a homemade version of the “Rotel” tomatoes that you buy in the store. I’m not convinced of the procedure — one site says water bath, and another site says pressure can. Thought I’d better ask the expert. Do you have a recipe for just tomatoes and peppers, and then the proper canning procedure?

Jacqueline Wieser
Sidney, Nebraska

It’s easy to make “Rotel” style tomatoes, which are only stewed tomatoes with green peppers and onion. As a starting point (you may choose any seasonings you like, such as garlic or herbs), try this:

45 pounds whole tomatoes, peeled and quartered
5 cups chopped onions
3 green peppers, seeded and chopped
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/3 cup salt (optional)
Bottled lemon juice

In a large pot, combine all ingredients except the lemon juice. Slowly bring to a simmer and simmer 15 minutes, stirring as needed. Pack hot into hot jars, leaving 3/4 inch of headspace. To each quart jar, add 2 Tbsp. lemon juice and to each pint, 1 Tbsp. Process quarts for 40 minutes and pints for 35 minutes in a boiling water bath canner. — Jackie

4 COMMENTS

  1. Regarding the hollow hose on the wringer (dead man switch). Mine had a small squeeze bulb attached to the end that would be stepped on for activatiation but it was so old it just crushed into dust when I pushed on it. I cut the end of the hose cleanly, shoved a typical nozzle end for filling swimming floats etc into the hollow end and attached it to my bicycle pump. Once the machine is running I turn the wringer handle over a bit (this is a very precise handle – bit too far and you exceed the engaging shreshold, not far enough and it doesn’t start) and give the pump a push down on the handle. This accuates the wringer device and it starts spinning. Occasionally I have to give it another puff of air.

    If you are asking about where the other end of this hose attaches to, it goes into a small device underneath the machine that is the actuator. I don’t know exactly how it works or how to trouble shoot that part of it.

  2. I believe that hollow tube coming off your wringer could be a “dead man switch”. I had a machine with that setup. There should be a bult on the end of the hose that you lay on the floor. When running the wringer, you MUST stand on the bulb. If I rocked too much while rinsing up and down, my wringer would shut off because I took too much weight off the bulb. Noone here in Sioux City, Iowa knew how to remove the darned thing and I couldn’t find much info on the website so I coped with it.
    Joyce

  3. For Rotel tomatoes you need to use jalapenos not plain green peppers. Thanks for all your info I really enjoy reading every day.

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