Our Maytag washer filled with water and then nothing, I turned the timer knob to spin and was able to get the water out, since then I have replaced the timer but now it will not fill with water but will spin if you turn the timer to the spin. position.
Ok, what I am assuming now is that when you try to start the machine and turn it on, nothing happens, but if you turn the timer to spin you do get spinning.
In this case the likely culprit is your water pressure switch. I would first test to see if 120 volts are getting to your water valves when you try to start the machine. If so, the valves need to be replaced. If not I would replace the water level switch. Here is that part.
http://www.appliancepartspros.com/partsearch/model.aspx?model_id=26850
This is a pretty old machine, but it is a good one and given that you have already spent money on a timer I would continue to try and find the problem. It is almost certainly electrical, so you should be able to fix it.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out.