Whirlpool direct drives SUCK

maytaglover68 · Sunday at 19:16

I’m not sure why people like them, I threw out mine and got a dependable care.

They are SO problematic, the seals rot out and the motors, pumps, lid switches all commonly fail. Most direct drives failed within 10 years, Maytag DEPENDABLE CARE WASHERS, NEPTUNES, AND NORGE MAYTAGS ARE FAR SUPERIOR. Whirlpool completely ruined Maytag. I wish Maytag made more of the Neptune TL’s, they were probably the best high efficiency washer ever made.

Direct drives also used a stupid coupler that failed all the time, they had agitator dogs that kept failing also. The timers on the direct drives also were bad quality. I wish Maytag acquired Whirlpool instead of them acquiring and ruining Maytag.

maytag85 · Sunday at 19:52

I would have stopped at the Maytag Dependable Care/Helical washers. Anything with the ‘Maytag’ name can’t compare to a genuine Maytag machine, the Neptunes and Norge built machines all had something conk out which is what led to their demise.

qsd-dan · Sunday at 20:08

Timers on the DD's through the mid 90's were okay but things started taking a nosedive after that. The last versions of them were pretty terrible. Honestly the timers on most washers from the mid to late 90's and on were not that great compared to older ones. The separate deep rinse pressure switch was a horrible idea and tore up fabrics badly, especially with full loads. Those in the know cranked that pressure switch all the way up for a full tub of water.

cfz2882 · Sunday at 20:20

the early pin type couplers did send a few DDs to an early grave-cinch fix, but i found these at the dump with broken couplers quite a bit starting about 1990...the later paddle type couplers ( starting around 1992 ?) were a lot better,the final version including reinforced rubber puck better yet. DDs have a powerful motor: rated 1/2 hp,but closer to 3/4 hp by amp draw and stack size (same rated HP situation as T model GEs) The 4 rubber motor bushings sag and place motor and tranny shafts out of concentric. I have found DDs with rusted out center post and others with no rust at all...

panasonicvac · Sunday at 23:43

I love mine, I just retired it but it was a great machine overall. Never had a problem from what I recalled.

daveamkrayoguy · 2026-01-05T01:43:04-0600

I liked my Kenmore direct-drive, enough that I wish I had it back…

Only for the ‘90’ it was, I wonder why there was no fabric softener dispenser…

DADoES · 2026-01-05T06:47:32-0600

daveamkrayoguy said:
I liked my Kenmore direct-drive, enough that I wish I had it back…

Only for the ‘90’ it was, I wonder why there was no fabric softener dispenser…

Lack of a softener dispenser was surely intended as a marketing effort to upgrade to a more deluxe model. Pretty much any Whirlpool or Kenmore classic belt-drive or direct-drive machine could have an agitator-mounted softener dispenser by determining which one fits the particular agitator and buying it from a parts source.

maytag85 · 2026-01-05T12:58:00-0600

Honestly, Whirlpool should have just made 2 or 3 models to reduce production costs and have better economies of scale.

daveamkrayoguy · 2026-01-05T13:22:34-0600

maytag85 said:
Honestly, Whirlpool should have just made 2 or 3 models to reduce production costs and have better economies of scale.

Yes, oh, yes—put out whatever most popular, efficient and in-demand features…

Kitchen Aid could only build dishwashers, could as only wanting to, and made only a maximum of four or five, so just imagine company like Whirlpool doing that with its best pride of appliance making done in the washers, dryers, dishwashers and refrigerators, the only best-selling and consistently made-right!

vacerator · 2026-01-05T17:15:10-0600

Well that's not how marketing works. Any color as long as it's black, went away by 1920.

qsd-dan · 2026-01-05T17:35:14-0600

maytag85 said:
Honestly, Whirlpool should have just made 2 or 3 models to reduce production costs and have better economies of scale.

All manufacturers back then really should have done that. BOL, MOL, TOL and call it a day.

phillymatt53 · 2026-01-05T18:06:54-0600

DADoES said:
Lack of a softener dispenser was surely intended as a marketing effort to upgrade to a more deluxe model. Pretty much any Whirlpool or Kenmore classic belt-drive or direct-drive machine could have an agitator-mounted softener dispenser by determining which one fits the particular agitator and buying it from a parts source.

If I remember correctly, the dual-action agitator machines listed in the Sears catalogs often listed the agitator-mounted dispensers as an option.

Whirlpool direct drives SUCK

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