1986 Whirlpool belt drive

[repairguy]

Imperial Regal find! I found this set today and picked them up with the intention of using the washer for parts. When I got the washer home and did some initial inspection and cleaning I realized it was going to be to nice to part out. I didn’t find a single belt drive close to me last year although I did have a few shipped. The folks told me the washer needed a belt but I thought it odd that the belt was gone completely. No belt dust. Nothing. So I put a belt on it and to my surprise it operated nicely. The set matches but unfortunately the dryer is the large capacity while the washer is super(for that time period). One of my favorite things on a belt drive is reinstalling the service panel after all is good so I included a picture of that as well.

 

[repairguy]

I took a few pictures underneath really because I couldn’t believe how clean it is. I forgot the service panel picture above so I included it here. A test cycle with bleach. I was told these were in storage for while so not sure how long they sat.

 

[tnmike]

Great find! Does it have the woo-woo?

 

[repairguy]

I don’t remember hearing that. This washer is really quiet in both agitation and spin. I’ll have to check again when I run a load of clothes in it.

 

[peteski50]

Whirlpool!

This was probably one of the last belt drives built
It is a beautiful set
Best Of Luck!

 

[DADoES]

 
Amazing to find specimens around here in that good of condition.

WP had a bit of oddness for a few years pairing 18# washers with standard capacity dryers.

 

[combo52]

Nice WP Belt-Drive Pair

This was the reduced capacity Super capacity WP BD Washer, The standard 5.9 CF dryer was plenty large enough for anything this washer could wash.

 

I still see quite a few nice BD WP-KM washers, a few months ago we rebuilt two of them, I sold this washer to a customer last week after her 6 YO Amana broke down for the 2nd time. She is single and only does 1 or 2 loads a week.

 

Hi Melvin, nice save on the WP pair, one tiny note, when you attach the rear panel on BD washers you should use the two centered screw holes, the one you used on the far right was only there for models that had the cutout in the access panel on Suds-Saver models. It will work either way and I guess you could even put in three screws on the non-suds models, lol

 

John L.

 

[repairguy]

For the archives:

Washer model: LA7000XPW1 serial: C62029555 stock: LA700P

Dryer model: LE7010XPW0 serial: M62809004 stock: LE701P

 

[repairguy]

Thanks for the proper securing orientation for the service panel. The panel was on backwards, the top hinges were reversed, and the drain port had been pushed through the cabinet. All corrected of course. I guess someone was trying to take it apart to replace the belt. At least they put everything back. It’s a good thing I don’t find these on a regular basis. I have no more room!

 

[nmassman44]

I remember seeing these Regal marked Whirlpools at Kmart and always liked the look of them. Nice save!

 

[bendixmark]

Regal Washer

Very nice.Definitely has the woowoo.Looks like the original pump.No belt?Perhaps they had a saboteur? I sold many of these new and reconditioned.Brings back many happy memories of the 80s before the world and my life turned to sh**.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Excellent find. Def. super clean underneath.

Not finding any belt drives in your area for at least a year? Sometimes it's good to have a dry spell because when you do find something, especially in great condition, it makes the experience even more joyful.

The rusty sump makes it look like maybe a nail or something metal is trapped and rusting in there, or they had a lot of iron in their water.

 

[70series]

Nice set. Our second dryer was the Whirlpool Imperial Seventy which had the super capacity drum, but with the slightly smaller door. Glad you got the washer to work.

 

[combo52]

Rusty Colored Pin Trap

These were usually rusty colored as there purpose was to catch things like straight pins that came in new shirts etc,

 

Iron items like straight pins would just rust away gradually but leave a stain. Before WP added this feature in 1961 it was very common for items like pins and small nails to get through the holes in the tub and block the water pump.

 

When I was a kid my neighbor had a 1959 KM 70 series washer and her son Michael left a tiny screw driver in his pocket and Sears had to come and remove it from the water pump.

 

WP-KM had much larger holes in their wash baskets than most other brands which is why they removed lint and sand etc so much better than most other washers, but it could cause service calls when foreign objects got in the wash load.

 

John L.

 

[jeb]

My aunt had this model washer. washed for a family of 5 and was a real workhorse. It moved with them a few times and ended up in a damp basement. They moved and left it behind. It could still be washing for someone if it did not turn into a pile of rust.

 

[DADoES]

 
Just to say ...

1985 model-year

Washer serial = 1986 May

Dryer serial = 1986 July

I have RJ's LA7800XPW1, which is 1986 Feb

 

[repairguy]

It is the only 1986 belt drive that I have. I think I have a couple 1985 models but the majority are 1981 and older. I never liked the short center post designs and the cheaper build quality after 1981. I chunked a lot of the ‘82-‘86 models due to rotten outer tubs. In my area most belt drive Whirlpool and Kenmores were gone after the mid nineties. Had i any idea what washers would be today I probably would’ve saved more of these.

 

[goatfarmer]

Beautiful set, congrats on the save.

 

[70skid]

Beautiful

What a find ! The cleanliness of the machinery is amazing. Congrats !