70's Super SURGILATOR Agitator

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scrubflex

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May 12, 2008
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bronx, new york
Does anyone have a pics of Whirlpool's SURGILATOR agitator that was used in their 27 gallon 'Gigantimus Capacitus' washbasket? Agitator outside the tub, that is.
 
I have one out of a 1976 Whirlpool Mark 18. If that's what you want to see, I'll take a picture of it! Need to see anything in particular? 
 
 
I think he's referring to the super-sized bakelite version that was in the first-released 18-lb machine in 1967.  There are a couple Picture of the Day clips that have come up in rotation in the past.  PotDs aren't supposed to be posted outside of the rotation.  I have both saved, so here's just a clipping showing the larger- and standard-sized Surgilators.

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FANTASTIC

Fantastic Phil, that's actually the one and washer I'd love pics of...(BIG CHEESY SMILE) I just like to see full length views of the agitator, maybe different angles please. You know, there aren't any pics of it anywhere to see a full view of it. Kind of weird because it was in the largest capacity washer in the industry...I would love to have an Imperial Mark 18 washer now since it's possible to speed up the spinning. Phil, If you don't mind could you include some shots of the control panel features and money shots as well...and it's really strange that there are no videos of this WONDERFUL washer with this GIGANTIC tub and WONDER agitator...and thanks DADoES.

Harry
 
Here are a few pics of the agitator. I have started to part out the machine as it had a bad outer tub. I already have the motor in another washer.

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AWESOME

And that really sucks, too bad you weren't able switch and install a Kenmore 27 gallon outer tub to save it...thanks Phil. If I may, can I ask for one more shot...here is and an example view with a Double-Duty Super SURGILATOR Agitator that I really like to see.

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I don't have a machine like that. Here's a Whirlpool with electronic controls that I saw with this agitator. Sorry for the poor pictures. 

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Oh, I'm sorry Phil, you misunderstood me...I just used the pic of the Double-Duty Super SURGILATOR agitator as an example to illustrate the kind of pose to photograph your Mark 18 Super SURGILATOR agitator...same vertical (top-to-bottom) view of the agitator...sorry about that.
 
Agitators For WP Built Super Capacity Washers

Both WP and KM started out with extra large fined Bakelite agitators in their frist SC BD washers, KM had a huge straight vane and WP used a bigger version of there regular Surgilator that Glen posted above.

 

In 1969 when WP made the change to the much more durable Polypropylene plastic for agitators the new Surgilator for WPs SCWs was just like the regular Surgilator only taller, and for the KM SCWs they made a taller super Roto-Swril in either gold or white PP.

 

After this time both regular and SCWs used the same agitators for a number of years till Sears introduced the Dual-Action Agitator around 1976 and WP introduced the Double Duty Surgilator a couple years later for WPs SCWs.

 

In my hi-bread [ extra fast spinning ] 1971 LKM I used the taller white PP Surgilator agitator and it worked very well for many years.

 

With the orignal Bakelite agitators there was some speculation that the huge agitators put too much load on the transmissions, there were certainly problems with cracked and broken Bakelite agitators in these washers and WP-KM soon only supplied the newer PP agitators as replacements.

 

We have at the museum a fully restored orignal KM 518 SCW, it has my Stainless Steel center post outer sleeve upgrade and still has the orignal Bakelite three vane agitator.

 

IMEO these were the largest capacity TL washers ever built for home through the early 80s, however a SC DD WP built washer with a Dual Action agitator will easily wash as large a load as these early SCBD washers did, all these WP built washers had Norge, GE and Frigidaire 1-18s beat in capacity for sure and I will not even mention those little washers from Newton Iowa, LOL.
 
Are there any other club members that currently own the (27 gallons) Whirlpool BD washers? I haven't found any videos of the washers anywhere...and there aren't ANY photos of the '74 to '81 super SURGILATOR---outside the tub that is...there are no results of the agitator in Google.
 
I beleive I have one of these large drum washers-its Surgilator agitator is larger than another I have.Presently the washer has a blown motor.I secured a replacement from a member here-just haven't had time to install it.Guess this thread will motivate me.The orig motor died while doing a load-wouldn't you know it the motor blows during agitation while the tank is full.Then bailing it out by hand!Move the load to another washer to finish it.All of the equipment in the washer moves OK-pump,transmission, and spin pulley.Hope to get it going soon.The machine was in the corner at the swap shop-kinda of a refugee looking for a home.
 
Can't easily get the agitator out-measured it and compared it to another WP washer I have.The agitator was taller and the drum deeper than my other WP machine.Guess it would take the "Turbin of Terror" or something like that to get the agitator out.Or maybe that 2x4 thing that someone else used-that worked like a tube puller for a transmitter.Sometimes power tubes get REALLY stuck in those-the tube puller "draws and quarters" the tube-you have to take the socket and cavity assembly apart to get the rest of the tube out.-Then replace its socket and tube.
 
OUTSTANDING and AWESOME

Thanks Phil for making the time to take more pics. I searched Imperial Forum Archives from 2004 to 2010 and was completely amazed that there were no pics of the 27 gallon Whirlpool Super SURGILATOR...just could not believe it so, I really appreciate these pics...wanted to see the design difference between the SS...and there is a very noticeable difference in the design of the Super-Large 27 gallon tub SS agitator compare to the standard size tub. It looks way cool to me, thanks again Phil.
 
Well, the Super Surgilator in the smaller tubs is quite similar. I haven't tried to switch them but other than the cap and color, the one in my 1972 Inglis washer looks like the one in the 1976 Whirlpool with the deeper tub.

 

See the Whirlpool agitator in the two first pictures and the Inglis in the 3 last ones:

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Agitators For WP Built Super Capacity Washers

Only the black Bakelite agitators were larger in fin area, after WP switched production to Polypropylene around 1969 the fin area was the SAME only the post was taller.see my post above, and around 1976 WP started using the SAME agitator in ALL its BD washers except the fast spinning portable-compact models, this lasted till around 1980 when the Double-Duty-Surgilator came out.
 
The upper vertical and more flared vane is extended longer than I expected for the bigger tub SS. Looking down into the tub and at the agitator, the vanes visually appear much shorter to me.
I've never seen this Super SURGILATOR, my mom had a 1985 WP washer with the Double-Duty Super SURGILATOR and a couple of aunts and uncles had the smaller tub Surgilator agitator washers. Too bad there aren't any videos to see it it action.

John, do you think it's possible to add extra stability support for your 1971 (hi-brid) extra-fast spin LDKM?...maybe using (3 heavy duty suspension springs) to fasten to the cabinet's suspension rod cover and baseplate...decrease or even stop the walking and banging during the spins.
 
Not cheap, but

There are a couple of these on eBay as of yesterday. Had I known, I would have copied the auctions. Sorry, but I think they'll be easy to find. One of them was priced at $15.00 with a shipping fee of $115.00.  The other one was more reasonable but I forget the price. Good hunting.
 
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