Agitator fun in the Laundry Studio

[westytoploader]

A couple of weeks ago I won the agitator lot on eBay, which was excellent because not only were there agitators that fit my BD and DD Kenmores, I had never seen most of them in action before (with the exception of the Super Roto-Swirl)!! I had always wondered how the Kenmore straight-vane performed in a 27" wide machine, watching the white Super Roto-Swirl and getting a different perspective, and seeing how effective the early DD Surgilator was. But the REAL mystery was the BD Dual-Action. This one was the later QuietCog design made until the demise of the BD Whirlpool/Kenmore in 1985, and while I had seen MANY machines equipped with these, I had never seen one in action before; only its later, much more boring DD counterpart. It would have been even more fun to see the original "click & turn" ratcheting type!

While I've reiterated again and again that the DD Dual-Action is probably the most boring agitator you'll ever come across, the BD version is in fact just the opposite!! It's quite fun to watch, as the corkscrew turns much more slowly than the others, and the base has a wider stroke so the load moves back & forth slightly. Not to mention that it increases the capacity of this not-so-large tub threefold, and if there's a "wave-action" agitator around, this is definitely THE one!! On a darks/jeans load set to the high water level, water is constantly slamming and crashing up against the tub ring. Even though this is the supposedly "quieter" version, to add to the drama there's a rhythmic "Click...click....click" sound with each turn of the corkscrew. Very fun to say the least!!

When I first tried it, I washed a couple of big Bob loads to test the working capacity, which was IMPRESSIVE, and then this Sunday, as a (belated...oy) celebration of Jon's 18th birthday, I washed a sheet load with Persil Non-Bio Liquigels!! I'm still trying to decide between that and Bold 2-in-1, which is my favorite British detergent, but I still need to try the others...

Time for some pictures...enjoy!

--Austin

http://automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?photoshow=46%20@So%20many%20agitators,%20so%20little%[email protected]&dir=/COLLECTIONS/WESTYTOPLOADER

 

[tolivac]

I also enjoy my KN-BD 80 DA agitator washer-mine has the ratchet agitator-love the thing-sounds like a ratchet wrench as it works.Yes the DA agitators do well for air bubbles-squeezes them out quite well-love the "Blub-Blub"as the air bubble reaches the edge of the item.Sometimes a puff ball of suds comes out too.A also have some later cam clicker DA agitators too.To chage them from the "ratchet" one is quite a task-the ratchet mecanism isn't fun to reassemble.In terms of the big items-love how the DA ratchet does on my lined drapes-those always get air bubbles and the DA copes with them well.Glad you enjoy yours--happy experimenting-I have been fascinated by the DA ones-EXCEPT the DD type-I got rid of my DD DA machine-hated the thing.Traded it to the swap shop for A WP Imperial 90.For some odd reason DA agiators don't fit this machine.The mount and bolt on the agitator shaft is diffrent.Use the orig "surgilator" on the imperial.

 

[agiflow]

Thanks for those pictures Austin. I have seen several of these machines with the original DA agi's in them over the years. I must admit they were way better in terms of wave action unlike the present DA tators of today. The BD washers with these agi. always had consistent rollover. Was a great idea when it was new.

 

[rayjay]

Agitators

Hey Austin, Thanks for the great pictures. Although I like frontloaders more, I still have a liking for top loaders also. Especially, the 1-18's. BTW, Thanks for all of your help on the shower heads.

Ray

 

[rayjay]

Detergents

Austin, I have to say that I tried and really liked the German Persil. I can get a large box of it at a local appliance store for $40.00 It does last quite a long time.

 

[lavamat_jon]

Austin - thanks for doing a load in honour of my 18th! I just hope you didn't feed the washer too much alcohol ;-).

And yay for Persil liquigels! I've been using them recently, although I tend to just use 1 as it gives the same cleaning performance as 2, and doesn't oversuds either. Still can't beat Persil powder though - which reminds me, weren't you going to get some on one of those British import sites?

Take care!

Jon

 

[appnut]

Hey Austin, wish I could watch the PP cooldown fill & agitate with that DA agitator lol.

 

[jasonl]

Ever saw a 7 year old haul so much ass

In the Sears dept store when the DD agitators came out. I remember tearing away from my mom, bolting to the washing machines, lifting the lid and going "Wow! This is the washer of the future!" Unfortunately, that prophecy was true. Most washers now have a corkscrew agitator.

 

[westytoploader]

Bob, I'm not sure about doing a PP cooldown with this agitator because of the corkscrew forcing the load down. Maybe when I do a light load and I'm feeling brave! ;-)

Jason, I would have LOVED to have been able to see brand-new BD Kenmores on the showroom floor and been around when this agitator came out (sigh). Now they're in all machines, every single &%#!$*^ one. And each variation is pretty much 100% boring from what I've seen...shame because these early DA's are really quite fun to watch. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if Kenmore hadn't let the patent expire...

 

[DADoES]

The lower fins on my KA are so large that the corkscrew doesn't get touched on the lowest water level (which fills the tub about halfway). The corkscrew ("clothes mover" in KA technical vernacular) doesn't have a whole lot of effect (as I recall) until the load is about 2/3 size or so.

 

[gansky1]

Great fun Austin - thanks for posting the pics. Have you tried the other agitators yet? Now we have to find you a Whirlpool 'winged' agitator - that was a very good one too.

You remember correctly, Glenn. The KA that I just installed is the same. I love the larger fins on the agitator, but the auger is really just for show, it has little effect on anything less than a full load and then it's only needed to help get the load moving - then those monster-fins do the real work.

 

[DADoES]

I need to give the KA a run again. I'd sometimes raise the water level higher with reset and get more use of the corkscrew, for a SUPER-BOB load.

RJ's Imperial Seventy has a winged Surgilator.