Agitator Performance

[supersurgilator]

I have a question about the Roto-Flex and Vari-Flex agitators. To me, these both seem like stupid designs, not sure what they were thinking to make an agitator without a base on it. I have seen videos of both of these agitators in action and I am not impressed, the clothes just seem to sit there. For those that have used these, how is the cleaning performance from these agitators?

 

[jons1077]

Vari-Flex

The Vari-flex is of course only found in the standard capacity machines with smaller tubs. That, to me, automatically makes an agitator more effective. Having a vari-flex in my Kenmore, I can definitely say it is a very powerful design when set on it's maximum setting. Turn over is quick and action is vigorous. I have no experience with the rotoflex but I understand it is pretty rough as well.

 

[DADoES]

 
Vari-Flex has a base/skirt. My experience with a Vari-Flex, the adjustable fins are very effective in changing the action from milder to more aggressive. Coupled with a 2- or 3-speed motor, it provides 8 or 12 "speeds."

 

[peterh770]

The Vari-Flex is very effective; however, it is a bulky agitator that take up much tub capacity. It is amazing how little the adjustable vanes legthen/shorten, but the change in wash action is incredible.

 

[powerfin64]

speaking from experiance..

The Vari-Flex is a excellent agitator design and preformer. It gives you 4 different settings, [Delicate, Gentle, Normal, Vigorous] and times that with a 3 speed motor, you've got a wide range of agitation for all kinds of clothes. Can you name another washer that has these options?
The Roto-Flex, I don't have any experiance with yet, or have actually seen one first hand. I will say that when I saw pictures of one, I thought it was strange looking, figuring roll-over wouldn't be all that great, but I wouldn't mind seeing how it does for my own experiance.

Rich

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Kenmore touted the Roto-Flex as offering 15% cleaner wash. It was very proudly advertised in the two-page catalog sections where the Lady Kenmores were offered, and I'd say this agitator got as much fanfare as the Dual Action did in 1976 and a number of years later. I do not know what the issue was with the agitator however it was apparently unsuccessful for some reason, or it would have remained in production more than a handful of years.

On the plus side, it seems very space efficient whereas the vari-flex is bulky inside a basket. The Roto-Flex has very low profile vanes, and I was very surprisingly reminded of another Kenmore agitator when I saw the recent video that RedCarpetDrew made. If you watch that video, you will see a good bit of side to side water sloshing in the tub (or back to back wave splashing). I have not seen much of this in a belt-drive Kenmore EXCEPT in Penta-Vane equipped large capacity machines. If you think about it, the vane action in those two agitators is probably very similar due to the overall similarity in design (other than the Penta having a skirt).

I do not see this back to back sloshing in my Dual-Action or Straight Vane and Roto-Swirl equipped machines. Must be something about those low lurking vanes.

Gordon

 

[yogitunes]

The original Dual-Action was a great new idea, and adding 4 vanes to the base was a better idea....but...I always thought they should have paired the Roto-Flex 6 vane no skirt base with the corkscrew of the Dual Action...there would have been some serious cleaning and rollover

 

[gansky1]

I have a Roto-Flex in my 68 Kenmore right now and really like it. I don't think it's all that rough on the clothes, but I don't overload it for sure. That Vari-Flex agitator is a fine performer but I always thought the vanes came up too high on the column (a common problem with several KM agitators) and it would have been just as effective with lower stationary vanes combined with the adjustable three.

 

[strongenough78]

I've used a Vari-Flex and as many have said, it does provide great turnover even with large loads. My Grandma had a 71 Lady K and it lasted over 20 years. My Grandfather was a carpenter and always had some very dirty work clothes that would come out spotless in that machine. I can't wait to get my hands on one. As for the Roto Flex, I've seen a few videos and was impressed with the wash action they produced. The turnover was also impressive and really sloshed the clothes back and forth in the water before they were drawn back down to the bottom. These agitator designs weren't stupid at all. The versatility of the Vari-Flex is something I'd love to see return. Find more videos of the Vari-Flex and Roto-Flex and you'll see how well they perform.

 

[alr2903]

We had the 1974 Pentavane lg. capacity, an excellent machine. From the time it was new the basket always swayed side to side during agitation. I think the 70's Lg. cap. machines held about 28 gallons of water, add the weight of the laundry and the powerful agitation, they were probably designed to sway. They washed huge loads beautifully. alr2903

 

[kenmoreguy64]

alr2903 -

Every belt-drive WP "twitches" a bit, as someone called it a year or two ago in a thread. The large capacity machines sometimes seem to twitch more, however this depends largely on the snubber spring in the machine and how strong it is. There is a lot of torque being developed in these machines and not all snubber springs are created equally so some machines are better dampened than others.

But, what I'm referring to is the water sloshing back and fourth. If you look at the recent video of the Kenmore 900 pair that Andy found, you'll see what I mean. My large capacity Dual Action machines don't do this nearly as much, and my still limited experience with a Penta-Swirl hasn't produced it to this degree either.

I'm still thinking there is something about those five or six low and long agitator fins that produce that back and fourth wave splashing during certain load conditions.

Gordon

 

[mickeyd]

Morning Gordon, You're talking about waves

And they are very striking in Andy's film and noteworthy because they are unusual. I've only seen them produced in one other venue, and that was with the old four paddle Norge agitator.

To advance your theory, the Norge has low fins or paddles and no vanes.

A view of the wave working its way across the tub:

 

[mickeyd]

And the paddles

;-D

 

[aldspinboy]

Gordon here is another video of the ROTO-FLEX agitator with that wave action.
This is from a former member here.
There is a part two in the video where he shows a bakelite straight vane the very first agitator i looked at as a child love that simple design as well as the way it jerks the basket very wig wag lol.
The only thing that i observed on the Roto-flex is the wear... in the bottom basket, it seems since there is no base the clothes seems to rub the porcelain off giving you a grey streak look so i better be careful on my kenmore.

Mike that norge agitator with those vanes are huge i am surprised it does not suck you in the basket lol WOW !

When i was in my teens i thought this agitator it was so futuristic, like i said i think it is the only one with out a base.

Off topic:
Gordon are you sure you want to be a salesmen, just think about over 70 brands
you have to hold in your head and stressful customers and talk about other appliances you don't like to talk about like air conditioners they are a pain in the a@@ to name a few... but with washers i was in the top sales bracket & dishwashers and we are trained well in independent companies.

Greg is it possible to get a tub shoot of your ROTO-FLEX that would be great thanks.

Darren k.

http://www.youtube.com/user/paykelboy#p/f/185/G2UkQE4cnAo

 

[mickeyd]

Darren, what a great find--Thanks--you are a whiz at pix&fli

At the very end of the flick, when the Roto is rinsing, the waves are so pronounced they almost look tidal. lol

 

[lebron]

I don't know about the Roto-flex but the Vari-flex is a totally different beast. It has some of the strongest agitation around.

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[sears9000]

The Roto-Flex did have one drawback.

Gordon, in my past experience with the Roto-Flex agitator, was in the 1968 800 model 3 speed alphabet washer my parents had. Now I give credit where the credit is due, this agitator did good in cleaning the clothes. A lot better than most of these new machines today. However, if you used the lower water levels, sometimes a button would get caught under a fin, and would either scratch the finish on the basket, or it pull the button off completely. To solve this, I used the highest water setting, and this worked until I had to replace it with a Rotoswirl.
Again I will say that they are much better than what they make today, and if I was restoring a machine that originaly came with a Roto-Flex, absolutely I wouldn't change it if I could help it. I would do my best to keep the integrity of the machine. Have a nice day.

 

[whirlaway]

What -Ever

The agitator in my 55 model cleans as well as any.My clothes from climbing telephone poles always came out clean.I still think you cant beat an old frog-eye Kenmore for cleaning clothes.You can have all of your different models no matter what they are supposed to do.Most of America would agree,you just cant beat a Kenmore!!!!!!!

 

[strongenough78]

?????

Ummm.....ok.

 

[whitekingd]

I agree!

Kenmore had the most innovative and best designs. My old '53 Kenmore ringer has the straight 3 vaned agitator and is an excellent performer. I also love the original Roto-Swirl. Both are superior to anything made today, in my opinion!