agitators

[waherboy]

I always wonder when I see the picture of the day. The ads from the 50' and 60's always make mention (or seem to) of how supior their agitator was and what outstanding cleaning results they produced. I never see ads that mention agitators now. Does the agitator really not make that much difference?

I dont know who is responsible for the pic of the day..but it really the highligt of my day..I look forward to it every morning./mark

 

[gmmcnair]

Most Modern Agitators

In top loaders anyways, are so similar that I cannot see a lot of difference. Whatever brand you have out there anymore, they typically have a straight-vane or some variant in the low line machines, and a spiral-auger type agitator in their middle and higher line machines. The spiral auger agitators tend to turn over a larger load of clothes more sucessfully, from what I've seen.

The new machines all look so similar to each other that I cannot see that being an advertising point anymore. I find that who is doing the laundry (e.g. how it's sorted, pretreated, and loaded) makes a lot more difference than the agitator in the machine, especially on the modern variety. Yes, there are prononounced differences in washing ability and capacity, but I still find the end user to be the biggest factor.

 

[sudsman]

waherboy

To me it seems that they were big differences in the 50s and 60s but now they all seem just run on the mill... cookie cutter jobs, pooey, No Class whatever .

 

[toggleswitch]

Alas, top-loading washers have peaked and are in decline as a class. The engineering had stabilized decades ago and many off-the-wall features were discovered to be frivolous. There we have IMHO the reason for cookie-cutter bare-bones models.

Front-loaders and "new" wash methods are now all the rage (in the US) due to impending water restriction regulations by our very dear old Uncle Sam (UIS Gov't). This is THE time to collect oddities, novelties and innovatiosn as mannies attempt to vie for market-share. Of course just not in top-loaders, which are collectible now more than ever in the sense that they are soon to become extinct in terms of availablity of new ones.

Here is a question I pose for about the fifth time as yet unanswered:

...........If the US stops the sale of top-loaders, will we still be able to get them from Canada and Mexico and points south? Surely there is an opinion or two out there!

 

[sudsman]

Very Good Question?

Wonder if well have sumggled illegal washers, Wow wetback washers who would have thought???

 

[lovewahsers]

AGITATORS

I THINK AGITATORS ARE EVERYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO WASHER. I HAVE REPLACED WASHER IN THE PASS DUE TO THE LACK OF WASH ACTION FROM AGITATOR.HERES JUST A FEW I HATE
1.GE
2.MAGIC CHEF
3.SPEED QUEEN

 

[toggleswitch]

IMHO not only does the agitator play a key roll, but speed and length of the arc are crucial.

Sad that newer T/L-ers (last 20 years. LOL) had their speed of agitation increased and length of arc shortened to have the corkscrew (top) portion of the dual-action agitators appear to move nearly constantly. *YUK*

Of course good recirculation of the water and good filtration can't hurt any either....

 

[spinout]

I think that staight vane agitators have become the defacto standared not because of what they do, but because of what they don't do. Basically, you can run any water level with the current straight vanes and they tend to be quieter and not splash as much. Older styles such as high vane and ramp type agitators seem to require higher water levels, they splash more and can be much noisier. My (Hotpoint) spiralator wants a full tub of water, or it's not happy; similar is the Roto-Swirl.

Anyway, someone probably spent a million bucks on consumer research and focus groups to determine that most consumers probably want a quiet and passive machine. They do not share OUR enthusiasm for wash action, unless, of course, it is TRENDY or they're keeping up with the Jones'; i.e., front loaders.

 

[westytoploader]

I think that out of all of them, the Frigidaire agitators are the best for capacity, though the GE and Westinghouse ramps come in at a close second. I have never been able to put such a huge load in any of my other machines as I can in my 1-18. The Unimatic can also handle a decent-sized load, considering its small tub size.

And I agree Joe, the one thing I do find a bit annoying as far as ramps are concerned, is excessive splashing on low water levels. The Roto-Swirl isn't too bad, but the GE can definitely launch that water! Watching it splash is fun, especially if it splashes on you, but wiping up the water on the top panel, as well as on whatever is next to it, isn't.

 

[mixfinder]

The Motion of the Ocean

It seems to me that an indexing or movable tub inhibits rollover more than other facter. If the tub holds still, the clothes roll over better. I have a newer Speed Queen in where I and I was amazed to find out it has an indexing tub. I hold the tub still, with my hands, so the clothes will have some quality wash time.
Kelly

 

[agiflow]

What? The newer SQ tubs index too?..Good grief.

 

[washerman8]

Speed Queen Indexes?

I have the new Speed Queen washer too, and my tub does not index when washing.

 

[panthera]

Steve,

I have this image of you swiming the Lake they call Michigan with a TL strapped to your back and a few standard flush WCs in tow...
(I was going to make this a "wetback" joke but the PC police in our forum would have had a cow, er, bovine animal of the four-legged profession.)

 

[bajaespuma]

My two cents:

IMHO the spiral agitators especially those in GE, Hotpoint, Easy and Sears machines were clearly superior to their straight-vaned counterparts. For one thing, agitators that concentrated kinetic enery at the bottom of the tub made for better rollover since the tops of the agitators, with no vanes created a low-pressure or suction spot to encourage that circulation. Secondly, moving the load in one sideways direction encouraged the largest loads to move rather than staying in one spot. Worst of all IMO were the staight vaned agitators that had "wings" or vanes at the tops of the agitators. These vanes created countercurrents of water that interferred with rollover rather than augmenting it. I proved this by replacing the white top-vaned agitator in my 1995 Maytag with the standard turquoise power-fin variety it had featured for decades. The power-fin beat it hands down.

 

[agiflow]

I have used both types of agitators and both are good for turnover...of course if the basket isn't overloaded...most any agitator straight, curve, or what have you will do a decent job circulating the wash thoroughly.

 

[gyrafoam]

IMO The straight-vane Surgilator is certainly as aggressive as the best spiral agitator ever made and more so than most especially the Hotpoint "Fountain-Filter" type and the Sears Roto-Swirl.

AND on low water level the splashing is severe if on normal agitation speed. I seem to remember a Whirly mechanic advising me years ago to use the gentle speed when washing a load on low to prevent suds-lock (NO!) and also to keep water from splashing about and causing rust over time. Smart guy.

Now, a S.Q. with an Easy Spiralator in it is a horse of another color!