Basket-hole variations: 24-inch early DD Whirlpool

[magnumopus]

The basket recently rusted through on my 1984 Design 2000 washer.
(Model #LA7450XMW1 with 24-inch cabinet)

I salvaged another from a mechanically identical Kenmore unit.

The Kenmore basket's dimensions are the same, but it only has eight equally spaced drain holes in the base, as opposed to full-circumference holes in the Whirlpool basket.

Was this a Kenmore-only variation (for cost-cutting, perhaps?), or did these differences appear in Whirlpool units also?

Thanks!

 

[Pingmeep]

Can't speak for your specific model but have noticed for decades that often the manufactures original machine has either better parts or more features than the Kenmore unit. Sometimes the budget models parts were used in what would be a higher end Kenmore.

This board is littered with examples. Consoles with "hidden settings" blocked off with spacers, 6 motion washers that became Kenmore 5 motion washers, and the odd budget basket or agitator used in a flagship Kenmore.

Hope someone else can chime in with specifics from that era.

 

[combo52]

EARLY 24" DD WASHER BASKETS

The very frist 24" DD washer baskets had very few holes in the bottom as these washers were designed to be spin drain washers only, and because WP had also elimated the pump protector that had been used in the BD machines they were worried about things like pins and bobby pins getting into the pump. This is why MT always had such small holes in the bottom of thier wash baskets. So it sounds like you got an even older basket for your machine, but it should work just fine as your machine should still be a spin drain model.

 

WP added more holes to the basket bottom when they decided that they would go back to neutral drain on all thier washers as the spin drain was causing too many performance problems with lint streaks on clothing and vibration issues. There has never been any difference in the quality of component parts between WP and KM labeled machines that were similar in overall design and construction. It just would not make any economic sense to have two different motors, water valves, belts, baskets etc etc. In all the years I have been working on appliances I have never seen any difference in the quality of parts and this applies to other manufactories that made private label brands as well. 

 

[a440]

First Direct Drives

<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">I had several of the first WP Direct Drives. </span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Why you may ask? Because I thought that something was wrong with the transmission when it did not do a neutral drain. I bought it at D.H. Holmes in New Orleans. The store had no problem replacing it because each tech that was sent out agreed with me that it should do a neutral drain. I think by the fourth machine they must have changed back to the neutral drain because I finally received one that "worked correct". I had no idea that the first DD were spin drain designs. I found this out here when Dadoes told me in a thread many moons ago. </span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">I guess it was just a matter of months before WP decided to go back to the neutral drain? </span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Brent</span>

 

[combo52]

EARLY DD WASHERS

The 1981-1984 DD washers were all spin drain but the wash baskets changed before 1984. In 1985 they started to change to neutral drain and the change was complete with all DD machines by 1986.

 

[magnumopus]

Indeed, it is a spin-drain model.
Thanks for the replies!