I've been looking for an older non-control board direct drive washing machine...was going to buy a 2002 Roper made by Whirlpool, but while trying to find a part, which is no longer available, I noticed a lot of parts were listed as not available. Is there a cutoff year where parts are still available......is part availability a problem with older machines? The new machines seem awful, is there a viable alternative? Also, I posted a thread today about moving a Roper washer, and I was not able to figure out how to respond to someone who responded to the thread. Do you have to be a paying member to respond? Is there a hidden respond button somewhere?
buying an older non-control board washing machine
- Thread starter ct
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Direct-drive parts availability depends on which parts. Major mechanical direct-drive parts were available last time I bought parts for a couple restorations. Some model-specific items such as switches and timers may be NLA. The situation may have changed from more time passing and effects of COVID. eBay is a good source for finding used items and sellers who have new-old-stock parts on-hand.
Responding to your own post is via viewing it as you would any other post, scroll down and there's an entry form to compose a reply.
Thanks for replying. I figured the Roper would be safe regarding finding parts due to Whirlpool....don't know enough about washers to determine whether the parts not-available are one's that are necessary to keep a machine going.....or even what they do...but there seemed to be a surprisingly large number of parts listed as NA for the particular Roper machine I was going to buy.
lets start with what part are you searching for your Roper?
Referencing the specific model number for any machine of any question is also a plus to get properly-informed replies.
Tha part I was looking for was the "moving kit", I don't have the part # in front of me, but it is no longer available.....As mentioned above, there were many other parts not available. I'd assume any part in a washing machine would serve some useful/necessary function....one part's suppler, when asked what one does when a needed part was no longer available, said people part out old washers.
I've not run across a "moving kit" for any direct-drive models in numerous years of perusing and buying parts for them but perhaps I just wasn't looking for it. Is it for securing a machine for transport? That's not a crucial operational part if so.
In checking availability of parts for a particular Whirlpool model I have (GSQ9669LW0), very few items are listed as NLA but several are out-of-stock. Another source lists items variously as in stock, on order, or special order. There are many sources. Short supply of some items probably is related to the COVID situation.
good-shepherd
Well-known member
any part in a washing machine would serve some useful
Depends on the part. Some parts last the life of the machine, others can be considered wear items like tires or brake pads on car.
Also, just because a part is listed as NLA doesn't mean it can't be found, simply that it is no longer in production.
Don't over think it too much, if you find a machine in good condition for a fair price buy it.
As for a moving kit its likely a brace of some sort to secure the tub during transport, nice to have but not absolutely necessary. If you're really worried something homemade could be fashioned, I recall seeing someone with those long kids swimming foam tubes used as a tub brace.
Depends on the part. Some parts last the life of the machine, others can be considered wear items like tires or brake pads on car.
Also, just because a part is listed as NLA doesn't mean it can't be found, simply that it is no longer in production.
Don't over think it too much, if you find a machine in good condition for a fair price buy it.
As for a moving kit its likely a brace of some sort to secure the tub during transport, nice to have but not absolutely necessary. If you're really worried something homemade could be fashioned, I recall seeing someone with those long kids swimming foam tubes used as a tub brace.
The shipping pins are likely still there in the plastic cups that catches them when you pull the shipping strap out!
Securing A DD Washer For Transport
Is NOT necessary the factory shipping pins were not meant to be reinstalled for future moves.
Generally if you keep the machine upright NOTHING is needed, you could put a DD washer in the back of a PU truck and drive 30,000 miles around the country and never have ay damage and even if you lay it carefully on either side you will be fine.
John L.
Is NOT necessary the factory shipping pins were not meant to be reinstalled for future moves.
Generally if you keep the machine upright NOTHING is needed, you could put a DD washer in the back of a PU truck and drive 30,000 miles around the country and never have ay damage and even if you lay it carefully on either side you will be fine.
John L.
It sounds like just putting something in the tub (pillows, cardboard, foam) to apply sufficient pressure so it can't move would work for moving.......The washer I was going to buy had to go down two flights of steep stairs, weighed about 300 pounds, and the only "pro" movers who gave me a quote, wanted over $500.00 for a one hour drive.....and that was without telling them about the stairs....couldn't find anyone else willing to move the machines.....
I'm finding that people placing craig's list ads are less than forthright about the true condition of their machines, and that is if you can get any information from them at all....."like new" apparently means "we backdated our description 15 years", the age of the machine, when asked, appears to mean whatever age the seller pulls out of the air, though, thanks to the serial #, I've caught virtually every machine's age i've looked at being much older than claimed..."works great" in a couple of cases has meant the building inspector gave his "approval" of the machine, or at least didn't say it didn't work, so the new owners and seller's of the machine go with that, never having actually turned the machine on themselves. One machine I looked at, that was claimed to be in great working condition - as it turned out, because the home inspector, didn't claim otherwise - had some goo substance, that looked like the results of a bio-lab experiment gone bad caked in throughout the washer, had rust, had never been turned on by the seller, and should have been declared a bio-waste hazard, much less sold to the public.......
I have found a used-appliance seller fairly near by selling a Kenmore washer series 90, made in 2005, that may work out....His shop is the only one within driving distance that doesn't have 90% of it's ratings one star (or less) with accompanying claims of fraud, lying and cheating. My wife is pressuring me to buy new machines, and to forget about the used direct drive "last forever" mirage...but when I do any research on the new machines, unfathomably, they appear to be even worse prospects than the craig's list minefield machines lurking on the internet.....
I'm finding that people placing craig's list ads are less than forthright about the true condition of their machines, and that is if you can get any information from them at all....."like new" apparently means "we backdated our description 15 years", the age of the machine, when asked, appears to mean whatever age the seller pulls out of the air, though, thanks to the serial #, I've caught virtually every machine's age i've looked at being much older than claimed..."works great" in a couple of cases has meant the building inspector gave his "approval" of the machine, or at least didn't say it didn't work, so the new owners and seller's of the machine go with that, never having actually turned the machine on themselves. One machine I looked at, that was claimed to be in great working condition - as it turned out, because the home inspector, didn't claim otherwise - had some goo substance, that looked like the results of a bio-lab experiment gone bad caked in throughout the washer, had rust, had never been turned on by the seller, and should have been declared a bio-waste hazard, much less sold to the public.......
I have found a used-appliance seller fairly near by selling a Kenmore washer series 90, made in 2005, that may work out....His shop is the only one within driving distance that doesn't have 90% of it's ratings one star (or less) with accompanying claims of fraud, lying and cheating. My wife is pressuring me to buy new machines, and to forget about the used direct drive "last forever" mirage...but when I do any research on the new machines, unfathomably, they appear to be even worse prospects than the craig's list minefield machines lurking on the internet.....
People selling an appliance rarely have a proper handle on the age of it. The typical reference for "it's about 4 years old" (or whatever age) is based on it was there when they moved into the house 4 years ago ... without considering that it had already been there for 13 years.
Be prepared for any used machine via CraigsList, Facebook Marketplace, etc. to need extensive clean-up and possibly some repair (either minor or major).
Storefront sellers may do some clean-up and enough repair to make the machine functional.
Then there are outfits like Lorain Furniture in Cleveland, OH (the owner is a member here) ... who does a full refurb (and prices them accordingly, with a warranty).
I have a 1999 Kenmore direct-drive, fully refurbed with new tub support & spin bearings, spin drive & clutch & brake & agitate bearings. Transmission serviced with a new agitator shaft (to mate nicely to the new bearings), neutral drain kit, and fresh oil. A little over $300 in parts, plus the time/effort. Asking $365. It oughta run for another 20 years. No takers after several months of CraigsList and Facebook ads. My parents' yard fellow asked about it last week for someone he knows whose washer and dryer both went down. I talked to him yesterday. He said she opted to buy a new unit for $499 or some such (which may last 4 to 6 years).
good-shepherd
Well-known member
weighed about 300 pounds
I don't think late model direct drive washers weigh 300 lbs.
Even vintage Maytag washers with heavy cast iron geared transmissions and concrete balance ring tubs are no more than 200lbs and I've moved many by myself with just an appliance hand truck and a minivan.
If you gave your location in Georgia we could scan the craigslist ads and make some suggestions. Takes a little practice to know what to look for, condition and mileage are more important than age.
I don't think late model direct drive washers weigh 300 lbs.
Even vintage Maytag washers with heavy cast iron geared transmissions and concrete balance ring tubs are no more than 200lbs and I've moved many by myself with just an appliance hand truck and a minivan.
If you gave your location in Georgia we could scan the craigslist ads and make some suggestions. Takes a little practice to know what to look for, condition and mileage are more important than age.
oldschool88
Active member
I got the weight for the washer from the manual, 315lbs....but didn't factor in water and clothes.....so, clothes subtract 10lbs or so, a little over 8lbs per gallon of water I think, couldn't find the maximum amount of water in the machine at a given time, during use...the seller kept making a point of how heavy the machine was, so assumed the weight was closer to 300 than 200lbs...but maybe not....ended up buying a Kenmore 2002 model # 22422100, which was delivered for free......It didn't seem that heavy, myself and one other guy easily lifted it off a truck without a problem...non-the-less,it would have been a pain to lift it down the two flights of steep stairs the other seller had.
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