calypso Q...

[cfz2882]

i've noticed the calypso has a bad reputation,but have not
heard exactly what the problems actually are.
I think it is one of the cooler modern machines and would
like to add to my fleet sometime.
found one at the dump a few years back,but it had been
partly disassembled and bent up,so salvaged the pump and
control panel-the pump had some stringy material wound up
in it and would not turn,so probably was the prob. with
this one. the parts had 2000 date codes,so this was an
early calypso.

 

[kqkenmore]

I had one and it was a piece of junk.It did not get the clothes clean they were all twisted Sears could not fix the machine they did not know how.I had just bought $300.00 worth of towels and that washer plucked all of the fibers in the towels making them look like a hot mess.I did everything by the book with that machine used he detergent Tide he before it was avaiable every where a small box was 14.00 dollars.If you find one for free and want to play with it then that is fine but to use as my only washer I would not recommend it.

 

[cfz2882]

indeed,i have heard they can mangle clothes LOL

 

[thomasortega]

I still prefer my Philips food processor...
Same results, but the Philips is also useful in the kitchen and came with a citrus press and an unuseful juicer that requires 135624567135645634561 tons of carrots or apples to make a small glass of juice..

 

[yogitunes]

The problem with Calypso's reputation comes from Whirlpool not standing behind their product when the issues arrived, mainly the computer boards, and by the time they fixed the issues they had screwed all the customers rather than make it right.....but any who...

not sure of the kenmore model numbers....but if you want one?...find a whirlpool with a ending model number "KQ2"....this is guaranteed with the new boards and no issues.....don't trust a KQO or a KQ1, no idea if both boards have been replaced.....

I have 2 sets....KQ0, with every issue until they replaced both boards....and a KQ2 without any issues, just make sure the unit is grounded to the water pipe, and you unplug when not in use, they do build a static charge over time, and you have to unplug for a few DAYS, and then problem gone

never had a tangling issue, easy to load, operate, fool proof, heavy duty and whitest whites are the best...uses plenty of water to saturate, soak, and recirculate/wash, the waterfall reminds me of a GE filter flo, lets you see how dirty the water is, and how clear the rinse is!

 

[jaxsunst]

I have been using one as a daily driver for 3 years now, outside of replacing the control boards after a few months, it has been trouble free. We love it, it is easy to use, holds a lot of clothes. My only complaint is the lint ball that gathers where the recirculated water enters the tub. My family of 4 does 9-12 loads a week in it.

 

[laundromat]

The 3 I had (2 Whirlpools and one Kenmore),worked great.i had to replace the board twice on one but the major problems I experienced were all pump related.I truly never understood why Whirlpool heald out on the Magiclean filter on these.The lint would clog the recirculation of water and clog the pump.One of them,The Whirlpool,completely disconnected the recirculator hose off the tub and caused some serious injury to the outer tub.It went into high spin,the hard plastic ovalish tube completely came off and was spun to distruction making me take a trip to the dump twice where they had at least 30 or 40 of them ready to go.Their nickname,"Colapso" was evidently the best one ever.When it worked,it did a great job and was fun to watch.

 

[surgilator_68]

The Calypso was and is a great machine. The problem is that it's fickle and high maintenance.

Those little buttons on the control panel for cycle selection are there for a reason. You MUST select the right cycle, SORT your laundry and LOAD the machine properly. If you don't you will end up with a tangled, linty mess. Those who actually use the machine correctly, love it. Those who want to be lazy, throw everything in the washer and push heavy duty hate the machine. Like most things in life, the end result is usually affected by you.

 

[surgilator_68]

Problems

Sorry..I forgot to answer the question about problems..

The early ones had a problem with the U-Joint boot splitting, requiring a u-joint replacement. The changed the boot material later down the road. The other issue is that the bolts holding the wash plate down would work loose just enough to let water into the u-joint assy. A simple retorque of the bolts corrected that problem. So would locktite. Of course only if no damage had been done. Otherwise a new u-joint is in order.

The other problems were with the pump. If you washed a lot of linty things or things that really shouldn't be washed like those towels with the edges hanging off or rugs with the backing falling off or when the rubber on the edges of the wash plate shrunk you would clog the pump. The other pump issue on the early ones was the drive splines on the pump itself would strip out.

There REALLY wasn't a control board issue. What they had to do was come up with a new profile to kind of make the cycles more idiot proof. Whirlpool found out that most people are lazy, don't read instructions and don't like to change the way they do things. So for those people who didn't want to sort, use the correct cycle and load properly they had to come up with something to make the lazy consumer happy. They had to do the same thing with the Cabrio after about a year of in home use.

 

[yogitunes]

the pump on my KQO was giving me problems also, kept jamming with lint and sand, basicaly the same pump as a direct drive TL, but the motor and shaft were spined, no replacement available anymore, the new fix is is a complete pump/motor assembly for about 100.00, very similar to a GE filter flo style, non jamming/clogging/lint, a better design with out issues

theres so much you can wash in these machines, that very few can handle...

kids stuffed animals
pillows
bulky comforters
and the handwash for delicates is out of this world

and you got to like the saturated detergent/suds/water mix....thats CATALYST pretreating at its best....like washing dirty hands in a foamy concentrated lather, and then rinse under clear water.........

by pass the lid switch and watch that puppy ALL day!
a simple toggle switch wired in-line and drill a hole in the back control panel, easy as pie.....you cannot just bypass the lid switch, the system has to actually know the lid has been open to reset......I can provide pics if needed....

 

[DADoES]

 
I've been using a "KQ1" as my daily-driver since October 2008. It cleans (and rinses) very well, and I agree with what Jason/Surgilator_68 said in regards to cycle selection and usage habits. I rarely use the Heavy cycle, and avoid washing stringy/frayed towels & rags. I've been doing some of my grandmother's laundry for a while and have culled-out her ragged dishcloths & kitchen towels. She has a bad habit of stashing tissues in her pajama pockets and a couple have gotten through, but no clogs thus far. The machine did need some mechanical repairs, including a u-joint and inner basket (due to loosened hub, basically the same situation as a corroded spider), but it has the original-style, two-piece pump and likely the original board as it runs a 30-sec fluff. I've not unplugged it for the duration and have had no malfunctions or "static charge" problems. I don't get what's the big ruckus about tangling. Other vintage machines that are known for tangling get oooohed and ahhhhed over while Calypsos are bashed. When loading is done properly (don't just blindly dump the items in), tangling is no worse than a typical frontloader.

I also have a "KL0" model with an original-style u-joint and pump and machine board. It runs, I've used it several times, but it needs further cleanup/refurbishment. I have a matching dryer with the "KQ1" so that pair was done first.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

issues:
U-joint assembly failure, basket hub corrosion, pump clogs-locked rotor condition, excessive wear of bearings in tub post assembly, control board failure. The Crapso!!

 

[whirlpolf]

wish I had one AT ALL

Despite the many rumors (ok let's say experiences here): I wish I owned one, I just love that wobble plate concept.
Pump issues, PCB issues.... sheesh. Aren't we colletors after all? This can happen to any top / bottom / sideways / back panel / right-in-between loaders.
Ok, I do understand marketing problems and consumer complaints, that is one side. But on the other hand, aren't we glad to fix about just anything, at least the beloved goody machine is at home?

Wish I could get hold of a Calypso or Cabrio though.... (f... water or energy levels, it is about spectacular wash action or most adorable control mechanisms, it's about the inventor's mad ideas, about clicking, rattling, splashing and lights coming alive - very much as it is about spectacular record-playing robotics in an old "Rock Ola" or any other old Jukebox, no matter what age, isn't it?)

Piece to all brands and their fans, to all makes and manufacturers! ;-))

Btw. does anyone know about a good shipping company for heavy machinery? (US to EU and vice versa, that is)

All the best
Joe

 

[whirlpolf]

"peace" that is (forgive me my English) - goodness, what a silly mistake...

 

[aldspinboy]

I never had a problem with mine, just some slight linting problems.
Like Martin said it has a really nice handwash cycle it basically just spins and sprays with very slow nutation that the clothes don't even bounce.
There is another thread here where members are talking about this washer at the bottom... Thread 26691.
Jason you are so right... it is the way you use the washer and the cycles that produces great results with the clothes your washing and loading.
Here is mine.

 

[cfz2882]

wow,a demo model!

 

[laundryshark]

Any wonder?...

...they call 'Em "Collapsos?"--Laundry Shark

 

[laundryshark]

Calapso Nickname

I can understand why these are nicknamed "Calapsos," but also have studied the views from both sides of the issue. After all, generally speaking, if one operates these machines properly, and has the skill, resources, and patience to keep these Calypsos running...These really are fascinating machines to watch from what I have seen in the Youtube videos.--Laundry Shark

 

[iheartmaytag]

My Nephew's wife calles her's the $900 towel shredder.