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Comparison of agitation - RotoSwirl vs. RotoFlex
- Thread starter redcarpetdrew
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I'm washing in the 85 Whirlpool electronic control washer tonight - winter coats. That Double-Duty Super Surgilator is probably the best of the large-capacity agitators. A true workhorse.
I'm washing in the 85 Whirlpool electronic control washer tonight - winter coats. That Double-Duty Super Surgilator is probably the best of the large-capacity agitators. A true workhorse.
70series
Well-known member
Thank you for yet another fantastic video:
Awesome video Andy! I love agitator comparisons especially within the Kenmore family. Although the Roto Flex, from what I have seen before, has appeared to be less effective with a full load than a Roto Swirl, in this video it seems to move the load around just a tad more. Otherwise I would say they are neck and neck. Whichever agitator wins in this comparison should compete next with the Surgilator Whirlpool you have. My bet's on that one.
Have a good one,
James
Awesome video Andy! I love agitator comparisons especially within the Kenmore family. Although the Roto Flex, from what I have seen before, has appeared to be less effective with a full load than a Roto Swirl, in this video it seems to move the load around just a tad more. Otherwise I would say they are neck and neck. Whichever agitator wins in this comparison should compete next with the Surgilator Whirlpool you have. My bet's on that one.
Have a good one,
James
kenmoreguy89
Well-known member
To PeterH770 and Gyrafoam:
Thank you for expressing your idea ......But i finished posting what I think ... I think in one way and you in an another ... and stop!
Thank you for expressing your idea ......But i finished posting what I think ... I think in one way and you in an another ... and stop!
Greg, you da man!
mickeyd
Well-known member
We'll probably need the suddenly unemployed Olympic Judg
It looked like a draw till the lights went out and then the mauve towel in the Swirl stayed on top, while the pumpkin one in the Flex went under.
And then the ever honest Drew revealed that the Swirl was handicapped in having towels removed which were added to the Flex in addition to MORE clothes. So the Flex is taking down a considerably larger load which the film does not reveal. We'd have to have equal loads to see the truth.
Andy, the fifth pic, "Washing by the pale moonlight," is liquid ice and I love it to death.
Thanks so much. Amazing.
Greg, the agitator beauty pageant is fabulous. First the talent show, Andy; then the swimsuit contest, Greg. Wonderful!
AND IT"S WARSHDAY IN AMERICA. Anyone old enough to remember Monday washdays? Well, I've heard about them but I wasn't really there. ;'D
It looked like a draw till the lights went out and then the mauve towel in the Swirl stayed on top, while the pumpkin one in the Flex went under.
And then the ever honest Drew revealed that the Swirl was handicapped in having towels removed which were added to the Flex in addition to MORE clothes. So the Flex is taking down a considerably larger load which the film does not reveal. We'd have to have equal loads to see the truth.
Andy, the fifth pic, "Washing by the pale moonlight," is liquid ice and I love it to death.
Thanks so much. Amazing.
Greg, the agitator beauty pageant is fabulous. First the talent show, Andy; then the swimsuit contest, Greg. Wonderful!
AND IT"S WARSHDAY IN AMERICA. Anyone old enough to remember Monday washdays? Well, I've heard about them but I wasn't really there. ;'D
redcarpetdrew
Well-known member
First the talent show, Andy; then the swimsuit contest, Greg
Truth be told, it's better for Greg to do the swimsuit contest than me. After all, there are young people who view this stuff, too... LOL!!!
Greg, nice choices for the backdrop. The Lady K. dryer looks just like the green 900 dryer and that stunning Kenmore 700 is the EXACT copy of the one in my video only your's looks so much better. That may change, tho, as soon as Gordon gets his hands on them... Now you have me wondering, what's the difference between that Lady K. and the 900? Gordon?
RCD
Truth be told, it's better for Greg to do the swimsuit contest than me. After all, there are young people who view this stuff, too... LOL!!!
Greg, nice choices for the backdrop. The Lady K. dryer looks just like the green 900 dryer and that stunning Kenmore 700 is the EXACT copy of the one in my video only your's looks so much better. That may change, tho, as soon as Gordon gets his hands on them... Now you have me wondering, what's the difference between that Lady K. and the 900? Gordon?
RCD
laundryshark
Well-known member
Audio Shot?...
No offense intended, but the classical music background is of no benefit to me (being 20/20 blind). Do these agitators sound differently or not?--Laundry Shark
No offense intended, but the classical music background is of no benefit to me (being 20/20 blind). Do these agitators sound differently or not?--Laundry Shark
Andy... the pix are GREAT and the video is even better! Excellent job! Thanks so much for doing this! AND the KM 900 set looks absolutely SPECTACULAR with a working light bulb in place! *drool*
I say the ROTO-FLEX was moving the clothes BETTER then the ROTO-SWIRL... ESPECIALLY when you consider (by Andy's own admission) the Kenmore 900 with the ROTO-FLEX had two MORE towels in the load then the white 70 series washer with the ROTO-SWIRL did!
Yes... it looked like the load was moving / rolling over THE SAME in both machines, BUT the ROTO-FLEX machine had a heavier load!
I say the ROTO-FLEX was moving the clothes BETTER then the ROTO-SWIRL... ESPECIALLY when you consider (by Andy's own admission) the Kenmore 900 with the ROTO-FLEX had two MORE towels in the load then the white 70 series washer with the ROTO-SWIRL did!
Yes... it looked like the load was moving / rolling over THE SAME in both machines, BUT the ROTO-FLEX machine had a heavier load!
Kevin -
I have had much the same conclusion when I did an agitator swap comparison (per YOUR suggestion one night when we were on the phone together) in the Straight-Vane equipped 1976 Green Beast (now known simply as the G.B.). The S.V. takes up less room and moves laundry similarly to the Roto-Flex. I washed a load with a Roto-Swirl, and then rinsed it with the S.V. The Straight-Vane allowed for noticeably more room in the basket and there was more 'to the business' turn-over.
BUT, Steve/Gyrafoam and PeterH770 are right too - the Roto-Swirl is superb in handling regular loads while being a bit more gentile for things that require this. In the cases of most folks, perhaps that is a better all-around agitator? My laundry is largely sturdy cottons, gym clothes, towels, knit shirts, etc. but not every household is like that. I will say that on a less than full load, which is rare for me in a standard machine, I use delicate on a straight-vane equipped machine otherwise they are absolutely brutal in the thrashing department. Water goes everywhere - it's highly amusing if you're OK with drying the machine off head to toe when done.
Gordon
I have had much the same conclusion when I did an agitator swap comparison (per YOUR suggestion one night when we were on the phone together) in the Straight-Vane equipped 1976 Green Beast (now known simply as the G.B.). The S.V. takes up less room and moves laundry similarly to the Roto-Flex. I washed a load with a Roto-Swirl, and then rinsed it with the S.V. The Straight-Vane allowed for noticeably more room in the basket and there was more 'to the business' turn-over.
BUT, Steve/Gyrafoam and PeterH770 are right too - the Roto-Swirl is superb in handling regular loads while being a bit more gentile for things that require this. In the cases of most folks, perhaps that is a better all-around agitator? My laundry is largely sturdy cottons, gym clothes, towels, knit shirts, etc. but not every household is like that. I will say that on a less than full load, which is rare for me in a standard machine, I use delicate on a straight-vane equipped machine otherwise they are absolutely brutal in the thrashing department. Water goes everywhere - it's highly amusing if you're OK with drying the machine off head to toe when done.
Gordon
Yes Gordon, I agree....
My comments above were based soley on the amount of roll-over I saw in Andy's video.
Yes I also think the Roto-Swirl is a better all around agitator (and better looking too!) when compared to the Roto-Flex.
So Gordon, would you like me to send you my video camera so you can record your 9 way agitator test for posterity (and us here on AW) when you do it this summer?? *wink*
My comments above were based soley on the amount of roll-over I saw in Andy's video.
Yes I also think the Roto-Swirl is a better all around agitator (and better looking too!) when compared to the Roto-Flex.
So Gordon, would you like me to send you my video camera so you can record your 9 way agitator test for posterity (and us here on AW) when you do it this summer?? *wink*
Kevin -
I am a ways away from doing such a test, but I may take you up on the camera offer. Actually one of my good friends here runs our IT dept. at work and he always has the latest and greatest in phones, cameras, and other devices and he's made the same offer. He's local so you're probably off the hook, but I'll keep that in mind!
One great hurdle to get over: deciding which machines to use. Do I use 9 different ones? That would be a hoot but also a logistical nightmare. I don't have a machine to use at this exact moment that has a drive block agitator, but that's going to change fairly soon. I also don't have a standard capacity DA machine ready. This though could change as well.
If I use 9 different machines, which was my original intent, here's what I have in mind:
1965 Whirlpool - Standard Surgilator in bakelite
1980 Whirlpool LHA5300 for the Super Surgilator
196? Kenmore 70 - Pregnant Roto-Swirl. This is the biggest challenge as I have a few candidates but no finished machine yet.
1963 Lady K OR the Green Kenmore 70 that Robert gave me for the Super Roto-Swirl.
1976 Kenmore 60 for the plastic Straight Vane
1972 Lady K in coppertone for the Vari-Flex
1965 Lady K OR the Green 900 for the Roto-Flex representation
1979 Kenmore 90 TOL machine for the DA
I do not have a standard machine with the bakelite straight vane, however I have a 24-inch machine with it and will install the agitator in one of the other washers, so I guess we're talking 8 different washers.
Gordon
I am a ways away from doing such a test, but I may take you up on the camera offer. Actually one of my good friends here runs our IT dept. at work and he always has the latest and greatest in phones, cameras, and other devices and he's made the same offer. He's local so you're probably off the hook, but I'll keep that in mind!
One great hurdle to get over: deciding which machines to use. Do I use 9 different ones? That would be a hoot but also a logistical nightmare. I don't have a machine to use at this exact moment that has a drive block agitator, but that's going to change fairly soon. I also don't have a standard capacity DA machine ready. This though could change as well.
If I use 9 different machines, which was my original intent, here's what I have in mind:
1965 Whirlpool - Standard Surgilator in bakelite
1980 Whirlpool LHA5300 for the Super Surgilator
196? Kenmore 70 - Pregnant Roto-Swirl. This is the biggest challenge as I have a few candidates but no finished machine yet.
1963 Lady K OR the Green Kenmore 70 that Robert gave me for the Super Roto-Swirl.
1976 Kenmore 60 for the plastic Straight Vane
1972 Lady K in coppertone for the Vari-Flex
1965 Lady K OR the Green 900 for the Roto-Flex representation
1979 Kenmore 90 TOL machine for the DA
I do not have a standard machine with the bakelite straight vane, however I have a 24-inch machine with it and will install the agitator in one of the other washers, so I guess we're talking 8 different washers.
Gordon
redcarpetdrew
Well-known member
Gordon...
Talk about having your own wash in... LOL! Have you ever considered buying a closed down laundromat just so you can have all the hook ups for all the machines at once? You could charge admission by calling it a Kenmore museum (although, you'd have to get rid of that Whirlpool - Uugghh!) LOL!!
RCD
Talk about having your own wash in... LOL! Have you ever considered buying a closed down laundromat just so you can have all the hook ups for all the machines at once? You could charge admission by calling it a Kenmore museum (although, you'd have to get rid of that Whirlpool - Uugghh!) LOL!!
RCD
Kevin,
Which straight vane? The older one with the HUGE vanes, or the newer one with the shorter, tamer "classic" vanes?
Which straight vane? The older one with the HUGE vanes, or the newer one with the shorter, tamer "classic" vanes?
laundryshark
Well-known member
Humble Apologies for My Lack of Patience
I had to listen through the musical intro. Eventually, the awesome sounds of those classic Kenmores came into "view." Many thanks for sharing this video.--Laundry Shark
I had to listen through the musical intro. Eventually, the awesome sounds of those classic Kenmores came into "view." Many thanks for sharing this video.--Laundry Shark
