Cute little Bosch washer, what can you tell me about it?

[revvinkevin]

 

 

I picked up this little Bosch washing machine this evening while I was picking up a couple machines for Thomas.  I'm only guessing it's at least 20 years old (?)  

 

What can you tell me about it?

 

Approx age?

 

Capacity?  (It looks smaller than my 6kg Miele) 

 

Does it have a heater?

 

Was it sold only in Europe, or was it sold in the US?

 

The plug on the power cord kind of looks like this (photo #7)

 

How does it wash & rinse?

 

Anything else about it.....?

 

Thank much in advance!

Kevin

 

[mielerod69]

Instruction manual

Hi RevvinKevin,
Found the instruction manual. Has an internal heater and can heat up to 71°C.

Cheers
Rod

BOSCH WFK 2401 USE & CARE MANUAL Pdf Download

View and Download Bosch WFK 2401 use & care manual online. Tumble Action Clothes Washer. WFK 2401 washer pdf manual download.

www.manualslib.com

 

[vacbear58]

Bosch Washer

That is a UK plug Kevin but I doubt this machine was used here. You are correct on the age as I owned a similar, and possibly identical machine which was purchased around 1998/99. As I recall the machine was cold fill only (only one hose and inlet valve) although it may actually heat up to 90C. There have been many dicussions on here over the years about use of European machines on a dryer outlet so voltage should be OK but more particularly is it 60Hz so assuming you can fix up a connection to a dryer outlet you should be good to go, the loading is 11 amp. I wonder if this has perhaps been used in tandem with a dryer where the washer and dryer could be plugged in together into one outlet. I would say it is 4 or maybe 5Kg wash load

The machine I had was quite satisfactory and I was pleased with it but only used it for about three years as it was built into the apartment I lived in and I left it behind when I moved. A typical 60C cottons cycle will take about two hours to run as it will have to heat the water from cold, however this is ideal if using powder/liquid with enzymes as they will get to work through the heating cycle. Cold fill (and hot wash!) is my preference for a washer, I am happy to live with the cycle times as I think it gets the best results. Good catch!

Al

 

[launderess]

You've got yourself an early Bosch washer

From about same period (middle to late 1990's) when Asko, Miele, Bosch and Creda were making inroads into the American laundry market with their "compact" washers and dryers.

Like early Asko units that Bosch washer plugged into the matching dryer IIRC. You then plugged dryer into outlet.... However there is nothing wrong with just plugging washer itself into proper outlet (208v-240v 60hz 15amp)

Unlike later Miele washers (19xx onwards series), these early Bosch, Asko and Creda washers and dryers were all straight 208v-240v machines, no 120v required.

Like Miele washers of same period unit *must* be connected to hot and cold water taps, even if used as cold fill only. You'll need a "Y" connector to split water from a single tap to both hoses if you're going with cold fill.

Keep in mind while the washer is designed to work with hot and cold water, it can run as cold fill, cycle times will be longer as it will take more time to heat the water.

There should be a little wrench (came with kit in new washer) used for tightening nuts and leveling legs. It should be stored behind toe kick panel (use screws to remove).

Big thing about these Bosch washers was their strict warning against using chlorine bleach. Period, full stop, just don't do it. IIRC from old discussions about Bosch washers use of chlorine bleach voided the warranty.

All and all this little Bosch is a pretty sophisticated bit of kit.

Bosch called their wash system of the time "Sensortronic Plus" and it has features like suds sensing, unbalanced load detection, delayed start, end of cycle signal... Machine constantly monitors cycle and will add or subtract time based upon load size, soil levels, any OOB issues and more.

Parts are still available: https://www.repairclinic.com/ProductDetail/989550

Use and Care manual: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/19311/Bosch-Wfk-2401.html

Bosch uses a brush motor in this machine and sooner or later they (the brushes) will need replacing. http://dossy.org/2007/05/lots-of-miles-on-our-bosch-wfk2401uc-washer-motor/

 

[launderess]

Another thing

Keep in mind Bosch sold same machine in Europe so if you need parts and cannot find them in USA, there is always other side of the pond.

https://www.espares.co.uk/search/mo1825244/washing-machines/bosch/wfk2401uc01?page=4

 

[combo52]

Early Bosch Washer [ for the US market ]

We have two of these in the warehouse, I thought they do a pretty good job, they actually reach around an 800 RPM spin speed between all the rinses on the heavier cycles.

 

Many of the ones we have seen failed because the motor brushes wore out, but Jason cleverly used some kind of Vacuum cleaner motor brushes to fix the machine.

 

Its a fun little washer overall, but it uses a lot of electricity and water for the amount of clothing you can wash in it.

 

John L.

 

[chachp]

I had two of these over the years

 

<span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">I had two Bosch washers over the years and I was very happy with the cleaning performance of both. We replaced them only due to size and not performance.  We couldn't get a king sized comforter in these machines and that's a must with pets.  What I really liked about mine was a 2 hr. heated soak cycle.  I used it ALL the time.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">In the first the motor died after five years and was replaced under our home warranty.  About six years later the control board died so I replaced it (again under home warranty) with a newer model.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Both heated the water, both spun fast.  I thought around 1200 RPM but I could be wrong.  Both were 220 and both had a weird plug that plugged into the back of the dryer and the dryer plugged into the 220 outlet.  I recall an odd looking plug but don't have a picture to refer to.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">The picture is of the newer one I had.  I can't seem to find a pic of the older one I had.  </span>

 

[launderess]

That Maturasigma

He's got a million of them! *LOL*

 

[revvinkevin]

Hot & cold fill

WOW, great info, THANK YOU Al, Rod, John, Ralph and Launderess!

Launderess, the amount of knowledge you possess about SO many different subjects still amazes me.

It does have both cold & hot fill and this is the actual plug.

Kevin

 

[foraloysius]

Congratulations, nice find. Did the plug on the other machine look like this one?

 

[circlew]

Kevin, the plug you show in reply #8 is a NEMA 6-15P, and is used with a 6-15R or 6-20R receptacle. These are commonly used on 240V air conditioners, heaters, and commercial cooking equipment.

 

[launderess]

Washing king sized comforters

If one is speaking of an eiderdown or even poly filled; no you wouldn't fit such a thing in a Bosch or any other euro washer of same period. But then again no one on other side of pond would even bother usually.

Large/bulky items are either sent to the laundry or taken to a laundromat to be done via service wash or oneself.

Even if you managed to fit a down duvet into such a machine few homes then (and perhaps even now) had a dryer capable of handing a king sized eiderdown. You can't "hang dry" such a thing so why even bother washing it at home.

 

[logixx]

Made in November of 1999.

 

[launderess]

@Louis

Bosch like AEG, Miele, Asko, Blomberg and everyone else who sells European laundry appliances in North American use proper plugs for NEMA code that suits outlets on this side of pond.

Only time you'll usually see the original European plug is for appliances brought over privately and or otherwise not offered for sale in North America. One of my Pfaff ironers, the AEG toplader washer, and a few other things one has that came directly from Europe all had (or still have) their original plugs.

 

[askolover]

I think it's about the size of my Asko which was bought in 1997.

 

[revvinkevin]

Capacity

I haven’t had enough time to unload it from the truck, let alone do much searching online. So thank you again for ALL of the info and web links and other info!

I did try briefly searching (a couple times thru my phone) for the capacity and the only info I’ve found lists it at 5.5 kg.

Kevin

 

[chachp]

Capacity

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">@Kevin</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">You may be pleasantly surprised at how much these hold.  I remember the salesperson saying load it until you have a little room at the top and I never had an issue with the cleaning ability of this machine.  I always used the Persil Color and White formula powders with good results.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">Hope you have fun with that machine.</span>

 

[launderess]

Capacity

Miele, Bosch, Creda, Asko, and any other Euro washer sold in USA at that time like their counterparts across the pond could be loaded "full" for Cottons/Linens/Normal cycles. That is suds container filled to capacity leaving about a "fist" worth of room at top. Working theory is that things will compact down as they absorb water and then tub will be a proper capacity for good performance action.

Indeed for both commercial and residential H-axis washers loading by weight is best, then going by suds container capacity. That is if the washer is rated to hold 18lbs of mixed cottons/linens then that is what should be loaded into drum. Again water will cause load to compact down. Long as things are dropping from 2 O'clock to 8 O'clock things are fine.

Of course for some fabrics and or cycles it is recommended to load suds container to less than full capacity. Woolens, Silks, Permanent Press/Easy Cares, Delicates, etc... Here you want higher water levels (using same amount of water for say a rinse cycle, but less clothing in drum), along with different washing rhythms to achieve desired results.

Sadly nowadays many washers have gotten so puny with water use they cannot cope with 11kg or whatever rated full capacity. IIRC some of the new Miele washers long have advised to load drum 3/4 full only.

Being as all this may the movement from purely mechanical controlled washers and or quasi electronic to fully electronic controls brought great benefits, and improvement in wash and rinse results.

Miele's Novatronc, Bosch's Sensormatic Plus, and so forth allowed greater control of suds container, pump and other functions that overcame previous difficulties.

My older Miele w1070 for instance spins when timer says it should, but will stop or slow down if too much water/froth enters pump. Things will speed up again once excess suds/water clear, but if timer says time to move onto rinse, things stop. This can mean very poor rinsing and overall bad wash, even with four or five rinses.

OTOH my AEG Lavamat will slow down to clear excess froth/water in pump, but will resume spin upon conditions improving. Machine is programmed to give a full spin regardless (unless so badly unbalanced or some other major fault), and that is what it will do. As a consequence the AEG like other modern machines will simply add more time onto cycle to compensate.

For older Miele washers it was suggested to wash a smaller than capacity rated load if doing things heavy absorbent such as towels. Again this is because the washer cannot cope with too much water/froth in pump.



Nowadays many front loaders have "bulky" or "duvet/pillow" cycles so provided one has a way to dry the things doing them at home is in theory possible. Personally given the build quality of some machines, one would just as soon send bulky things out or use laundromat washers to save wear and tear.

 

[revvinkevin]

Update!

Yesterday I finally had time to unload this little washer from the truck and hook it up to test. Prior to this I installed the approapriate receptical so I can plug this machine in.

The good news: IT WORKS!

The bad news: It desperately needs new shocks and there is a water leak coming from somewhere inside the washer.

I haven’t had ANY time yet to search for any parts yet, (edit) or remove any panels to check where the leak is coming from.

Kevin[this post was last edited: 7/22/2019-13:45]