Demo Video of the Kenmore Vari-Flex agitator

[mattl]

They were a useful option, but truth be told I bet I was like many if not most users, and rarely adjusted it. It was great when there was something delicate to wash, set the machine on Low and turn the vanes all the way in and it was a very gentle wash. But for me those loads were very infrequent, maybe once a year or so. Others may have had more delicate stuff to wash and made more use of it, but it was nice to have when the need arose.

As I said many times if this group was around in '95 I would have never trashed my '73 piano key LK....

 

[combo52]

KM VARI-FLEX AGITATOR

It was called Vari-FLEX because when the retractable finns are extended they are flexible, like the 6 finns on the Roto-Swirl agitators that this design replaced on the LKMs and a few other top end KM models.

 

[foraloysius]

Wonderful videos! Thanks for making and sharing them!

 

[gansky1]

Vari-Fun!

I have the white version of this agitator, it might just be time to dig it out of the pile to play with again.

 

[peterh770]

Such a great agitator, but it take up so much space...

 

[wigwag]

re: confused it for a second

during the video you'd mentioned you confused the machine for a second after the restart. what actually happened was power was cut to the wig wag dropping the agitate solinoid and engaging drain. when the motor restarted it pulled the cam bar back for drain and also sucked the solinoid up for agitate. thus the shift, it all depends where the wigwag is when you kill the power.

you probably already knew all this but I do like hearing myself talk sometimes.

that's a nice frigidaire you've got there by the way.

Steven

 

[revvinkevin]

that's a nice frigidaire you've got there by the way

Oh, thank you Steven! Yeah that 1-18 is really something, especially in Harvest Gold.... right?? Oh, wait, you weren't talking about the Skinny Mini, where you??

(hahaha)

;-)

Kevin

 

[70series]

Powerful! On full speed at the high level agitation that Vari-Flex works up a storm. I always wanted to see how dramatic it is, and it does not disappoint. I think I will be watching this one over and over. Thanks again.

Have a good one,
James

 

[wigwag]

I have the same set in avacado!

great machines!

 

[a440]

Awesome Videos Keven!
Thanks for taking the time to upload these.
Amazing the difference of "dialing" the wash you wanted.
Beautiful machine also!
Thanks
Brent

 

[macboy91si]

Frigidaires

Kevin I'm sure that 1-18 could be tooled to be some WMD should Oregon ever invade... Such a mean sounding brute on the lower water levels. The Skinny Mini... well that would just confuse the invasion lol. I do love me some Agitub action though, not sure what it is that I like. Broomstick in a puddle, you should have a wash off between that and the Hoover

-Tim

 

[franksdad]

Vari-Flex Agitator and LK set in harvest gold

Kevin, I am a new member but I've been visiting the AW site for several months now. A good friend told me about it. Anyway, thank you so much for posting the video and thanks to bajaspuma for the pic of the LK washer and dryer pair in harvest gold. My mom, dad, and I went to Sears in Greenville, SC where they purchased a 1971 LK washer as shown above in white. I begged my Mama to get the harvest gold and she almost did but backed down. I was 16 and almost excited over the LK as I was my first car. Sick, huh? About six months later we went back to Sears and bought the matching dryer. Mama still wouldn't go for harvest gold but did opt for avacoda. You have one just like Mama's old one in your collection. I loved those machines and did thousands of loads of laundry in them over the years. I replaced them in 1998 with a new set of white LKs which were replaced in 2008 with BOSCH Nexxt premium front loading washer and matching dryer. I've always been fascinated with washers and doing laundry. My wife thinks I'm a nut job but doesn't mind that I do the laundry! Anyway, sorry for babbling but thank you both for bringing back many happy memories of Mama's old LKs. I would still love to have a matching set in harvest gold. Just don't have the room. Jim

 

[revvinkevin]

Hi Jim and Welcome to AW!

No I don't think you are sick for being so excited about the washer, there are a lot of people like that here!

You mentioned "my collection", have you seem the photos or are you just going by the list in my profile? If you havn't seen the photos, check out the thread I posted about my December 11th party!

Kevin

 

[franksdad]

Collection

Hey Kevin,
I saw your collection in your post of your December 11th party. You have a wonderful collection. Makes me wish I had a basement! Had your party been here on the east coast I would have had to come inspite of my wife's objections! You have a nice home and it looks like you all had a great time. I've always been fascinated by washers and other appliances...but washers are my all time fascination! For as long as I can remember every time I go into a Sears store I ALWAYS have to go check out the washer section of the appliance department. Some guys head for the tools, others head for the sporting goods...I head for the washing machines! ) My friend who turned me onto this site also loves washers. We have often laughed and wondered if anyone else had a washer obsession like we did? So good to know there are others like me and my friend! Do you know if anyone here on the east coast ever has wash-in parties like yours? Jim

 

[tolivac]

When I was a kid--when we went to Sears-I would go to the Sporting goods-look at the guns-then to power tools-and appliances.Liked perusing all three depts-but the clothes dept BORING!!!

 

[danmantn]

AWESOME!!!! Make me want one of these. I would love to see one in green...or was the agitator alway gold or white?

 

[mrb627]

I do love me some Agitub action though

I agree. I would love to see the agi-tub in action at a lower water level

Malcolm