Direct Drive: Dancing Wash Basket?

[blockeight88]

Hey everyone! Last night I reconditioned my 1994 Kenmore Fabric Care washer. I replaced the entire suspension system. Springs, spring retainer clips, spring bracket, suspension plate including all the pads. After I put everything back together, I noticed during high speed agitation the wash basket "dances" or moves back and fourth. I was told that the new suspension pads after to "wear in".

Here is a video of what I am talking about. The person who shot the video just replaced his suspension plate & pads, too.

 

[blockeight88]

Could it be the tub support? While it seemed fine before, that was something I didn’t replace.

 

[combo52]

Dancing, wash basket?

The direct drive washer in the video is working completely. Normally, I don’t know what your machine is doing

But the washer basket is supposed to dance around that’s what the suspension is for, there is no braking period necessary for the suspension components the machine should work the same way the first time you try it out till the end of the machine‘s life.

John

 

[blockeight88]

Correct, it's just that before my repairs, it "danced" much less on fast agitation. Also my machine is doing exactly what the one in the video is doing.

 

[blockeight88]

Here is my washer and the issue I am referring to exactly.

 

[nmassman44]

That is normal for a direct drive washer. What you are seeing is the torque from the transmission just being transmitted to the wash tub and basket. There is nothing here to worry about.

 

[blockeight88]

Would this have anything to do with me replacing the motor couple, clutch, and transmission? Everything is new

 

[qsd-dan]

Would this have anything to do with me replacing the motor couple, clutch, and transmission?

 

Most likely from replacing the friction pads. New pads = less friction.

 

All of the suspensions on Whirlpools top loading washers have always been lightly sprung, that's why they shift around during agitation from the belt drives all they way up to todays VMW's.

 

[blockeight88]

Reply 7

I have two other direct drives and the wash basket does move slightly when on high speed agitation, just not to this extent. Of course, this is the first time I have replaced the wear pads. Will they eventually wear in?

 

[ryner1988]

Yep, I'd say I agree with the others in that the reason this is happening is that everything is new and actually working as it should. There is likely more friction with age so one gets used to seeing it that way as opposed to the pads and other components operating as designed. So I'd say what you're seeing is a direct drive working in like new condition.

 

[blockeight88]

Great. This will be the first washer I rebuild myself. Quick question: I have a brand new WP gearcase in there and the neutral drain sounds bad... very loud in fact. I read somewhere that new WP gearcases aren't like the old ones. I'm thinking about rebuilding the original gearcase at some point.

 

[ryner1988]

Loud in what way?

 

[blockeight88]

Just loud as in annoying. Seems like the older neutral drains sounder better. When I say old I am referring to those made in the 1990s or early 2000s.

 

[ryner1988]

I tried leaving this on your latest Youtube video, but for some reason my computer keeps freezing every time I try to type over there.

If you would prefer a rebuilt transmission, I see they have them available on eBay for $120.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1449534713...&brand=Whirlpool&_trksid=p2047675.c101224.m-1

Also, it looks like Genuine Appliance Parts still sells the units refurbished by coreCentric Solutions.

https://www.genuineapplianceparts.com/item/3360629R_Whirlpool_Washer_Transmission/6593

If it were me though I'd wait a week or so wash a few loads and see if the new transmission settles down as far as the noise level goes. Mine eventually did so. It's definitely not as quiet as the old ones but I wouldn't say it's obnoxiously loud either. I'm able to watch TV with the washer running in my one-bedroom apartment (laundry is in a closet right in the hallway) and not be bothered much at all.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

Ryne

 

[blockeight88]

Thank you for those links, Ryne. This is something I will consider, but like you said, after the new transmission settles. I just wonder why its louder than the older ones.

 

[ryner1988]

I believe the reasoning behind the increased noise level is two-fold.

A: It's a pretty well-known fact that the casting molds for the transmission housings are aging, and Whirlpool doesn't want to invest in re-upping them, since the direct drive design has been discontinued for a decade now. This presumably results in a product with looser tolerances and therefore one can hear what is going on mechanically more than what once was. I do know that my washer, while admittedly louder in some parts of the cycle than it used to be, washes great so it's not a deal breaker for me.

B:I read somewhere that the same sort of issue happened around 2005 or so -- the tooling was worn and therefore Whirlpool was producing a product that was a bit out-of-spec. Word on the street is that at that time they overhauled the casting machines so that the tolerances were back in spec, although at the time I believe they began using a lighter oil than they had been, and this supposedly caused noise levels to increase. There is a thread somewhere back in the archives discussing this. So, one can surmise that the noise level increase is also caused by the lighter oil used -- the gears just shift around differently and I wouldn't think it's much to worry about.

 

[ryner1988]

Adding to my previous post, it's hard to know without hearing the noise you're describing if it's just normal for the new transmission or if yours is actually defective. Posting a video of the neutral drain or whatever it is you're concerned about would give a better, more accurate, picture of whether the noise is cause for worry or not.

 

[blockeight88]

Videos

It actually sounds more normal in these videos. It seemed louder on a heavier load. I will add that I have insulated the washer cabinet with sound deadening materials.

Here are videos:







My last video is after the deep rinse. I'm not sure if the timer is going, but it does 3 spray rinses. The last one is like 3 seconds. Seems pointless... idk

 

[ryner1988]

That transmission sounds fairly normal to me actually, aside from the rum-rum-rum sound during neutral drain perhaps being a bit more prominent than it was in older units.

In my opinion, it's not a big enough deal to justify buying a rebuilt unit, waiting for it to arrive, pulling this one from the machine, putting in the other one, and selling this one. You have a perfectly working machine right now, so my advice to you would be to put the finishing touches on the refurb and be on your way.

Then on down the road if you decide you still don't like this transmission, you could possibly try to rebuild the old one from the washer when/if you have the time and energy to do so.

But, of course, it's your machine and you ultimately have to do what you're most comfortable with.[this post was last edited: 3/13/2023-23:25]