Fabric Care via Timer vs Multi Speed Motor

[Chetlaham]

Why did some washers use a single speed motor achieving fabric care through the timer like in the Maytag A407, while others used a two or three speed motor like TOL Kenmores?

The single speed timer cycle approach seems more economic, simpler and more elegant. But as time went on it appears that more and more washers went with a multi speed motor. Anyone know that is?

For the fun of it, I took a 3 speed Kenmore washer like this:



And moved the wash actions (fabric care) into the timer. I was able to go from a 32 contact timer to a 16 contact timer and drop all the extra wiring.

I accomplished Normal (fast) spin by running the motor the entire time during the first and second spin, 2 and 5 minutes respectively.

Permanent press/delicate (slow) spin is accomplished by shortening the spins to 1 and 3 minutes respectively.

A 5 second motor pause exists between drain and spin to engage the neutral drain gear.

Heavy Duty (fast) Agitation runs the motor the whole time 15 minutes wash and 4 minutes rinse.

Normal and delicate (slow) agitation cycles the motor totaling 8 minutes wash, 3 mins rinse.

Handwash casual (extra slow) cycles the motor in 5 second intervals totaling to about 60 seconds in the wash, and run 60 seconds in the rinse.

Handwash plus fine delicates (int extra slow) cycles the motor totaling to 20 seconds in the wash, 10 seconds in the rinse.





Any advantage to this over the 3 speed motor?

 

[cam2s]

I’m not an expert in manufacturing but my guess is a timer is going to cost about the same amount to manufacture regardless if it’s complex or simple. Offering multiple speeds is just a way to offer more feature for TOL models that will sell for more money. In that kind of large scale manufacturing it may cost a few dollars more to add a speed switch or a multi speed motor but the manufacture will sell the model for several 100 dollars more.

 

[Chetlaham]

Thats what I suspected to be honest. The speed switch and motor are just a price point. Clever, but sure adds some numbing complexity. For example, on this Kenmore washer you've got wires going into the centrifugal switch, back up to the timer, into the speed switch, then back down to the motor. Thats two trips home and back. I wouldn't want to diagnose an obscure or intermittent failure.

https://f01.justanswer.com/eddiegnz1/2010-01-15_020317_BestRight.jpg

 

[cam2s]

That mindset found it ways more into commercial, specifically vended machines, where there were limited choices in exchange for simplicity and durability. That being said multi speed coin op machines are not that uncommon.

 

[Chetlaham]

Commercial machines are very simple, usually with single cycle timers. There are lots of BOL Kenmores that are still holding up, or need minor repair only after 15-20 years while TOL models tend to pop up frequently on repair forums with obscure electrical problems.

I remember several years back a few members here had problems with their AWN-542s where the motor would not start and just hum, where it turned out SQ had a timer problem across the whole 542 series which does not surprise me considering the amount of timer increments and cycles packed on those models.