GE washer uses shipping rods

[whirlpool862]

Not a huge fan of this design, but GE used shipping rods instead of styrofoam or protective film on the control board.

This type of design was used on their Model-Ts and HydroWaves, as well as their current stackables. I’m guessing the reason why GE used these in their washers is because they were built so cheaply that they needed support during shipping to prevent damage.

I don’t think Whirlpool ever used shipping rods on their machines, this was a GE-only thing for top loaders. Although many front loaders use shipping bolts.

 

[combo52]

All automatic washers use some type of shipping bracing

I like the GE’s with the shipping rods because they’re completely recyclable, all whirlpool direct drive washers use shipping pins for example which also got recycled with the machine.

I don’t like the huge Styrofoam blocks that most top load washers use, very few places have facilities to recycle the Styrofoam properly, but it does protect the machine very well.

Speed Queen, front loaders use nice steel brackets and bolts which can be 100% recycled.

John L

 

[DADoES]

 
IIRC, WP (and KM?) classic belt-drives had plastic shipping anchors that secured the tub assembly.  They attached at the rear edge of the baseplate to the machine's back panel via screws at the sides of the rear service port.  Access for removal by taking off the service panel and removing the anchor screws.  The plastic anchors may have been changed at some point (or were preceeded by?) styrofoam blocks that were wedged in-place?

 

[d-todd]

The pins on the DD would be released when pulling out the yellow strap, but sometimes it didn't work and the pin would stay up and make the machine run rough, causing a service call.

 

[cfz2882]

shipping hardware left installed

i have gotten a couple washers where the machine was run a while with tub secured: one was a 1977 24"BD,the other a modern front loader,possibly a Korean import, that had bolts screwed into plastic outer tub.