Goodbye, direct drive WP's

[goatfarmer]

I was talking to a friend who owns an appliance store with his family. He told me they can no longer get direct drive machines from Whirlpool. Only thing they have are the new belt driven machines.

They never learn......

 

[cfz2882]

was a long run...my local damaged freight store still has a
brand new "estate"DD of 2008 vintage-it has minor damage to
the top of the panel.

 

[qsd-dan]

Hard to believe that this design will soon be a classic.

 

[toggleswitch]

Back up! The new top-loaders are back to belt-driven? What gives? Whose engineering is it? What is it like? Anyone have pics or diagrams?

I'm so confused............

 

[cfz2882]

the new BDs are "impeller" machines-i'd guess the mechanism
is a lot like a "hydrowave"GE with an inverter driven motor.

 

[appnut]

wow!!! Every time I hear one of those thunka thunka thunka noises in a youtube video I cringe. I don't have real fond thoughts of my LK shredmore sitting in the garage.

 

[cphifer5115]

well what type of drive is the new maytag top loader that still has an agitator in the tub? I though maybe we might still see Ropers in DD but you can only get those at Lowes.

 

[autowasherfreak]

The new Whirlpools will be like the Whirlpool World Washer is what I've heard, on the order of this one.

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[autowasherfreak]

Which one had the longer run original belt drives, or direct drives?

 

[mrb627]

Thunk-a Thunk-a

I too wont really miss the noisy DD machines. However, speaking of the GE Hydrowave. I haven't seen them at my local Lowes in a while. At least not the one with the full agitator. Only that silly short-shaft machine. Which is what I will forever call them

Malcolm

 

[toggleswitch]

The lack of a need for a transmission is a great cost-saver (and can't hurt reliability any) and they probably do a wider arc during agitation. I won't complain.........

 

[mtn1584]

I kinda miss my 3 Speed 90 Series Kenmore Elite

That machine was a workhorse, with a "total care agitator" aka triple action agitator, on medium speed it was quite gentle on clothes, with six speed combo selections, and a big boxy moncromatic console, wide opening lid, and typical Whirlpool indentation at the bottom of the cabinet. This will be one of my favorite Kenmore machines of all time. This washer was a real workhorse, I bought it brand new in 2003, left it to my ex-wife after our divorce. Sadly the only TRUE workhorse left on the market is made by Speed Queen.
Mike

 

[amyswasher]

I guess I better keep my shredmore I have in the shed. I only keep it in case my LG craps out.

 

[gr81nknox]

Kenmore 90 Series Elite

mtn1584, I think I have the same machine you mentioned above. Bought it new in March 2002 and haven't had a problem since. 3 speed motor, 6 wash combinations, wide mouth lid, and quiet pak II. Quiet machine except when set to heavy duty(fast wash action) speed. What is amazing is that in spin cycle(even a fast one) the machine is very stable. Put your hand on top of the lid while it's spinning and you can definitely tell there is something going on beneath, but at the same time the machine is shakes very little.

I did notice that Sears has an "800 Series" washer which has a similar look and feature set so I wonder if that is the "new" version of this washer. The only thing it doesn't have is the user adjustable water level. Seems they want to let the machine determine how much water is needed now. The control console on that machine doesn't look anywhere near as nice as the older 90 Series/Elite models though.

 

[combo52]

THE NEW BD WP WASHERS

The new washer is based on the world washer design that came out over 20 years ago. It is being sold as an impeller machine now but a regular agitator design is also available. It is not much like a GE Hydrowave as the WP still has a transmission and a brake solenoid to release the brake and shift into spin. The new washer has been greatly improved in quality and durability over the WW and is much easier to disassemble and repair. I would wager that WP has a winner with this machine they really did thier home work on this one. The original BD washers were in production from 1947-1987 40 years, the DD washers came out in a limited fashion in 1981 and may make it to almost 30 years. I suspect that more DD washers were made than BDs or any other automatic washer in history and may go down as the most successful washer in history when everything is considered. Often when we think of DD washers we think only of the basic cheap models that everyone has had. But there are some really fun DD washers out there such as the LK electronic models, the three speed models, the catalyst cleaning machines and the neat Resource Saver washers. Now is the time to get these as they are plentiful and easy to fix.

 

[mtn1584]

@gr81nknox

That was the exact washer I was talking about, except mine had a variable water level, and I had the exact same dryer. I had mine in "bisque." Thanks for the photo
Mike

 

[cphifer5115]

I have read where these machines that have the agitator version have a max spin speed of 700 RPMs. And the ones with the wash impeller can spin out at 800 RPMs.

 

[autowasherfreak]

I still like the sounds of a belt drive machine better than direct drive machines, very relaxing almost hypnotic.

 

[cphifer5115]

I agree with you on that the old BD sounds are much more relaxing.