Darren -
That is an absolutely spectacular machine, and it is even better I think that you like it so much.
I love the agitator and cap - it is the exact configuration that both my grandmothers had in their clone Whirlpools from the same era. I loved those machines as they were a treat to watch for me - similar in sound and operation to our Kenmore, but different enough to be fun for me. There is a real difference in sound and visual performance between a surgilator and an original Roto-Swirl, so I really enjoyed watching these. LOVE that thumbnail cap!!!
About the pump air sounds (cavitation) that some machines make and others don't. My experience has been in general that this noise fluctuates with the amount of air that is allowed into the drain hose once the water is largely out of the machine. On machines with a direct pump to drain hose (meaning from the pump straight out to the cabinet), this is quite easy and air getting to the backside of the pump is direct. On machines with filters in the way, or two-way vales, etc, this gets more complicated.
While using a machine in the garage that I was draining into the yard, I noticed that swiveling the drain hose (which kinked or opened the pump to drain hose inside the machine) I could raise or lower the sound of cavitation. Then I started putting two and two together regarding the machines with self-cleaning filters. Some drain at the top of the cabinet, others at the bottom. Those that drain from the top retain more water in their hoses and are less likely to make audible cavitation sounds. I think eventually as machines exhaust their water during spin, most will make some sort of sound. The loudest are the newer 1980s machines with the high-volume pumps (the newer two port and three port design). These move more water per unit time and thus more air and they produce the most noise.
I have also noticed that recent use of fabric softener will amplify this sound, though I don't know if that is caused by a change in the water itself from the softener or if the softener lubricates or coats the impeller of the pump.
Your machine is cavitating during agitation because the top portion of your pump is running basically dry until water flow is reversed during drain. I strongly suspect that if you put your drain hose into a bucket or tub full of water while the machine is agitating, the cavitation will stop.
Anyway, NEAT machine Darren and I am so glad you got it!!!
Gordon
That is an absolutely spectacular machine, and it is even better I think that you like it so much.
I love the agitator and cap - it is the exact configuration that both my grandmothers had in their clone Whirlpools from the same era. I loved those machines as they were a treat to watch for me - similar in sound and operation to our Kenmore, but different enough to be fun for me. There is a real difference in sound and visual performance between a surgilator and an original Roto-Swirl, so I really enjoyed watching these. LOVE that thumbnail cap!!!
About the pump air sounds (cavitation) that some machines make and others don't. My experience has been in general that this noise fluctuates with the amount of air that is allowed into the drain hose once the water is largely out of the machine. On machines with a direct pump to drain hose (meaning from the pump straight out to the cabinet), this is quite easy and air getting to the backside of the pump is direct. On machines with filters in the way, or two-way vales, etc, this gets more complicated.
While using a machine in the garage that I was draining into the yard, I noticed that swiveling the drain hose (which kinked or opened the pump to drain hose inside the machine) I could raise or lower the sound of cavitation. Then I started putting two and two together regarding the machines with self-cleaning filters. Some drain at the top of the cabinet, others at the bottom. Those that drain from the top retain more water in their hoses and are less likely to make audible cavitation sounds. I think eventually as machines exhaust their water during spin, most will make some sort of sound. The loudest are the newer 1980s machines with the high-volume pumps (the newer two port and three port design). These move more water per unit time and thus more air and they produce the most noise.
I have also noticed that recent use of fabric softener will amplify this sound, though I don't know if that is caused by a change in the water itself from the softener or if the softener lubricates or coats the impeller of the pump.
Your machine is cavitating during agitation because the top portion of your pump is running basically dry until water flow is reversed during drain. I strongly suspect that if you put your drain hose into a bucket or tub full of water while the machine is agitating, the cavitation will stop.
Anyway, NEAT machine Darren and I am so glad you got it!!!
Gordon
