I LOVE my KitchenAid!

[geoff]

Despite all of the bad press going on lately about KitchenAid, I decided to retire my classic Whirlpool to the climate controlled agrage collection. When I went out shopping for a new washer I looked at only Whirlpool Gold, Kenmore Elite, and Kitchen Aid Superba. Unfortunately the WPG with Catalyst is supposedly now a special order that would have taken over a month to get in. They do have other Gold models out but not with Catalyst. I also looked at the top-of-the-line Kenmore Elite but it seemed that they were so much more expensive for the same machine. I finally narrowed it down to the KitchenAid Superba. It was delivered about 2 weeks ago and I absolutely love everything about it. 3 automatic dispensers, every cycle imaginable, auto-temp.. What I'm most amazed about is it's gentleness. As stated the highest speed is Whirlpool's slow speed because it has that enormous oversized DAA. A LOT of my clothes are Silk, Modal, Handwash, Satin Sheets, cashmere etc. So I needed something that was extremely gentle. The Handwash cycle is soo slow and intermittent that I could probably hand wash more briskly LOL. It has a stepped spin which has really helped with wrinkling on my more delicate fabrics. I actually ordered a Total Care agitator from the New Kenmore Elites (Non-Oasis) so that it would be even more gentle. They may have gone downhill on a lot of there other appliances, but you'd have to pry this machine from my cold, dead hands LOL.. Heres some pics!

Geoff

 

[geoff]

#2

controls

 

[geoff]

#3

Timer Shot

 

[frigilux]

She's a beauty, Geoff! The KA's still have porcelain-coated tops and lids, too, which is nice. I had a KA washer in 1989-90, and I really liked it. I was also surprised that the fastest agitation speed was the same as WP/KM's slower speed. There's nothing more fun than getting a new washer.

 

[geoff]

Thanks Frig!

 

[user 12105]

Very nice machine Geoff,....do these new KA washers also have porcelain cabinets? How is the wash action with that oversize DAA? If i had shopped around more 3 yrs. ago i would have definitely bought a KA...always liked their washers.

Many happy washings!!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Geoff, congratulations on your new washer. So this is a KitchenAid with the Catalyst feature? I like that they moved the speed settings out of the timer so that they are independent of the cycle. I have one of the first models with the black control panel and it still works fine with one original quirk. It is a gentle machine. It never ripped a shirt like the Duet did. I still like a top load agitator machine for towels. I think it forces more water through heavy fabrics and I don't run into the balancing problems with a top loader like I have had with the frontloaders. Maybe the 3'x 6' bath sheets present too much of a problem for a frontloader. And sometimes when I am rushed and need to wash something fast, the machine of choice is either the KitchenAid or the Maytag. I hope you have lots of fun and satisfaction with this machine. Tom

 

[jasonl]

Catalyst

So does this one have Catalyst? My mom's Kenmore Elite looks JUST like this one but doesn't have the Catalyst wash. I was so pissed when I realized that.

How does the Catalyst work on the DD machines?

I know for one thing on the Oasis, it fills thru the detergent dispenser, then it recirculates water while the tub slowly spins, once the sump is dry, the tub spins faster for about 30 seconds, then it repeats the process until there's enough water in the sump to start the regular fill.

I'd imagine this is different in a DD machine. Is there a recirc pump that pumps the detergent and water while the basket spins? Also, the drain pump is coupled right to the motor. Does that recirc while in catalys mode???

 

[knitwits1975]

Nice washer! I'm curious about something though. If you use the extra gentle cycle, do you have trouble with it popping out of neutral drain into spin before it is supposed to? Or does it stay put pretty well?

 

[geoff]

Answers for all, And many Thanks!!

Pat- No, the new KitchenAids I do not believe have porcelain cabinets, Just the top and tub. The wash action is PHENOMINAL. With the slower speed and that massive agitator, it is rather vigorous yet still gentle. It's comparable turnover to a long stroke machine..

Tom- No, unfortunately this doesn't have Catalyst. It shares the Catalyst tub ring, but not the mechanics. The speeds being separate was a huge selling point. I know you can call a speed grouping whatever they want but the fact that Low-High is called the "Sweaters" speed was a huge selling point for me. In the winter I only wear sweaters. I hated haveing to start out on the delicate cycle and then switing to the normal cycle for the final spin on the Whirlpool. NOW it's done for me and I love it LOL. This machine is absolutely phenominal with towels. I bought brand new towels when I moved into my new house and I was shocked when I was able to fit 8 bath towels, 4 hand towels and 4 wash cloths. It turned them over like it was nobodys business.

Jason and Jason- No Catalyst on this one. It does though fill through the detergent dispenser for about 1 minutes and then switches over to the regular fill flume. I have used the Ultra Handwash cycle many times so far and it has not popped out of neutral drain. Because this machine has stepped spin it changes speeds so man times during a cycle it's hard to tell what's what LOL. although no matter what speed you set it on, ALL drains are High speed. So I haven't had any problems with it popping out of neutral drain.

For those who haven't seen these DAA monstrosities, here's a few pictures. I think you'll clearly see the difference. The agitator next to it is a Total Care that's used in the TOL Kenmore Elites. (Non-Oasis)

Geoff

 

[geoff]

From The Top

#2

 

[foraloysius]

Geoff, very nice machine. You convinced me, I want one! If that ocean wasn't there...

I like the separate speed dial too. And that agitator is indeed a monster. Have you tried the smaller one yet?

BTW, did you get the matching dryer as well?

 

[geoff]

Hi Louis

I am just about to try the smaller one in about 5 minutes after I get my bed stripped LOL. No, I didn't get the matching dryer. I had bought a new dryer 2 months before I bought the new washer so the dryer is a Whirlpool Gold Ultra Capacity.

Geoff

 

[geoff]

Here's the set

Ta Da

 

[westytoploader]

Geoff, that is one stunning machine...looks VERY well-made. I had no idea KitchenAid had a machine with the dispensers; I might just have to consider them in the future!

That agitator is truly a behemoth, because even the Kenmore Dual-Action agitators aren't the smallest in existence either! Let us know how the results are. Is this the type that has a spring-loaded auger to accommodate larger loads?

 

[geoff]

Hi Austin!

Thanks so very much. I am beyond thrilled with them. Yes, the Total Care is a spring loaded triple action. I just used it on a load of sheets. It is a -0 on the excitement scale but it oh so gently rolled the sheets over. It was VERY gentle so I think I'll make that my handwash agitator. It may be anemic but it was VERY effective.

Geoff

 

[knitwits1975]

Subtle Hints!

Hey Austin, You just might drop a few among your loved ones since you've got a birthday coming up!

 

[foraloysius]

Thank you for the picture of the set. That's a nice dryer too. It looks like you like TOL appliances!

 

[geoff]

TOL Appliances

Thanks Louis!! Yes, I do love my TOL appliances LOL. The dryer is wonderful. The capacity is monstrous and it dries really well

 

[bobbyderegis]

Hi Geoff,
My mom's new Sears Kenmore Elite DD uses a three speed motor, high speed is marked for "heavy duty", and medium speed is marked for "normal" and "Perm Press", and lo is marked for delicates. The usual combinations are available for the two spin speeds. I was glad to know Sears did this, as my mom would freak out if she saw her clothes being beaten to shreads. I didn't know KD did the same. I don't know if the Elite agitator is as big as the KD.
Bobby in Boston

 

[gansky1]

Only the KitchenAid has this large agitator in their three-speed machines. The GoldSeal motor runs at 1725, 1140 or 850 rpm. They use the Medium speed for "high" agitation and extra low for gentle agitation. High speed (1725) is only used for draining and normal spin-speed.

That large agitator creates a tremendous amount of drag on the motor/transmission so it cannot be used in a standard WP or KM washer unless you're itching to buy a new motor. The KA washer also has a much larger capacitor on the motor than the standard DD washers.

 

[DADoES]

My KAWE-760 has the three-speed motor and the wide-base agitator, with the typical speed pattern. I never knew there are basket perfs under the skirt, have never taken the agitator out, will take your word for it, Tom. Normal agitation is medium motor. Gentle agitation is low motor. Drain is high. Spin is low and/or medium and/or high depending on the cycle. Perm Press shifts from normal to gentle agitation at the 4-min mark, and the final spin steps through all three spin speeds, 2 mins of each in turn. Was quite a thrill the first time I saw that happening.

 

[bobbyderegis]

Greg,
Had no idea, just figured all KD's, WP's and KM's were all the same construction. Is the degree of agitation stroke any different between the KM Elite and the KD? Is there any difference in the motor RPM's?
Bobby in Boston

 

[gansky1]

KA's have the same tranny as other DD WPs & KMs, same agitation stroke, spin speed, suspension system, drain pump, water valve, etc. The motor RPMs on the standard agitator machines (two and three speed models) is the same as KA, 1725/1140/850 used in varying cycles and selections but because of the smaller agitator and less drag, the resulting stroke in the basket is much faster.

 

[bobbyderegis]

How can the stroke be faster if the tranny and motor RPM's are the same? Is it because of the smaller circumference of the agitator? And wouldn't the smaller agitators be more gentle?
Bobby in Boston

 

[gansky1]

The WP two-speed motor runs at 1725 & 1140 rpm. The three speed motor has 1725-1140-850. For Normal agitation, KA uses 1140 rpm motor speed (this is gentle speed in a WP or KM) then uses even slower 850 RPM for their gentle agitation which is again even slower than a WP/KM. This is not necessarily true for the three-speed washers branded Whirlpool or Kenmore as they don't have the larger agitator so they run at the blender-fast speed on high agitation that we've all come to know and love and/or hate and usually have settings for low and extra-low agitation speeds.

Does anyone remember the strokes per minute on the KA's with the larger agitator?

 

[Bryan71]

Same Dryer

I have the same dryer and it's matching washer and for the most part have been happy. The washer fills very slow but that is really my only compliant and I can live with that. You KitchenAid looks great. Congrats!!!!!!!!

 

[frigilux]

Gansky--- I think (pulling out all the stops in the memory bank) the high speed agitation on the KA is 120 and the slow is 90. KA's fast speed is 20 or 30 opm slower than WP/KM's fastest speed, as I recall. I had my KA in 89-90, so that was quite awhile ago.

 

[mrcleanjeans]

KA is 120 OPM on high,but Kenmore-Whirlpool are 180 OPM on high

 

[DADoES]

That would be motor speed difference.