Kenmore 80 Series Washer updates

[maytaga806]

Hi everyone, wanted to make a final post about the machine I saved from the dumpster a month ago and wanted to say thank you to everyone for the slight assistance I received about a strange sound it had been making after I replaced the coupler.

I’ve been running it nearly everyday now for the past three weeks, and to my surprise it runs and balances loads like new still. No funny noises at all, just runs the way it’s supposed to. Lower mileage on this one for sure. I finally have a DD that doesn’t slip into spin every single cycle. The body of this unit is in mint condition, zero rust on the frame which I was concerned about before taking it apart. The only additional repair it needed after replacing the coupler was the water level adjustment which went just fine and now fills to the levels it’s designed to each time. Scum on the inner tub was minimal, did several cleaning cycles cause I didn’t think it was a good idea to take the tub out as directed. Did a few cycles with detergent and bleach as the manual states to do, and a few more with several ACTIVE tablets.

Out of the five whirlpool direct drive washers I’ve had in my life this is by far the quietest and smoothest one I’ve ever heard before, I do know the motor is different because it’s a 3 speed model, and it has the “Quiet Pak” which I believe is just some type spray coating on the interior of the cabinet there is no padding insulation in it. It just seems much more refined than what I had, the 96 Whirlpool was just sold to a new owner and I will miss it very much.

Enjoy some photos of the frame & interior with the cabinet off, and a few final photos in its permanent place now. This machine was made in February of 2000, the same month and year I was born, so I guess it was meant to be if you will. Very pleased with it and this was just the upgrade I’ve wanted for a long while. Will buy the matching dryer at some point when I can find one.

 

[ryner1988]

Dan,

I am so very envious of you right now. I would give a lot to have a washer like this. I had a direct drive for a year and a half, but it was a pretty BOL model Whirlpool with very few customizable options, for example speeds built into the timer and no extra rinse. It also had a lot of problems, so I ended up letting it go and now have a Whirlpool VMW. I actually like my new washer a lot, but I would have fought much harder to keep my DD if it had been like this one. An 80 series like this is what I would have for sure if the option was open to me.

Enjoy it, I know I would.

Ryne

 

[maytaga806]

Ryne,

Thank you. Don’t let that stop you from getting one, they are all over the place. I see more TOL Whirlpools than I do anything else on marketplace most of the time. This was a must have. I would not allow such a beautiful machine to be thrown out especially in the rare condition it’s in. The VMW series is a great washer for something “modern”. Have some friends who have them and they have been running flawlessly for years now. I like how they use the same dual action agitator from the Whirlpool labeled direct drives, so at least something made today is still leading a portion of the direct drives legacy.

 

[maytag85]

If you do find the matching dryer or something close to it, get one with the thermostatic auto dry. Never trusted the moisture sensors in the Whirlpool 29” dryers and in general never had good luck with moisture sensors. On the other hand, used a few dryers with the thermostatic auto dry, more than pleased with the results. Thermostatic auto dry has all the features & benefits of a moisture sensor without any of the drawbacks of a moisture sensor which can act up as the machine ages.

 

[maytaga806]

Sean, do you have a photo example of one? That was my concern also! Thanks for the tip.

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>... without any of the drawbacks of a moisture sensor which can act up as the machine ages.</blockquote> I've not experienced any apparent age-related degradation on the moisture-sensor dryers that I've used (from early 1990s to present).  What sort of impaired functionality have you experienced that can be attributed to aging?

 

[combo52]

Electronic dryness sensors on clothes dryers

I’ve never seen problems with electronic sensor systems on dryers becoming inaccurate as they get older etc. my 1974 lady Kenmore still works like the day it was made. It’s accurate and it’s always the same.

I will agree that a Time temperature system does work if you do normal size loads, it does not work with heavy loads or very small loads

Electronic sensor systems are far safer too. They shut off very quickly when the clothing is dry where time temperature systems will often run up to 20 minutes or more even if you started it with dry clothing, which is a waste of energy and dangerous.

John