Kenmore 80 Series

[frapdoodle]

Hello everyone.
Recently I acquired a Kenmore 80 Series. So far I love it. Is this the machine that everyone refers to as a "Shreadmore"? One thing I would love to get for this is the giant fabric softener dispenser. If anyone knows where I could possibly get one of these, please let me know.
Tell me all you can about this machine! haha
Chance

 

[frapdoodle]

a

 

[frapdoodle]

b

 

[frapdoodle]

c

 

[frapdoodle]

d

 

[appnut]

Oh yeah, it's pure Shredmore. Except this one shifts to gentle agitation at the 6 minute mark on regular/Knit-Delicate and Perm Press. That helps a little bit but then you don't get good rollover if ou've put a fuyll load in there.

 

[kenmore58]

In my opinion, this is one of the best machines ever made. I purchased this exact machine with the matching dryer 20 years ago when I purchased my home and it's been performing well ever since. The dryer recently had a problem, which turned out to be a minor repair.

Hopefully, it will be giving me another 20 years of dependable service.

Ron
Kenmore58

 

[DADoES]

 
This dispenser?  Available from many parts sources.

Part Number 63594.

SearsPartsDirect.com = $10.47 (I got one two years ago for $5.92)
PartsTap.com = $7.43
RepairClinic.com = $7.75
Etc.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Chance -

There's a brand new 63594 on ebay with free shipping for $11.95. This is the dispenser that everyone loved to hate (women at least) as I'm told because the blue snap ring has broken many a fingernail for women when the try to release these.

Pure Shredmore Bob? I must differ with you. I have one of these too, mine is a 70 series, same identical timer, but the second rinse is non-wired so its a giant OFF. My machine is very low mileage, but I've never had anything shredded or had it even come close. The speed shift isn't there either -- the Heavy Duty cycle is all fast agitation, and the Normal is 100% low speed agitation with fast spin.

This is a 1992 model machine (I am guessing something like Kenmore model 110.922821x0, is that right Chance?). These were the first models with the new cycle arrangement with Normal and Heavy Duty. The normal was designed to cut-down on extended abuse (which goes along with Bob's shredmore claim) of high speed agitation that many consumers were subjecting their close to in earlier model versions, as they were setting their Direct Drives as they had their belt-drives previously, with 12-14 minutes of high speed agitation on the old Cotton Sturdy cycle. 1986 and 1988 DDs had essentially identical cycle layouts, model for model, to the 1983 Kenmore belt-drives. These 1992 models seeked to alter that somewhat so clothes would get better or more appropriate care.

I have included a picture of my machine for comparison.

When I use this machine, a full water level load is washed on Heavy Duty, but almost never more than 10 minutes. Partial level loads, unless they are very heavy items like towels or jeans, are washed on Normal at the 10-minute setting. Seems to work well that way.

One thing I can say about this machine - it handles mixed weight loads differently than a belt-drive, in fact, some mixed loads I wouldn't put in a belt drive. If you mix sheets with heavier cotton shirts/shorts/etc. the sheets can interfere with roll-over in the DD. That would not be an issue in a BD, however, BDs don't like to spin mixed-weight loads unless they are uniformly distributed. DDs don't make nearly the fuss in spin, at least in my experience.

Gordon

 

[DirectDriveDave]

The term Shredmore is pure nonsense

Unless you don't know how to use it properly. I have been using our DD washer since I was in late elementary school, and have never once experienced clothing damage. As long as you use the correct cycle for the fabric, and don't overload it, everything will be just fine.

 

[lebron]

I love Kenmores so its not like I'm biased here. The "Shredmore" term is well earned. These machines are absolutely terrible on clothes and will put holes in them. FACT. I have experienced it many times with many different whirlpool and kenmore agitators.

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

About 3 years ago I had an early (1984) 24" Kenmore (spin drain) DD washer.   I had run a few loads through it with no issues, until I did a load of dress shirts.   One shirt did get damaged and while it wasn't literally in shreds, it was no longer wearable.  I was pissed.   At that moment I said to my self "it sure earned it's 'Shreadmore' name" and I sold it the following week.

 

On the flipside, I currently have a TOL KM Elite Catalyst (3 speed) washer that I like a LOT.   I've run numerous loads through it and have not had a single issue or problem with damage clothing.

 

I believe the reasons for this are: 

#1 the wash basket is bigger (wider).  

#2 the agitator profile is different (not including the auger).  

#3 on lower water levels the agitation is automatically set to a slower speed.

#4 it only agitates at the fastest speed on the highest water level and/or on the Heavy Duty cycle.

 

Kevin

 

[this post was last edited: 7/18/2012-13:16]

 

[kenmoreguy64]

I agree with Kevin completely.

The original 2.4/2.5 cu ft. baskets are very tall, narrow cylinders essentially, as compared to more uniformly sized (nearly as wide as tall) standard capacity belt-drive tubs. I think these tall slender tubs, which were most often linked to lower MOL and BOL one-speed units, are less likely to properly roll a load, as there is a lot of vertical travel required, and not much side to side space to get the action rolling. Proper loading is the key.

There is no doubt that a DD CAN abuse laundry, but so could a BD if mis-used. I think DDs are simply easier to mis-use. This is why KM re-designed the premise of the cycles in the early 90s, so users would be more likely to wash for fewer minutes at slower speeds. Using the new Normal cycle at 10 minutes with slow agitation won't harm laundry, but if the user still insists, it can be done on the Heavy Duty cycle when 14 minutes is selected. Some DDs even have 18 minutes of wash I believe - enough to dissolve some old towel I think...

But, other people's experience aside, factual or not, if WP's 100 million direct drive washers were all shredding clothes on a regular basis, WP would be bankrupt from the damage claims by now, OR the machines would have been re-designed 80-million washers ago.

Gordon

 

[combo52]

KM DD 80 Series Washer

I agree that this was one of the best and most reliable automatic washers EVER and having worked on over 10,000 DD washers over the last 25 years I have never had a customer tell me that a DD washer damaged any clothing [ and I have had some crazy customers ] This KM DD washer with the Dual Action Agitator is probably more genital than any MT DC washer ever made when properly used.

 

[appnut]

Unless you don't know how to use it properly.

Uhhh, pardon me Dave. But I've beren doing laundry IN THAT Shredmore before you were evfgen born. (I think I know a thing or two about edoing laundry. Unless you are saying 25 differeent people (yes I've kept count and there are more) who do not also know how to do laundry. You have to baby with loads with heloluva of water that's very waste But then agaihnj, I had a loose knit cotton sweater (the bulky knd, that I washed allk by itself on 3/4 watedr level and it stillk ripped holes in my sweater on gentle. So do NOT go there.

 

[DirectDriveDave]

To be clear.

I am NOT saying the machine cannot possibly do that, I'm just saying it require the right use (I cant think of other ways of saying that). I'm not sure why you have had damage to fabrics while I have not. Maybe our machine being a 3-speed has something to do with it, I don't know. (though, from your post it sounds like maybe yours was too?)

Hell, maybe i'm even being TOO careful of how I use them, but considering what I have experienced, which were all positive, I see no reason to change.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Very nice Vintage DD Kenmore

You have a very well made and clean washing washer there. One of the best top loader designs ever IMO. I have never found any proof of these being shredmores. I have never pulled a load out of one and had it be torn up. Just be careful what you put in there on the HD cycle. Happy Washing!

Nick WK78

 

[appnut]

Mine being the original DD LK, it didn't have shift to gentle during the middle of the wash. I generally washed thihngs for 6 minutes no longer than that. I'd soak for a long time if soil level needed it. Just too rough on fabrics without that switch to gentle in themiddle of the cycle. And because of that, the only thing I washed on normal were towels, everything else got washed on 8 minutws of delicate.

 

[xraytech]

Great washer, I grew up with a set just like it.
My mother purchased a new 70 series Kenmore DD and matching Soft Heat dryer in 1988 when I was 2. It replaced a well worn hand me down GE set from the mid 60s.
We had our 70 series washer until 2001.

We washed everything in that washer for 13years and never had an issue, we even regularly washed lace tablecloths, and doilies as well as lace curtains and even their being so delicate they never shredded, and they were typically washed on Normal.

Not to mention these were very reliable washers, as up until the last year and a half before we replaced the washer it never had an issue, and we do nearly 20 loads a week, and there were lots of times that grandma did her wash with it too on top of our regular loads. We replaced our 70 series with a 2001 80 series which performed flawlessly, I just recently sold it to a student of mine and ts still going strong.

I must say the only thing I noticed being kinda rough was my clothes, especially scrubs would come out of the washer all tangled up