syber_collie
Member
Thanks! I’ll most likely be working on it next week so I’ll keep yalls updated once I get to that point
Kenmore belt drive issues
- Thread starter syber_collie
- Start date
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syber_collie
Member
Also any more information on these washers would be appreciated as I haven’t even been able to find a picture of another black one. I’ve seen a couple almond ones on here but no black ones. I wish I had the matching dryer but unfortunately the dryer it was paired with was just a 5-10 year old Kenmore gas dryer.
the color really has nothing to do with the inner workings...
outside of the Digital Console, and added dispensers.....you have a standard belt drive 'wigwag' base unit....
one no different than the other...all FSP/Whirlpool/Kenmore design that ran for upwards of 30+ years...
many times we have taken a top unit, and switched it over to another base unit...all parts aligned right up
that was sort of a nice thing back then, no matter what model/style/options/colors....you got a standard heavy duty base unit inner workings equal across the board...whether it was BOL or TOL
outside of the Digital Console, and added dispensers.....you have a standard belt drive 'wigwag' base unit....
one no different than the other...all FSP/Whirlpool/Kenmore design that ran for upwards of 30+ years...
many times we have taken a top unit, and switched it over to another base unit...all parts aligned right up
that was sort of a nice thing back then, no matter what model/style/options/colors....you got a standard heavy duty base unit inner workings equal across the board...whether it was BOL or TOL
syber_collie
Member
Yeah most of the belt drives I’ve picked up are the standard center knob faux wood topped Kenmore’s. I had a couple of those last year. I also currently have a whirlpool convertible set (actually my 2nd set)
But when I saw the listing for this the color is what caught my eye, so I went and grabbed it for only $50. It’s honestly one of the neatest washers I’ve had and the cleanest belt drive internally.
Once I get the spin issue sorted I’m hopeful to get some cycle videos of it as I can’t even find any full cycle videos for one of these
But when I saw the listing for this the color is what caught my eye, so I went and grabbed it for only $50. It’s honestly one of the neatest washers I’ve had and the cleanest belt drive internally.
Once I get the spin issue sorted I’m hopeful to get some cycle videos of it as I can’t even find any full cycle videos for one of these
syber_collie
Member
Welp
So I made an attempt to remove the transmission today because I found some time. Can’t seem to get it out as the shaft seems seized in the spin tube
So I reassembled the machine but I found these washer/nuts in the bottom of the cabinet, any ideas where they go?
So I made an attempt to remove the transmission today because I found some time. Can’t seem to get it out as the shaft seems seized in the spin tube
So I reassembled the machine but I found these washer/nuts in the bottom of the cabinet, any ideas where they go?
syber_collie
Member
Update
Rechecked my diagram and they are the spin clutch washers. Placed them back and the machine works as it did before. Unless I missed something that transmission assembly is really stuck in there. On the bright side I got to clean it up a bit more
Rechecked my diagram and they are the spin clutch washers. Placed them back and the machine works as it did before. Unless I missed something that transmission assembly is really stuck in there. On the bright side I got to clean it up a bit more
Those washers that are in the shape of a nut are for the clutch yoke and the clutch yoke isn’t like the older belt drive washers like my ‘63 since they aren’t easily adjustable without having to remove the transmission bolts.
syber_collie
Member
Yeah I got them back in after reading through the guide I found again. I didn’t noticed them on the yoke before until I found them in the cabinet. Will have to try again sometime in the future to remove the transmission again. Probably gonna do another water test to see if the problem repeats again.
syber_collie
Member
So here is it spinning after I messed with it, thought this might be important to show
neptunebob
Well-known member
About the belt drive washers
I was wondering if anyone knew of the transition at Whirlpool from the belt drive washers to the direct drive. I guess John would know. I know the DD came out first in 1981 for the narrow machines but were Kenmores the first version? The DD was phased in gradually and I kind of wonder why. I do know that the Limited Edition was about the last of the belt drives, mom and I looked at it but $1500 was too much for the pair. We ended up with one in almond maybe about the 80 series. The saleslady said the LE had a steel tub and the other a polypropylene tub. Were the DD lower priced machines. I think I read on here that toward the end of BD production, Whirlpool stockpiled some of the last BD machines in case people were not happy with the DD units. Any truth to that?
Oh and Darth Vader needs his washer back when you're done with it, he would like the dryer too.
I was wondering if anyone knew of the transition at Whirlpool from the belt drive washers to the direct drive. I guess John would know. I know the DD came out first in 1981 for the narrow machines but were Kenmores the first version? The DD was phased in gradually and I kind of wonder why. I do know that the Limited Edition was about the last of the belt drives, mom and I looked at it but $1500 was too much for the pair. We ended up with one in almond maybe about the 80 series. The saleslady said the LE had a steel tub and the other a polypropylene tub. Were the DD lower priced machines. I think I read on here that toward the end of BD production, Whirlpool stockpiled some of the last BD machines in case people were not happy with the DD units. Any truth to that?
Oh and Darth Vader needs his washer back when you're done with it, he would like the dryer too.
Transition From BD Washers To The DD Machines
Both WP and KM had a DD machine in the end of 1981,
Some of the many reasons that the change was made of course was cost of manufacturing, the DD machine has 60 less parts and is about 70 pounds lighter.
The DD machines from the very start were more reliable, they had almost 1/2 the warranty call rate in the first year alone.
The DD machines were far easier to do major repairs on, this was a big challenge for the laundry industry to be able to have washers that could still have major repairs done in the customers home at an affordable cost to keep manufactures from having to replace machines completely or lose their shirt if it needed repair.
The DD washers quickly became the only TL washer that was easy to replace ANY part on in less that 1/2 hour in the home, it was estimated by WP that after 10 years of DD washers being in the field that several thousand less repair technicians would be needed nationwide.
Overall the DD washers were a huge success with well over 100 million being produced over their 36 year run 1981-2017, but it was time to move on. [ I think I am safe in saying that the DD machines were the most produced TL automatics ever even far surpassing MT Helical Drive machines produced 1956-2006 .
The design of the DD machines did not lend itself to the faster spin speeds needed or much lower water and electricity use that is needed if the world is to have any chance of survival to the year 2200, the savings in water and energy in the last decade alone have been enormous and necessary.
John L.
Both WP and KM had a DD machine in the end of 1981,
Some of the many reasons that the change was made of course was cost of manufacturing, the DD machine has 60 less parts and is about 70 pounds lighter.
The DD machines from the very start were more reliable, they had almost 1/2 the warranty call rate in the first year alone.
The DD machines were far easier to do major repairs on, this was a big challenge for the laundry industry to be able to have washers that could still have major repairs done in the customers home at an affordable cost to keep manufactures from having to replace machines completely or lose their shirt if it needed repair.
The DD washers quickly became the only TL washer that was easy to replace ANY part on in less that 1/2 hour in the home, it was estimated by WP that after 10 years of DD washers being in the field that several thousand less repair technicians would be needed nationwide.
Overall the DD washers were a huge success with well over 100 million being produced over their 36 year run 1981-2017, but it was time to move on. [ I think I am safe in saying that the DD machines were the most produced TL automatics ever even far surpassing MT Helical Drive machines produced 1956-2006 .
The design of the DD machines did not lend itself to the faster spin speeds needed or much lower water and electricity use that is needed if the world is to have any chance of survival to the year 2200, the savings in water and energy in the last decade alone have been enormous and necessary.
John L.
syber_collie
Member
Quick Kenmore update…
Currently still on the hunt for a clutch, been searching for the past couple weeks and haven’t found one yet, also been looking for a parts machine but currently there aren’t any belt drives for sale locally. Still have to figure out how to remove the transmission, I follow everything online I found (shifting into spin, positioning the small ball facing up etc) but I still can’t get it to slide out, I’ve actually never pulled a belt drive transmission before as I’ve never had one that had to have it fully removed. Any help is appreciated
Currently still on the hunt for a clutch, been searching for the past couple weeks and haven’t found one yet, also been looking for a parts machine but currently there aren’t any belt drives for sale locally. Still have to figure out how to remove the transmission, I follow everything online I found (shifting into spin, positioning the small ball facing up etc) but I still can’t get it to slide out, I’ve actually never pulled a belt drive transmission before as I’ve never had one that had to have it fully removed. Any help is appreciated
repairguy
Well-known member
One thing I do is make sure the gearcase is shifted into agitate mode by manually moving the cam bar. This helps because it allows the agitator shaft to move with the gearcase while you are moving it side to side while pulling down. If it’s not wanting to be removed easily chances of water seepage down the spin tube and possibly the bearings is likely. With the wash basket and drive block removed the basket drive assembly should also be easy to remove unless there is rust/bearing issues due to water being where it shouldn’t.
maytagneptune
Well-known member
agitation problems
as it agitates it looks like one of those modern crappy VMW Kenmores that have a mere lifespan of 3 years.
as it agitates it looks like one of those modern crappy VMW Kenmores that have a mere lifespan of 3 years.
syber_collie
Member
I did have the machine in agitation so I could rotate the shaft to get the ball on top. Still didn’t want to come out easily. May have to disassemble the tub assembly more then to get the drive out
