Dave, I believe Kenmore Fabric Master refers to thermostatic auto-dry. Electronic sensor is typically stated as electronic sensor and/or solid-state.
Kenmore Soft Heat
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Dave, I believe Kenmore Fabric Master refers to thermostatic auto-dry. Electronic sensor is typically stated as electronic sensor and/or solid-state.
My new dryer I bought for my new house has the wrinkle guard.When it first started cycling-thought something was wrong-read thru the book and found out.Now turn the dryer off when it gets to wrinkle guard.Can agree-puts more cycling of the motor start switches and or cap.
90 min wrinkle prevent
My understanding is the timer motor and gears were originally tooled around 220 minutes of time to accommodate a 120 minute timed normal cycle and a 75 minute timed press care cycle. Obviously the sensor dry only requires a fraction of that time, and press care became timed dry, so the remaining 90 minutes became the wrinkle guard. Thats where my angst comes from, the timer was originally built to support a 120 minute timed dry cycle- one that I need.
I can understand hot clothes being less desirable in heat and humidity, come colder climates it does have its perks, especially when there is cold back draft from the exhaust vent in the dead of winter. Can't stand cold clothes.
My understanding is the timer motor and gears were originally tooled around 220 minutes of time to accommodate a 120 minute timed normal cycle and a 75 minute timed press care cycle. Obviously the sensor dry only requires a fraction of that time, and press care became timed dry, so the remaining 90 minutes became the wrinkle guard. Thats where my angst comes from, the timer was originally built to support a 120 minute timed dry cycle- one that I need.
I can understand hot clothes being less desirable in heat and humidity, come colder climates it does have its perks, especially when there is cold back draft from the exhaust vent in the dead of winter. Can't stand cold clothes.
Soft heat and Wrinkle guard
The original soft heat systems that whirlpool built for Sears Kenmore were not a particularly low heat. It was a nice constant heat gas dryers hovered around 165° with the modulating burner they didn’t give you any temperature choice on these dryers, today most consumers feel like it’s a little too hot Later, so called soft heat cycles tapered the heat down toward the end of the drying cycle , A very different thing.
Wrinkle guard, and whirlpools finish guard were both introduced in the later 60s and originally gave you 2 1/2 hours of wrinkle prevention. The dryer tumbled every five minutes for 10 seconds without heat total running time was only about five minutes if you let it go the full 2 1/2 hours power Consumption was negligible and the extra starts on the motor never Hurt anything of the more than a dozen dryers I’ve used on a regular basis with Wrinkle guard I’ve never had a motor switch failure. These motors are designed to start millions of times and the dryer is starting with very little load because it’s a load of dry light Clothing.
John
The original soft heat systems that whirlpool built for Sears Kenmore were not a particularly low heat. It was a nice constant heat gas dryers hovered around 165° with the modulating burner they didn’t give you any temperature choice on these dryers, today most consumers feel like it’s a little too hot Later, so called soft heat cycles tapered the heat down toward the end of the drying cycle , A very different thing.
Wrinkle guard, and whirlpools finish guard were both introduced in the later 60s and originally gave you 2 1/2 hours of wrinkle prevention. The dryer tumbled every five minutes for 10 seconds without heat total running time was only about five minutes if you let it go the full 2 1/2 hours power Consumption was negligible and the extra starts on the motor never Hurt anything of the more than a dozen dryers I’ve used on a regular basis with Wrinkle guard I’ve never had a motor switch failure. These motors are designed to start millions of times and the dryer is starting with very little load because it’s a load of dry light Clothing.
John
Reply #5
The thermostat opens up at 120F, closes at 105F. That may be a little on the lower end, but certainly much easier on clothing not to mention the machine itself. Since there’s a 60F difference between the 120F cycling thermostat and 180F high limit thermostat, haven’t heard the high limit thermostat open in over a month, usually it’s an audible click when it opens.
Might think it would be slower with a 120F thermostat and can be with certain loads, but surprisingly is fairly quick since it holds a more consistent temperature.
The thermostat opens up at 120F, closes at 105F. That may be a little on the lower end, but certainly much easier on clothing not to mention the machine itself. Since there’s a 60F difference between the 120F cycling thermostat and 180F high limit thermostat, haven’t heard the high limit thermostat open in over a month, usually it’s an audible click when it opens.
Might think it would be slower with a 120F thermostat and can be with certain loads, but surprisingly is fairly quick since it holds a more consistent temperature.
Yes, I forgot about the Wrinkle Guard being the feature that said dryer (the radio dial one my friend had) boasted...
My way newer K-M has that (billed as Wrinkle Guard II) as well...
-- Dave
My way newer K-M has that (billed as Wrinkle Guard II) as well...
-- Dave
"I’ve never had a motor switch failure."
I doubt any repairmen has replaced a motor start switch in over 35 years on a customers washer/dryer. Any motor problem (start switch or not) gets replaced except for a motor capacitor. Even then...
I doubt any repairmen has replaced a motor start switch in over 35 years on a customers washer/dryer. Any motor problem (start switch or not) gets replaced except for a motor capacitor. Even then...
Centrifugal start switches on clothes dryers
I do still occasionally replaces centrifugal start switch because the heater contacts on electric dryers will burn up, your right Dan that generally people do not replace just the switch. Domestic clothes dryers do not use start capacitors either or run capacitors for that matter.
I wondered about start switch durability when they first came out with Wrinkle guard back in the 70s when we got our first one in the family, but I’ve certainly never seen any correlation between Wrinkle Guard motor switch failures. And use of this feature.
I do still occasionally replaces centrifugal start switch because the heater contacts on electric dryers will burn up, your right Dan that generally people do not replace just the switch. Domestic clothes dryers do not use start capacitors either or run capacitors for that matter.
I wondered about start switch durability when they first came out with Wrinkle guard back in the 70s when we got our first one in the family, but I’ve certainly never seen any correlation between Wrinkle Guard motor switch failures. And use of this feature.
Honestly, motor switches fail when they fail, it’s just something that happens. If you have an older style of round motor, can clean and disassemble them for cleaning and oiling.
Think lint is what causes the start switch to stick which cause issues, certainly causes overheating issues.
Think lint is what causes the start switch to stick which cause issues, certainly causes overheating issues.
SmartLoad's Wrinkle Free function runs a bit more than 23 hrs (255 30-sec tumbles on 5-min cycling) or until the user interrupts it for unloading. The motor is 3-phase variable speed/reversing (2,300 RPM for normal tumbling). No start winding/switch. There is a holding relay that energizes from press of Start until operation is complete, including Wrinkle Free if selected.
Dryer start switch contacts
Are always closed, they open once the motor starts running and gets to about 3/4 of its running speed, yes, there’s a slight ark when this happens, but these motors are made for millions of starts.
John
Are always closed, they open once the motor starts running and gets to about 3/4 of its running speed, yes, there’s a slight ark when this happens, but these motors are made for millions of starts.
John
Versions of Kenmore Wrinkle Guard
This thread got me thinking, my family and I have had three Kenmore dryers with Wrinkle Guard, the first two of which operate quite differently, and I was considering the usefulness of each.
Our first WG equipped dryer was a 1972 KM 60 series. I don’t know how long the WG period operated, but I think it was 2+ hours like John said. It would come on, tumble briefly, then buzz and stop for a period. Occasionally we’d say “Oh my gosh, I had no idea that thing was still on”, but the cycle seemed to serve its purpose. I too was wondering about wear and tear on the motor with all those starts, but once again, John’s summary on this is good enough for me. We liked that ‘72 dryer a lot, better than the 1961 70-series we had first.
The second and third dryers are near twins, my Mom’s next dryer, a 1983 KM high-end 70 and my 1986 KM mid line 70. Both have ‘Wrinkle Guard I” which tumbles continuously for 30 minutes unstopped, with buzzes every five minutes. I love my dryer, it was neat to have it new in 1986 as a college student, but I dislike that WG cycle, mainly because I often forget to be nearby at the end on dry time, and next thing I know I’ve wasted a good deal of extra run time on the chassis for seemingly nothing, had I emptied the dryer when I should have.
My mother didn’t care for the WG in her ‘83 dryer either. Her dryer has and adjustable signal. She reacted to the WG by turning off the signal, then later by just using the timed cycle so the dryer would not run for so long.
My good friends in the condo next to me in school had an 85 KM with Wrinkle Guard II, which tumbled and stopped every five minutes for 45 minutes. I remember watching Oprah with them many times while the dryer turned itself on and off but went unnoticed because they too had turned off the cycle signal.
High-end electronic controlled dryers in 80s, likely longer than that had WG III which was back to the original, tumbling intermittently for 2.5 hours.
Not sure which of these I like better, probably WG II, but I know for myself, since I still use my ‘86, that I make it a joke/ challenge to stop the dryer before it’s first buzz (I can’t turn it off on my model) or at least after the first one.
I still have the 1978 KM 60 series dryer that I purchased used for my sister and her first apartment. I was given the dryer back 11 years later and have enjoyed using it a lot, mostly because it has no WG, no buzzer, and a timed perm press cycle that operates for a max of 50 mins. With a large load, I set max time, and without any noise, delay, or pestering, it’s done, perfectly every time.
Gordon
This thread got me thinking, my family and I have had three Kenmore dryers with Wrinkle Guard, the first two of which operate quite differently, and I was considering the usefulness of each.
Our first WG equipped dryer was a 1972 KM 60 series. I don’t know how long the WG period operated, but I think it was 2+ hours like John said. It would come on, tumble briefly, then buzz and stop for a period. Occasionally we’d say “Oh my gosh, I had no idea that thing was still on”, but the cycle seemed to serve its purpose. I too was wondering about wear and tear on the motor with all those starts, but once again, John’s summary on this is good enough for me. We liked that ‘72 dryer a lot, better than the 1961 70-series we had first.
The second and third dryers are near twins, my Mom’s next dryer, a 1983 KM high-end 70 and my 1986 KM mid line 70. Both have ‘Wrinkle Guard I” which tumbles continuously for 30 minutes unstopped, with buzzes every five minutes. I love my dryer, it was neat to have it new in 1986 as a college student, but I dislike that WG cycle, mainly because I often forget to be nearby at the end on dry time, and next thing I know I’ve wasted a good deal of extra run time on the chassis for seemingly nothing, had I emptied the dryer when I should have.
My mother didn’t care for the WG in her ‘83 dryer either. Her dryer has and adjustable signal. She reacted to the WG by turning off the signal, then later by just using the timed cycle so the dryer would not run for so long.
My good friends in the condo next to me in school had an 85 KM with Wrinkle Guard II, which tumbled and stopped every five minutes for 45 minutes. I remember watching Oprah with them many times while the dryer turned itself on and off but went unnoticed because they too had turned off the cycle signal.
High-end electronic controlled dryers in 80s, likely longer than that had WG III which was back to the original, tumbling intermittently for 2.5 hours.
Not sure which of these I like better, probably WG II, but I know for myself, since I still use my ‘86, that I make it a joke/ challenge to stop the dryer before it’s first buzz (I can’t turn it off on my model) or at least after the first one.
I still have the 1978 KM 60 series dryer that I purchased used for my sister and her first apartment. I was given the dryer back 11 years later and have enjoyed using it a lot, mostly because it has no WG, no buzzer, and a timed perm press cycle that operates for a max of 50 mins. With a large load, I set max time, and without any noise, delay, or pestering, it’s done, perfectly every time.
Gordon
Whirlpool Kenmore Wrinkle guard systems
Hi Gordon, great analysis and history of how Kenmore marketed this great system.
I still like the 2 1/2 hours systems Best, it uses the least energy and does the most good. the original 2 1/2 hour Wrinkle guard systems used a second timer to time the Wrinkle guard function, when they went to the Wrinkle guard one and Wrinkle guard two systems they used the same timer and timer motor. the 45 minute Wrinkle guard gave the most trouble as they did had trouble with the timer contact failing in that system for the motor operation.
Here are a few pictures of the three Wrinkle guard dryers in my laundry room , the 71 lady Kenmore combo uses a second timer for the Wrinkle guard function. It also gives it a 30 minute enzyme soak cycle which periodically tumbles the clothing and lets them soak in between tumble periods and the neat thing about the Wrinkle guard function on the combo as it doesn’t turn the blower on each time, the motor starts it just tumbles the clothing .
The 74 Lady Kenmore gas dryer has all electronic control which works great. I can’t imagine in the 30 years. I’ve had this dryer how many times I just run off and leave the dryer running and it goes through the full 2 1/2 hours of Wrinkle guard doesn’t seem to hurt a thing.
John
Hi Gordon, great analysis and history of how Kenmore marketed this great system.
I still like the 2 1/2 hours systems Best, it uses the least energy and does the most good. the original 2 1/2 hour Wrinkle guard systems used a second timer to time the Wrinkle guard function, when they went to the Wrinkle guard one and Wrinkle guard two systems they used the same timer and timer motor. the 45 minute Wrinkle guard gave the most trouble as they did had trouble with the timer contact failing in that system for the motor operation.
Here are a few pictures of the three Wrinkle guard dryers in my laundry room , the 71 lady Kenmore combo uses a second timer for the Wrinkle guard function. It also gives it a 30 minute enzyme soak cycle which periodically tumbles the clothing and lets them soak in between tumble periods and the neat thing about the Wrinkle guard function on the combo as it doesn’t turn the blower on each time, the motor starts it just tumbles the clothing .
The 74 Lady Kenmore gas dryer has all electronic control which works great. I can’t imagine in the 30 years. I’ve had this dryer how many times I just run off and leave the dryer running and it goes through the full 2 1/2 hours of Wrinkle guard doesn’t seem to hurt a thing.
John
My aunt had a KM dryer she got sometime in the late 70's that had Wrinkle Guard. She liked it because if she was busy doing something else, such as cooking, on the phone, or watching a show, she could wait until she finished, and the clothes wouldn't have wrinkles.
Whether wrinkle guard runs for 30 minutes, 3 hours or three days it isn't hurting anything. Yet it gives or gave manufacturer talking points to make Her Indoors (or whoever is doing laundry) happy in knowing they didn't have to run and empty dryer at once when load was complete.
Was never one for doing so but others do put things in dryer and go off to bed, leave house for work, school, errands.. and return hours later. Even upon rising next morning or returning home later in day unloading dryer may not be first thing on their to do list.
Was never one for doing so but others do put things in dryer and go off to bed, leave house for work, school, errands.. and return hours later. Even upon rising next morning or returning home later in day unloading dryer may not be first thing on their to do list.
but these motors are made for millions of starts.
Not even close, maybe starts in the tens of thousands, but not millions.
I remember reading a comment on this site nearly 20 years ago that new Whirlpool dryer motors were so crappy they were replacing them with used motors from the 70's and 80's because the new motors were failing quick out of the box.
I'll see if I can dig that post out of the archives, it was a long time ago.
Not even close, maybe starts in the tens of thousands, but not millions.
I remember reading a comment on this site nearly 20 years ago that new Whirlpool dryer motors were so crappy they were replacing them with used motors from the 70's and 80's because the new motors were failing quick out of the box.
I'll see if I can dig that post out of the archives, it was a long time ago.
The Maytag HOH dryers I snagged from the appliance junkyard almost 2 years ago are definitely ‘high mileage’, but work perfectly fine after 60 years. Definitely disassembled the motors for a cleaning and oiling, still chugging along like it’s nothing. The round GE motor is a bit grumbly, but that’s just an idiosyncrasy since it still turns freely. That particular motor is in my Maytag DE806 which gets used at least 1 to 2 times a day, fires up every time like it’s nothing.
The only time I’ve had issues with start switches is with the motor on my 1963 RCA Whirlpool Imperial dryer when I first got it back in 2020, sometimes the start switch wouldn’t close and you’d see the heating element glowing when you opened the door. After blowing the lint and dust out with compressed air along with running it through a dozen loads, that problem never surfaced again.
The only time I’ve had issues with start switches is with the motor on my 1963 RCA Whirlpool Imperial dryer when I first got it back in 2020, sometimes the start switch wouldn’t close and you’d see the heating element glowing when you opened the door. After blowing the lint and dust out with compressed air along with running it through a dozen loads, that problem never surfaced again.
