Kitchen Aid DD Washer clunking noise only during agitation

[jerrod6]

That's a bit louder and harder than my old one, but mine was not against walls like yours is so perhaps the walls are enhancing the sound a bit. Mine was more like a clunk-slide-clunk which is where I got the idea of something sliding back and forth.

Mine was also older than yours and I was not impressed with it's rinsing or reliability(one replacement pump, one replacement transmission(under warranty) that then went on it's way out in less than two years and I declined to get a second replacement transmission ) So perhaps your newer model will end up performing louder and much better than mine.

 

[SQueenJJ]

Its High High

Yes-- It is on the High Agitation/High Spin Speed selection Regular wash cycle. It does have a Low and Ultra Low Agitation as well. My main concern is that nothing was being damaged- and I understand everything is fine. I plan on using this machine a long time--- as long as I can get parts.

Jerrod 6- you must have gotten a lemon in that machine. My mother's 1991 Kitchen Aid that she gave away is atill running. But I do understand. I think everybody ends up with a bad machine every now and then- no matter how good the manufacturer.

 

[jerrod6]

Yes I do think it was a lemon, but in 1991 I am not sure who was designing this washer was it whirlpool? Reason I say this is because I ordered brochures of KA washers one year before I purchased mine and was all set to buy one, but a year later in 1996 some things like the agitator and control panel had changed..same with KA DW..revamped design.

I get the feeling that mine was the first burst of a revamped design and that there were improvements over time. I think so because when I had the pump replaced the repair person said that the original pump was not designed to be strong enough to withstand the force of the motor it was connected to so they had to re-design a replacement.

Kind of nice to hear that old clunking again! Good luck with your machine.

 

[DADoES]

 
As has been stated on previous occasions, KA toploaders were always sourced from Whirlpool, and were always of the direct-drive design with some minor revamps along the way such as changing from 2-speed motors to 3-speed on most models, and the larger-base agitator.

 

[SQueenJJ]

KitchenAid Washers

To my knowledge, Whirlpool is the only company that ever made KitchenAid Washing Machines. I think when Hobart Corp owned the KithenAid Brand/Trademark the only appliances they manufactured were commercial equipment and residential dishwashers and their famous stand mixer. When Whirlpool acquired the KitchenAid name, at some point they started to make a full line of appliances (meant to be higher end) with longer warranties and I'm sure to capitalize on the KitchenAid reputation. The KitchenAid washer has a larger agitator so it doesn't have to agitate as fast as a basic Whirlpool machine to still get clothes clean. If I am incorrect, someone please correct me. I do know that when Whirlpool acquired Maytag, they had to quit making KitchenAid laundry equipment as part of their agreement with the government. I guess the government felt Whirlpool would own too many brands in the laundry market. Whirlpool pretty well owns all the brands that are American "Made" (perhaps a better word would be American Owned) with GE being the only big competitor that is American owned or based.

 

[thefixer]

Sounds just like my 02 GE top loader. Always been like that even after replacing the transmission last year due to lower bearing going bad.

Eric

 

[qsd-dan]

<a name="start_45606.667748">The KitchenAid washer has a larger agitator so it doesn't have to agitate as fast as a basic Whirlpool machine to still get clothes clean. </a>

 

Sounds about right. I have a relative with a 2003 TOL Kenmore DD that agitates at almost double the speed on "Fast" compared to this KA. It also has more of a "click" sound instead of "clunk" during agitation. It's not as loud and annoying as my Multimatic with Rollermatic agitator was, but not butter smooth and quiet like my Maytags.

 

[tolivac]

From distant memories when I used to have a KN DD washer with the triple action agitator-sounds like the agitator dogs are just more noisey then others.Your washer agitates at lower speed than the KN I used to have.-Or are you using the slow speed?

 

[SQueenJJ]

I recorded the video with the washer on the highest agitation speed it has. It has two more speeds that are slower.

 

[tolivac]

HMMM-something to consider here-I like the lower speed instead of the choppy,blender like speed of the WP-KN DD's.Will have to keep an eye out for KA washers at the swap shops.Don't mind the clunks-tells me the machine is agitating happly away.

 

[mrb627]

Dog Test

Hold the top of the agitator and keep it moving back and forth with the base. If the noise goes away, then the dogs are the source of the clunk.

Malcolm

 

[SQueenJJ]

Tried it-- still clunks

Malcolm,

I tried your suggestion- no change. I'm just going to let it clunk away and replace the transmission when it wears out. I love the machine- it has a huge capacity and cleans well.

 

[thefixer]

"I have a relative with a 2003 TOL Kenmore DD that agitates at almost double the speed on "Fast" compared to this KA"

Actually, it's 1.5 times as fast. The KA in the video is going at 120spm which is low speed (middle speed) on the 3-speed motor. Whirlpool/KN with 3-speed motors will run the same speed as this KA on the regular setting. It will run 180spm on heavy duty. Whirlpool/KN will with 2-speed motors will run high speed (180spm) on regular setting. I think your comparing apples to oranges. You need to know exactly which model number washers to make an accurate comparison.

Eric

 

[DADoES]

 
Direct-drive trannys (Whirlpool, KA, KM, Roper, Estate, Inglis ... and then MT, Amana, Admiral, and Crosley when relevant) typically run at:

180 SPM agitation on high motor (1725 RPM)

120 SPM at medium motor (1140 RPM) for a 3-speeder, which is low speed for a 2-speeder

90 SPM at low motor (850 RPM) on a 3-speeder, which is ex-low or low or handwash or whatever it may be called.

 

[SQueenJJ]

That's interesting

So I guess I have a washer with a 3 speed motor than only uses the Middle and slower speeds. It never washes any faster than in the video, even if you put it on Soak or Extra Wash. I assume that is normal for this machine (KAWS750LQ0). I had a 2007 Maytag Centennial (Whirltag) that had a 2 speed motor and on Regular agitation it was fast and rough. I got rid of it. It never tore any clothes, but it sure sounded like it was going to. It would wash at the fast speed and for the last few minutes of the cycle it would ramp down to the lower speed. (of course it had the smaller agitator fins) I wish Whirlpool had made their Maytags just like the KitchenAids, but i guess they were getting ready to quit making direct drives for consumers.

 

[DADoES]

 
Although I'm not knowing all the models produced, KA toploaders with 3-speed motors and the large-base agitator usually ran on medium motor speed for high agitation and low motor for low agitation.

My KAWE760 follows that pattern.  It always neutral-drains on high motor.  Spin makes use of all three motor speeds depending on the cycle involved.  The final spin on Perm Press, for example, runs 2 mins low motor, 2 mins medium, then 2 mins high ... a feature called Stepped Spin, which is said to help reduce wrinkling.

 

[SQueenJJ]

You are correct

DADoES. You are correct. That is exactly what this machine does. You can hear those different Spin Speeds when its on the appropriate cycle. I really like the machine and I hope it lasts me a long time. I plan on repairing it as long as I can.

 

[kenmore70]

Jeff,

I have an 11 year old Kenmore Washer, and it makes the same clunking sound as yours. I've never replaced the agitator dogs or the cam, and they look fine. Sometimes it seems louder than others, and I thought maybe it had to do with how high the water level was. In your video, it seems like you probably filled it on the high level. On mine, it seems when I use the low or medium water level it sounds louder.

 

[jerrod6]

I don't remember any third speed on my machine so perhaps it was only a 2 speed unit. Low agitation for delicates, regular agitation for everything else.

Stepped spin for all cycles except dedicates started at a lower speed, increased to a higher speed after a few minutes

 

[combo52]

Clunking DD KA washer

Squeen did you make sure that the 3 transmission bolts are tight, if they are loose they will get looser and when one falls out it will cause a real problem with the washers operation.