KitchenAid Toploader
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Beautiful
Thats a very nice washer.
WK78
Thats a very nice washer.
WK78
DirectDriveDave
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2011
- Messages
- 456
Good stuff there!
Ahh, all those mechanical dials....
Ahh, all those mechanical dials....
Nice washer
They should pop the lid out before trying to sell it, what are these people thinking? LOL
This (is) a very nice machine, Whirlpool put many step-up features in the KitchenAid laundry that made the Sunday-Ad Kenmo' look like a hillbilly cousin. Probably the finest made of it's time. Galvanized cabinets; porcelain top and lid; bronze bushing motor and dryer drum rollers; gentler agitation; six-rib belt on the dryer (three or four rib on WP-KM); full 2 year entire product warranty... on and on. For the money, stepping up to KA laundry was a big jump for essentially a bargain price. They did have some problems with timers around this era, but not sure which model it was. This TOL model also came in Ebony - a sexy beast with that gleaming white tub and agitator!
They should pop the lid out before trying to sell it, what are these people thinking? LOL
This (is) a very nice machine, Whirlpool put many step-up features in the KitchenAid laundry that made the Sunday-Ad Kenmo' look like a hillbilly cousin. Probably the finest made of it's time. Galvanized cabinets; porcelain top and lid; bronze bushing motor and dryer drum rollers; gentler agitation; six-rib belt on the dryer (three or four rib on WP-KM); full 2 year entire product warranty... on and on. For the money, stepping up to KA laundry was a big jump for essentially a bargain price. They did have some problems with timers around this era, but not sure which model it was. This TOL model also came in Ebony - a sexy beast with that gleaming white tub and agitator!
A very sexy Washer.
A fine example of what WP can do if they want to. (This one might be what will convince Katie to let me bring washers into the bedroom "Sure Scrub Agitator")LOL
WK78
A fine example of what WP can do if they want to. (This one might be what will convince Katie to let me bring washers into the bedroom "Sure Scrub Agitator")LOL
WK78
tecnopolis
Well-known member
.There a matching dryer for sale here in ebony.
tecnopolis
Well-known member
.
whirlcool
Well-known member
These didn't have auto temp control. When you selected HOT you got water heater hot.
For warm cold & hot are mixed. And it even has warm rinse options too!
For warm cold & hot are mixed. And it even has warm rinse options too!
A really neat machine, but I have become accustomed to ATC bumping up the cold temp to 60-65F or so and warm to 90-95F. That's a really useful feature where we live, because incoming cold water temp can get down to 45F in the winter. Down South were you live, that wouldn't be a problem.
But I agree that using ATC to limit the hot temp to something less than tap temperature is a bad idea.
But I agree that using ATC to limit the hot temp to something less than tap temperature is a bad idea.
If you want rinse temps of 60 or so, all you have to do is set it for warm rinses and turn the hot tap way down to almost off after the wash fill. I have done that for years with my KA & Maytag washers to get cooler than warm, but warmer than cold rinses any time of the year.
Clarification
I have this same machine only one model year ahead. I bought it new in 2006. This machine does have temp control. it has 6 temperature selections, 4 of them are standard, hot\cold, warm\cold, warm\warm, and cold\cold. The other two settings are SensorSure Warm\cold and SensorSure Cold\Cold. The ATC warm is set at 95 degrees and the ATC cold is set at 70. BTW, don't be fooled by the "warm" rinse. The warm rinse is set at 70 degrees, the same as the ATC cold setting. I set mine on warm\warm year round. If it needs warm it will add it, if the tap temp is above 70 it will fill with tap cold. In the dead of winter it will rinse with almost 75% warm water. In summer, tap cold.
I have this same machine only one model year ahead. I bought it new in 2006. This machine does have temp control. it has 6 temperature selections, 4 of them are standard, hot\cold, warm\cold, warm\warm, and cold\cold. The other two settings are SensorSure Warm\cold and SensorSure Cold\Cold. The ATC warm is set at 95 degrees and the ATC cold is set at 70. BTW, don't be fooled by the "warm" rinse. The warm rinse is set at 70 degrees, the same as the ATC cold setting. I set mine on warm\warm year round. If it needs warm it will add it, if the tap temp is above 70 it will fill with tap cold. In the dead of winter it will rinse with almost 75% warm water. In summer, tap cold.
limitededition
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2010
- Messages
- 62
temp assure
The washer does have tempassure the kitchaid lingo for ATC, it also has six temperture setting and it does have HOT water not Hot water the HOT is water heater HOT
The washer does have tempassure the kitchaid lingo for ATC, it also has six temperture setting and it does have HOT water not Hot water the HOT is water heater HOT
jerrod6
Well-known member
NEVER again!
Perhaps this is a 2006 model. I had one that looked like this from 1996. Mine was crap.
It did not have ATC but the warm water was mixed with hot so it ended up being about 80F. In order to get water I thought was warm I had to run a 3/4 tub full of hot water and then switch the temp to cold.
The cleaning was crap. I could never get white socks clean in the thing even after I soaked the socks over night in LCB before washing them the next day with the whites. Lets not even talk about white underwear.
The rinsing was crappier. After the main wash water was pumped out the tub would start to spin and do a spray rinse. Problem was that the water ran into the machine from the back through a kind of platform shaped thing. The water would pour into the tub as soon as it began to turn but most of it poured onto the agitator and not onto the clothes and as far as it being a rinse during the spin....the water came in for 30 seconds way before the tub had gained any type of spin speed. didn't matter though because the rinse water ran on top of the agitator and right down the drain never touching the clothes. This was followed by deep rinse that took 8 minutes of filling 23 gallons of water, that was then followed by 2 ---TWO minutes of agitation. Turnover? Half of the clothes never got submerged in the water. Eventually this resulted in my breaking out in a rash caused by left over detergent in clothes.
The pump was crap. It lasted two years then began leaking. I called the repair guy and asked that he put in a KA replacement pump. He informed me that even though the machine was labeled KA it was nothing more than a whirlpool and there were only Whirlpool parts...even though I spent more money for this machine as a KA. So much for the slogan KA for the way it's made.
The transmission was crap. After having this machine for 4 years I was faced with a tub full of wet clothes that would not spin after a wash because the transmission came apart. The repair person replaced the transmission. Two years after this the transmission came apart again.
Maybe whirlpool got their act together by 2006.
Never again will I have a KA made by Whirlpool in my house....just NEVER.
Perhaps this is a 2006 model. I had one that looked like this from 1996. Mine was crap.
It did not have ATC but the warm water was mixed with hot so it ended up being about 80F. In order to get water I thought was warm I had to run a 3/4 tub full of hot water and then switch the temp to cold.
The cleaning was crap. I could never get white socks clean in the thing even after I soaked the socks over night in LCB before washing them the next day with the whites. Lets not even talk about white underwear.
The rinsing was crappier. After the main wash water was pumped out the tub would start to spin and do a spray rinse. Problem was that the water ran into the machine from the back through a kind of platform shaped thing. The water would pour into the tub as soon as it began to turn but most of it poured onto the agitator and not onto the clothes and as far as it being a rinse during the spin....the water came in for 30 seconds way before the tub had gained any type of spin speed. didn't matter though because the rinse water ran on top of the agitator and right down the drain never touching the clothes. This was followed by deep rinse that took 8 minutes of filling 23 gallons of water, that was then followed by 2 ---TWO minutes of agitation. Turnover? Half of the clothes never got submerged in the water. Eventually this resulted in my breaking out in a rash caused by left over detergent in clothes.
The pump was crap. It lasted two years then began leaking. I called the repair guy and asked that he put in a KA replacement pump. He informed me that even though the machine was labeled KA it was nothing more than a whirlpool and there were only Whirlpool parts...even though I spent more money for this machine as a KA. So much for the slogan KA for the way it's made.
The transmission was crap. After having this machine for 4 years I was faced with a tub full of wet clothes that would not spin after a wash because the transmission came apart. The repair person replaced the transmission. Two years after this the transmission came apart again.
Maybe whirlpool got their act together by 2006.
Never again will I have a KA made by Whirlpool in my house....just NEVER.
Perhaps I should clarify
Mine is the next model as in design, not one year older than this. Mine was the control panel re-design that came after this. My KA deep rinse is 6-8 minutes long because I have the triple dispenser on mine and it flushes the fabric softener twice
Mine is the next model as in design, not one year older than this. Mine was the control panel re-design that came after this. My KA deep rinse is 6-8 minutes long because I have the triple dispenser on mine and it flushes the fabric softener twice
hmm
Im not sure about temp assure, but mine is called SensorSure
Im not sure about temp assure, but mine is called SensorSure
<blockquote>Maybe whirlpool got their act together by 2006.</blockquote> The Whirlpool direct-drive washer design, of which KA toploaders have always been, was put on the market in the early 1980s ... so they'd been produced for 14 years by 1996, and continued until sometime within the last year for a total of more than 30 years ... with very little mechanical changes.
My 1991 KA is still perfectly usable (although to be fair it has been used very little since 2004). Has had two repairs, motor coupler and agitator dogs.
My parents 1994 KA was taken out of service a couple months ago for a broken timer. It went for 18 years with the coupler replaced twice, the agitator dogs once and the pump once just for good measure, and the lid switch bypassed. Replacement timer is available but I had a 1999 Kenmore 90 fully refurbed and ready to go, waiting for someone to need it.
My KA KAWE 760 (or something like that) agitates in rinse for 4 minutes and pulls everything under quickly with the big agitator operating on the med. motor speed. They must have made some radical changes after they stopped using the black control panel. Mine is old enough to have very traditional temperatures and cycling and has done a lot of laundry, although it is sort of an elder statesman now with the FLs doing most of the work.
magic_clean
Well-known member
Nope
no radical changes. There were 2 versions of KitchenAid washers. The late 1980's washers that used the 180 & 120 oscillation per min wash action with the 1 piece wavy vane agitator & then the blue dual action agitator.
Then the 1990 through 2007 machines with the Sure Clean big auger agitator with 120 & 90 OPM agitation.
L.P.
no radical changes. There were 2 versions of KitchenAid washers. The late 1980's washers that used the 180 & 120 oscillation per min wash action with the 1 piece wavy vane agitator & then the blue dual action agitator.
Then the 1990 through 2007 machines with the Sure Clean big auger agitator with 120 & 90 OPM agitation.
L.P.
@tomturbomatic:
Our Amanatag has all cold rinses. But if set to the "tempered cold" wash setting it will try to provide 60-65F wash water. The tempered warm wash is 90-95F and the hot setting is tap hot.
I think I understand what you're getting at, though. But having to finagle the hot and cold taps seems a little Neanderthal.
Our Amanatag has a small circuit board that manages the fill temperature - there's a thermostat in the fill flume that reads the temp and modulates the cold and hot solenoids according to how the panel switch is set among the 4 choices and the result the thermostat delivers.
It's really a mystery to me why Speed Queen/Alliance hasn't introduced that into their home machines - it's not like it's new tech. I think our first Whirpool with temp control came out about 15 or more years ago. Kind of like the current Speed Queen dryers use thermostatic dry control instead of moisture control. Maybe when Goodman sold the home SQ line to Alliance they reserved all technology developed over the last 20 years, I don't know.
Being "old skool" is cool to a point, but SQ needs to do a little catching up, IMO.
Our Amanatag has all cold rinses. But if set to the "tempered cold" wash setting it will try to provide 60-65F wash water. The tempered warm wash is 90-95F and the hot setting is tap hot.
I think I understand what you're getting at, though. But having to finagle the hot and cold taps seems a little Neanderthal.
Our Amanatag has a small circuit board that manages the fill temperature - there's a thermostat in the fill flume that reads the temp and modulates the cold and hot solenoids according to how the panel switch is set among the 4 choices and the result the thermostat delivers.
It's really a mystery to me why Speed Queen/Alliance hasn't introduced that into their home machines - it's not like it's new tech. I think our first Whirpool with temp control came out about 15 or more years ago. Kind of like the current Speed Queen dryers use thermostatic dry control instead of moisture control. Maybe when Goodman sold the home SQ line to Alliance they reserved all technology developed over the last 20 years, I don't know.
Being "old skool" is cool to a point, but SQ needs to do a little catching up, IMO.
I do not have to finagle the taps, really. I have a mark on the handle made with a laundry marker so I knew how far to turn it towards OFF. The amount of hot water saved was worth it.
Leslie, it is interesting that the electronic KA washers only had a two speed motor when the next model down like mine and DADOES' had the 3 speed motor and larger agitator. We sent an electronic model to friends in Sarasota and it had the blue agitator with the swirly vanes on the barrel.
Leslie, it is interesting that the electronic KA washers only had a two speed motor when the next model down like mine and DADOES' had the 3 speed motor and larger agitator. We sent an electronic model to friends in Sarasota and it had the blue agitator with the swirly vanes on the barrel.
mrb627
Well-known member
Speed Queen
I think Speed Queen's approach is that less parts to fail, better reliability. Further, they are first a commercial laundry manufacturer and there is no call for that technology in the commercial market.
Malcolm
I think Speed Queen's approach is that less parts to fail, better reliability. Further, they are first a commercial laundry manufacturer and there is no call for that technology in the commercial market.
Malcolm
Tom, I may be off-kilter on this but I think 3-speed on electronic KA washers depends on the vintage of machine involved. The first couple models KAWE900S (1987) and KAWE900T (1988) were 2-speeders. The 3rd iteration KAWE950V (1989) shows a 3-speed motor, and also went to the auger-style agitator.
super32
Well-known member
3 speed
The kawe960 is a 3 speed. That was the 2nd of my KA top loaders. Tho it was kind of a waste. The 3/slowest speed only came into play on the final spin of the permanent press. They used a "step spin" and it started on slow for a minute or so.
The kawe960 is a 3 speed. That was the 2nd of my KA top loaders. Tho it was kind of a waste. The 3/slowest speed only came into play on the final spin of the permanent press. They used a "step spin" and it started on slow for a minute or so.
1990s KA Agitation
KAWE960(W) would be the TOL to my KAWE760W. W designates 1990 model year. There was also a KAWE860W, which I believe added a 2nd rinse option (to the Normal cycle) and probably five temp choices (incl warm/warm) instead of four (no warm/warm).
My machine (and presumably also 860 and 960) uses the 3rd (lowest) speed for low-speed agitation (on Delicate/Knits cycle & 4-min shift on Perm Press).
Highest motor speed is *not* used for agitation at all, only for drain and spin. High-speed agitation is medium motor speed.
Utilizing the larger-base agitator with a 3-speed motor on medium speed (1140 RPM, 2-speed equivalent of low) for high agitation and low motor speed (850 RPM, ex-low compared to 2-speeders) for low agitation is one of KA's distinctions of the time.
KAWE760W agitation, switching from high speed to low.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
KAWE960(W) would be the TOL to my KAWE760W. W designates 1990 model year. There was also a KAWE860W, which I believe added a 2nd rinse option (to the Normal cycle) and probably five temp choices (incl warm/warm) instead of four (no warm/warm).
My machine (and presumably also 860 and 960) uses the 3rd (lowest) speed for low-speed agitation (on Delicate/Knits cycle & 4-min shift on Perm Press).
Highest motor speed is *not* used for agitation at all, only for drain and spin. High-speed agitation is medium motor speed.
Utilizing the larger-base agitator with a 3-speed motor on medium speed (1140 RPM, 2-speed equivalent of low) for high agitation and low motor speed (850 RPM, ex-low compared to 2-speeders) for low agitation is one of KA's distinctions of the time.
KAWE760W agitation, switching from high speed to low.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
KitchenAid "Stepped Spin"
Normal cycle starts the final spin with 2 mins medium speed, then changes to 4 mins high speed.
Delicate is medium speed final spin, no changes.
Perm Press has a final spin of 2 mins on low (850 RPM motor), 2 minutes medium (1140 RPM motor), and 2 minutes high (1725 RPM motor).
(it does not normally do a spin-drain)
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Normal cycle starts the final spin with 2 mins medium speed, then changes to 4 mins high speed.
Delicate is medium speed final spin, no changes.
Perm Press has a final spin of 2 mins on low (850 RPM motor), 2 minutes medium (1140 RPM motor), and 2 minutes high (1725 RPM motor).
(it does not normally do a spin-drain)
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
jerrod6
Well-known member
Bob I have seen your agitator before. It was the model that was in the brochure I got when I decided to get a KA. By the time I bought my machine it was different. My agitator was the auger style but it was completely white. I had the extra rinse option and the stepped spin. I just think my model was an inbetween to those that you all are talking about.
There was never a problem with the motor but I can't say the same about the pump or the transmission or the two minute deep rinse. The service guy even told me that they had redesign the original pump because it wasn't sturdy enough to stand up to being directly connected to the motor. I think they just tried to cut corners with my model and it just didn't work.
There was never a problem with the motor but I can't say the same about the pump or the transmission or the two minute deep rinse. The service guy even told me that they had redesign the original pump because it wasn't sturdy enough to stand up to being directly connected to the motor. I think they just tried to cut corners with my model and it just didn't work.
Sorry for the out of date info, Glen. I only saw one of the electronics and thought it strange to only have the two speed motor on the TOL KA. I did not know about the later electronic models. I never even saw one in an ad. I guess mine is the 860 'cause it has the extra rinse and w/w temp setting. Thank you for the excellent, as usual, information.
super32
Well-known member
I stand corrected
Dados, you are correct about the agitation speed, I forgot about the slow agitation. Now that I think back, I remember thinking it was strange they had/advertised "3 speed" but it only had 2 agitate speeds and 3 spin speeds depending on the cycle. Usually if some one is bragging about 3 speeds aren't they usually 3 was and 3 spin?
Dados, you are correct about the agitation speed, I forgot about the slow agitation. Now that I think back, I remember thinking it was strange they had/advertised "3 speed" but it only had 2 agitate speeds and 3 spin speeds depending on the cycle. Usually if some one is bragging about 3 speeds aren't they usually 3 was and 3 spin?
@mrb627:
Sure, I understand that "less is more" up to a point.
SQ emphasizes quality construction in their marketing, and that's good.
But automatic temperature control is not new tech, nor is it a sign of compromising mechanical quality. It can be accomplished with a pretty simple control scheme and one sensor. And I've never had a failure of the ATC system with any washer we've owned.
Unless SQ decides to re-introduce wringer washers, the old school schtick is eventually going to wear out in the marketplace. Zenith was still saying, "The quality goes in before the name goes on" right up 'til they shut their doors...even though their TVs were being built in Mexico toward the end.
Don't get me wrong, I want to see Alliance succeed as much as anyone. Yeah, laundromat machines are different than home machines. SQ already knows that, since their home TL machines have a bigger basket than the laundromat machines.
We should get a free factory tour or an Alliance polo shirt for all the market studying we're doing on their behalf, huh?!
Sure, I understand that "less is more" up to a point.
SQ emphasizes quality construction in their marketing, and that's good.
But automatic temperature control is not new tech, nor is it a sign of compromising mechanical quality. It can be accomplished with a pretty simple control scheme and one sensor. And I've never had a failure of the ATC system with any washer we've owned.
Unless SQ decides to re-introduce wringer washers, the old school schtick is eventually going to wear out in the marketplace. Zenith was still saying, "The quality goes in before the name goes on" right up 'til they shut their doors...even though their TVs were being built in Mexico toward the end.
Don't get me wrong, I want to see Alliance succeed as much as anyone. Yeah, laundromat machines are different than home machines. SQ already knows that, since their home TL machines have a bigger basket than the laundromat machines.
We should get a free factory tour or an Alliance polo shirt for all the market studying we're doing on their behalf, huh?!
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