KitchenAid Toploader

[Iowegian]

@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.

 

[tomturbomatic]

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.

 

[mrb627]

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

 

[DADoES]

 
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]

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.

 

[DADoES]

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>

 

[DADoES]

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>

 

[jerrod6]

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.

 

[tomturbomatic]

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]

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?

 

[Iowegian]

@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?!

 

[combo52]

3 Speed KA Washers

I don't think they ever used the slowest motor during spin, only the 1140 and the 1725 speeds.

 

[super32]

Combo 52

They did use the lowest speed. Only on PP spin on the 960 that I had. That was the reason I scratched my head.

 

[DADoES]

 
John, the motor clearly changes speed twice in my spin video posted above -- already on low at the beginning, changes to medium at 0:25, then to high at 2:25.   The user manual concurs, describes the PP final spin as "Low Speed to Medium to High Speed, 2 Spray Rinses."

 

[DADoES]

Electronic KA Washer Models

 
'scoped these out, there could be more.  Market year is noted per model coding.  User Guides are available for download from KitchenAid.com.

(1987)
KAWE900S

(1988)
KAWE900T

(1989)
KAWE950V

(1990)
KAWE960W

(1994)
KAWE977B

(1995)
KAWE977D

(1996)
KAWS977E

 

[strongenough78]

I want to see a video of a KA washing a load of clothes. I'm curious to see how the turn over is with a full load and the high agitation on medium motor speed does.

 

[mrb627]

I want to see a video of a KA washing a load of clothes.

Me too!

Malcolm

 

[geoff]

I have to do laundry today

I'll do a quick video of a full load.

P.S. Combo52, My KA uses the slowest spin speed on the Handwash cycle.

 

[combo52]

3 Speed KA Washers

I stand corrected guys thanks, Glen also pointed out that KA did actually use the 850 RPM motor speed at the beginning of the spin cycle on some models.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Vern, I can assure you that the turnover is fabulous.