Mod Shifter? What would cause this?

[Chetlaham]

These aren't mine, but I want to know what would cause this. My best guess is that the mod shifter engages the splutch in agitate turning the whole tub, and disengages it in spin which leads only to the agitator spinning. However, wouldn't the electronic control know that since there is a position indicator on the mod sifter? And wouldn't an error code come up? Or is the electronic control just confused lol? What part would probably need replacing? I've never heard of or seen such a failure mode.







OF note, in one of the videos the machine fills to the top when it agitates despite being in small, so Im guessing these default to high when they sense added strain.

 

[vacerator]

Mine has

never clicked like that, but with one bath towel, and a few light articles in the load, it will not balance, so won't spin.
I've had it try to spin, fill, agitate, drain, try to spin, only to not balance and fill again and agitate.
Yeah, pretty much junk. A three hundred dollar three year machine.
Say you live close to a Laundromat, and drop a buck for each load? Two bucks per load to wash and dry, and larger loads. Average about $6 per week? Times 52 weeks is $312. Not counting power and water use, no repair calls. Some places higher, some lower.

 

[Chetlaham]

Those new machines are some messed up stuff lol.

 

[henene4]

These machines (and all with that drive/control system for that matter) are known to be kind of "stupid", especially in fault situations. If anything is not as usual, they get confused verry quick.

There are some cases where the mode shifter fails, some scenarios where the control just needs a reset and recalibration, some cases where the control it self is broken and then some cases where both PCB and mode shifter fail, all the above with or without error code.
Thus, some "repair" services quote a control board and mode shifter even though only one thing of these is actually broken, making many trash their machines. Mode shifters are pretty reasonably priced (somewhere well below 70$ if I remeber correctly) and easy to change (machine on the back, belt cover off, belt off, unplugg, unscrew, and then everything backwards, calibration) , PCBs aren't exactly cheap for <500$ machines, but easy enough to replace as well.

But honestly: There is a reason these are BOL machines. Don't be surprised if they fail pretty early, especially if you don't really care for it. I just don't understand why people are upset if a cheap product is cheap.

 

[Chetlaham]

Sadly, this mechanism also spans to MOL and TOL machines. People should not be upset that a cheap product behaves cheaply.

 

[DADoES]

 
Bad transmission, agitator jammed?  That would explain the sheets wrapping around the (stationary) agitator during spin.

 

[Chetlaham]

Jammed agitator

Could be now that I think about it.

 

[vacerator]

Cheaply made,

and some models sell for as much as $600 and above. I'll say it again, WP should come up with a new drive system. Theses were fine for compact washers, not large capacity. Planned obsolescence? It used to be a given. These have been produced since for ten years no?
In todays money dollar value compared to when they made the old belt drives with more raw material, their profit margin is way more, while the average persons income in todays money buys less than it did then.
So, say you grossed $25,000 in 1975, a washer cost about $250 then. You could buy a new 3 bed 2 bath 1,500 sq. ft. brick home then also for about $45,000 in most markets. A new car for 4 to $5,000. In 1977, middle class was considered in the $40,000 per year range.
Do the math. If you earn $50,000 today, a house costs upward of $150,000 In most markets. Three times your annual gross. A vehicle $30,000, and a good washer $1,000 or more.
So you see where the ability to save ratio falls short, also considering what healthcare costs today, and other insurances, and education.
So this is why the cheaply made quality is of concern. Not to even mention that recycling worn out appliances takes more energy, also to make them into new ones.
It is not only my observation, but also of some whom I spoke with who emigrated here from Asia then. They are even self employed, and say it is just much harder now. We talk about politicians and can only summise, non of them car~es in the least. Yes, say it with a European accent.

 

[murando531]

Are there any topics lately on this site besides the same two users trolling Whirlpool machines for the handful of negative complaint videos they can find on YouTube? Contrary to your beliefs, Whirlpool has been widely successful with the VMW drive system. They're quickly becoming as common to see in a household as the DirectDrives were in the 90s, and according to a very trusted and experienced user here, they have quirks (as any machine does) but they're quite reliable and very easy to service. And again, since we have to reiterate this constantly here, people are ALWAYS going to jump onto the Internet to yell to the world when they have a complaint about a product, but they rarely do the same when something is working properly and they don't have to worry about it. Usually the issues boil down to user error or neglect (improper loading, overloading, incorrect cycle/option selection), so I can guarantee you that if a company stands by a design for almost 10 years without abandoning it, it's doing better than you think. I promise the number of happy customers and issue free machines far outweighs the problems and negative Nancys.

Now, lemme start dragging out receipts for every issue with Samsung, LG, GE, and YES, hold on to something, Speed Queen, because there are a plethora of places to start. All I have to do is skim a little off the top of the mile high barrel.

 

[murando531]

Also, to correct the comment, "Sadly, this mechanism spans to MOL and TOL machines", no, the belt driven VMW platform is only used on lower end machines. The Oasis and Fusion Oasis design (F&P SmartDrive), and its successor, VMAX (the only mechanical similarity to the VMW being the planetary gearbox, but not the same mode shifter or drive mechanics, and a rotor/stator BPM motor) are found only on the TOL machines like the Cabrio 8500 or the Bravos XL. The Bravos X and belt drive Cabrios are the cheapie BOLs. They're designed as budget replacements and apartment/condo fillers.

 

[mrb627]

Sadly...

The quality of most all TL machines will continue to decline. it is a movement to force people to shift over to FL technology. No surprise here, actually.

Malcolm

 

[Chetlaham]

MOL to TOL

The VMW can still be found on impeller machines with few knobs. MOL in my book.

 

[washdaddy]

If the agitator is jammed that would explain the bunching up of the load since the tub does move some during agitation and of course during the spin cycle.

The machine is probably filling up all the way with water because it is detecting a strain or a jam and trying to relieve it.

I think you might either have a jammed agitator or something is messed up between the transmission and the agitator

 

[alr2903]

I agree with Malcolm. There will not be a mandatory shift to F/L technology. Most people will change out of frustration with the current TL offerings.  No doubt,  modern disappointing TL technology will continue for a number of years.  Lets face it, F/L's  wash better with limited water, concentrated detergent and they do not need a mode shifter.  This is only  my opinion and observation.  A

 

[vacerator]

Today

I will "troll" on into my brokers office, check the WP share price, and decide wether to keep it or not.
Like dear ole dad used to say, if you're going to do something do it correctly, or don't do it. He and another wrote the service manuals for old dd tripod Kenmores.
Then I'll be trolling for pickerel in my bass boat on the lake.
Mode shifter design aside, or better on the new dd vmw or not, have the seals been upgraded to protect the splutch gear case? Then there are the bearing issues.
Like Sonac cleans dentures (no, I do not have dentures) sonic waves may clean our laundry in the future. WP was also working on that back in the day.

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>I will "troll" on into my brokers office, check the WP share price, and decide wether to keep it or not.</blockquote> It went up.

 

[vacerator]

Yes, buy low,

sell higher. That guy loves me.