New Drain Pump Design For Whirlpool Direct Drive?

[ddfan92]

Never seen this style pump before. Anybody know anything about this brand? I'd only ever buy it for the novelty of it lol, but I'd also be curious to hear what it sounds like on a machine. Weird that it also mounts with toilet style bolts instead of just the standard clips. I found two listings for this style.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284998363611

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256028751223

 

[repairguy]

I’ve only seen a couple of these installed on a washer and that was 25 years ago. Gemline made a lot of aftermarket parts for appliances and they weren’t terrible for a lower price than FSP.

 

[combo52]

Old aftermarket, drain pump for a direct drive washer

This was an early aftermarket, drain pump, whirlpool had a patent on a clip on pump at that time so they couldn’t copy the pump completely, the patents must’ve expired because now the imitation pumps are just same as whirl pools.

Other than the novelty of it I wouldn’t bother with it.

John

 

[ddfan92]

Thanks guys for the info. Melvin, do you by chance remember if you ever heard what one of those sounded like? Based on their odd unique housing design, I can't imagine they would have sounded anything like what we're used to with the original pumps. Seems like they built those without the cross spokes on the front to be in resemblance of these:

 

[repairguy]

It’s been a long time but I don’t remember there being any difference in sound.

 

[combo52]

Direct drive washer pumps

Make almost no noise to begin with, but I can’t imagine that this imitation pump with sound any different why would it?

John

 

[ddfan92]

They make some noise when they run dry and have cavitations. The older gray pumps have a much lower pitch than the newer white ones. This one, I wasn't sure if because of the different housing design it would sound different from the original pumps or not. I might have to buy one just for the heck of it and see...

 

[repairguy]

I ran across this and thought I’d add this to the thread. This is the back cover of a 1992 FSP Whirlpool/Kenmore parts book.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

to ddfan92

Do you have a youtube channel? Perhaps you can post a video.

 

[maytag85]

Reply #8

It’s lizboz on YouTube.

 

[ddfan92]

GELaundry4ever

Yes I do. As Sean (Maytag85) said, it's lizboz on youtube. I haven't made a purchase on that pump yet though.

Also thanks Melvin for that catalog. 1992, that's the same year my Kenmore 70 series was made.

Does anybody know the reason the older gray pumps sound different (cooler IMO) from the newer white/beige pumps like what I just put in my 1986 Kenmore 60 series? From what I could tell, by comparing the old & new pumps for that machine, they're basically the same dimensions and spec except for some outer cosmetic differences, even the impeller inside looks very close if not exactly the same. Could it be differences in material maybe? Anybody here who worked/engineered for Whirlpool throughout those years perhaps?

 

[combo52]

Whirlpool direct, drive washer pumps

I had never thought about it until you mentioned it, but the older gray ones had a thinner, harder plastic shell, and I think more sound came through it, the white plastic ones that followed, had more ribs on the face of it and probably helped absorb the sound plus the plastic was softer also.

John

 

[blockeight88]

NOS pump

Anybody know where we can purchase the older style, more durable gray pump?

 

[ddfan92]

Matthew

Ebay would be a start. They don't always have 'em though.

 

[maytag85]

Reply #12

While the older pumps have a more unique sound, I would just leave the one on your machine alone. It’s a major headache trying to get things to sound just right but have to keep on taking the machine apart and is a constant back and forth, usually I just leave things alone if it works as normal or sounds normal.

 

[combo52]

Newer, white plastic direct drive washer pumps

I see no evidence that the old Gray pumps were any more durable and why would you want to put a pump in that makes more noise?

The pump in the direct drive washer was refined overtime for better pumping ability and durability.

John.

 

[blockeight88]

Reply 15

Excellent point, John. Didn't even think about how they were refined over time.

 

[ryner1988]

Reply #15

Was wondering the same thing, why on earth would you want your machine to be louder?

I personally wish my washer was a bit quieter. It's definitely not the jarring, annoying sounds of the VMW machines but it's not a TOL model with a quiet pac so I can hear every sound it makes.

Ryne

 

[blockeight88]

Reply 17

I never said I wanted the older pump due to the noise. It was more so do to build quality.