Platinum Whirlpool BD set?
- Thread starter swestoyz
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Very quick update
So - the set. Pretty clean cabinets. The seller's cart left a few marks on the front of the washer, but it isn't that big of a deal. The washer is mechanically sound. The dryer is in need of some service - rollers, etc. But, that's to be expected after 25 years of use.
So - the set. Pretty clean cabinets. The seller's cart left a few marks on the front of the washer, but it isn't that big of a deal. The washer is mechanically sound. The dryer is in need of some service - rollers, etc. But, that's to be expected after 25 years of use.
I just realized I don't have a true money shot - shame on me! At first blush it appears to be pretty rust-free.
mickeyd
Well-known member
Two Pools in a sea of Frigis
Well, almost--I spy some ancient Tags hiding.
They look perfect, Ben!
Well, almost--I spy some ancient Tags hiding.
They look perfect, Ben!
But, as I start digging, I notice that one of the clips for the top was not fastened to the outer tub, and moisture was reeking havoc on the outer tub lip. Ouch!
Part of the 100 point inspection is to pull the wash tub to see how bad the rest of the rust is. Thankfully the severely damaged areas are left to the outer tub rim.
A bit of commentary - but honestly the magic 'finger' filter is one of the WORST designs Whirlpool came up with. Sure it may have been effective for a few months, but after awhile it becomes a moisture trap due to excessive soap and lint build-up, and was not accessible for cleaning without removing the tub. At least when Maytag went to a similar design in the early 90's you could remove the filters with the tub in place.
Built in obsolescence! Guaranteed new Whirlpool washer in 5 years. haha
End of rant.
Built in obsolescence! Guaranteed new Whirlpool washer in 5 years. haha
End of rant.
After a few hours of cleaning off the cement left behind from Grandpa's dirty jeans, the tub looks good. I did some spot repairs using silicone to seal up the outer tub lip, and the rest of the washser will get thrown back together for a water test later this week.
I usually don't do a progressive clean-up post, but this seemed like a fun idea. I have a crazy idea for a video of this machine when I'm done, so if the water test works out, watch out!
Ben
I usually don't do a progressive clean-up post, but this seemed like a fun idea. I have a crazy idea for a video of this machine when I'm done, so if the water test works out, watch out!
Ben
Ben,
I just love these tear down posts. It's so interesting to see what lurks underneath.
Excellent job your doing and the photo's look great.
Love what I see in the background too!
Patrick
I just love these tear down posts. It's so interesting to see what lurks underneath.
Excellent job your doing and the photo's look great.
Love what I see in the background too!
Patrick
WOW Ben,
That machine wass really caked with residue. I have never seen one of those filters to ever look that bad. I am told that Charlotte has pretty decent water, but each of the filters I've seen have been clean, and their original color, even recently. I can see why you'd be annoyed by this one though, for sure.
The rusty tub edges are a common thing in these reverse-curl tubs. They debuted in both standard and large capacity machines with the baseplate re-design in later 1981, and I've had a love/hate relationship with them. They are great because you can hook the tub ring clips to them anywhere...they fit even on areas on the tub ring where there isn't a special notch, so if a section is badly rusted, just skip it and put two clips on either side of the rust instead. They suck because the foam tub ring gasket retains moisture, and eventually just promotes rust. I don't think I documented it in pictures, but I have "rebuilt" those edges in a few machines with two part epoxy putty so they won't leak and so the tub ring gasket has a surface to rest on. If you use the putty with wet fingers it molds like pottery clay and can be made smooth and almost like an uninterupted surface from the original tub.
From what I can see, your centerpost looks great! I don't know about the seals, but if there is no sign of detergent residue way up in the agitator, and there is no black grease splattered inside it, you're doing great.
I said it before, but COOL MACHINE!
Gordon
That machine wass really caked with residue. I have never seen one of those filters to ever look that bad. I am told that Charlotte has pretty decent water, but each of the filters I've seen have been clean, and their original color, even recently. I can see why you'd be annoyed by this one though, for sure.
The rusty tub edges are a common thing in these reverse-curl tubs. They debuted in both standard and large capacity machines with the baseplate re-design in later 1981, and I've had a love/hate relationship with them. They are great because you can hook the tub ring clips to them anywhere...they fit even on areas on the tub ring where there isn't a special notch, so if a section is badly rusted, just skip it and put two clips on either side of the rust instead. They suck because the foam tub ring gasket retains moisture, and eventually just promotes rust. I don't think I documented it in pictures, but I have "rebuilt" those edges in a few machines with two part epoxy putty so they won't leak and so the tub ring gasket has a surface to rest on. If you use the putty with wet fingers it molds like pottery clay and can be made smooth and almost like an uninterupted surface from the original tub.
From what I can see, your centerpost looks great! I don't know about the seals, but if there is no sign of detergent residue way up in the agitator, and there is no black grease splattered inside it, you're doing great.
I said it before, but COOL MACHINE!
Gordon
Early 1980s WP Belt Drive Washer
Good Clean-up job Ben. The mineral build up you are cleaning away is not from Grandfathers jeans but rather it came in with the water supply. This type of build became a bigger problem as the 1970s progressed, first as they took the phosphates out of detergents and then as washers became much larger in capacity and they held much more water. As a result home makers that had been doing laundry for years did not adjust the amount of detergent they used per load and were using way too little. Many home makers had become used to the miracle of the phosphated detergents that became popular after WW-2 and as a result could get away with using 1/2 what the box suggested. Now I advise my customers to follow the detergent manufacturers direction carefully and to use the full suggested dose of cleaning products.
The Self Cleaning Filter Ring was a good idea that contributed to the good long life of this machine. One of the reasons that WP went to this design was as you can see that ANY filter system can clog [ How many times have we all seen a Maytag filter that was so encrusted that it had to be pried out of the agitator ] and the previous back-flush filters that WP & KM had used for decades would clog up and stop the washer from draining. This washer was actually able to keep working in spite of the abuse.
The rust around the top of the outer tub was as Gordon suggested became a problem when WP switched to a softer foam tub ring gasket. They did this because it made for a better seal initially but it did hold moisture in this area and that coupled with all the built-up that the user cased kept too much moisture in the machine.
Good Clean-up job Ben. The mineral build up you are cleaning away is not from Grandfathers jeans but rather it came in with the water supply. This type of build became a bigger problem as the 1970s progressed, first as they took the phosphates out of detergents and then as washers became much larger in capacity and they held much more water. As a result home makers that had been doing laundry for years did not adjust the amount of detergent they used per load and were using way too little. Many home makers had become used to the miracle of the phosphated detergents that became popular after WW-2 and as a result could get away with using 1/2 what the box suggested. Now I advise my customers to follow the detergent manufacturers direction carefully and to use the full suggested dose of cleaning products.
The Self Cleaning Filter Ring was a good idea that contributed to the good long life of this machine. One of the reasons that WP went to this design was as you can see that ANY filter system can clog [ How many times have we all seen a Maytag filter that was so encrusted that it had to be pried out of the agitator ] and the previous back-flush filters that WP & KM had used for decades would clog up and stop the washer from draining. This washer was actually able to keep working in spite of the abuse.
The rust around the top of the outer tub was as Gordon suggested became a problem when WP switched to a softer foam tub ring gasket. They did this because it made for a better seal initially but it did hold moisture in this area and that coupled with all the built-up that the user cased kept too much moisture in the machine.
Great pictures, Ben!
More progress tonight...
Last night I patched up the holes in the outer tub with some silicone. Not a permanent solution, but good enough for now.
Last night I patched up the holes in the outer tub with some silicone. Not a permanent solution, but good enough for now.
I spent most of the time cleaning up the outer tub top. I hand washed it first, then let the KitchenAid do the rest!
Not 100 percent clean (just take a gander at a few posts up to see how knarly this was, most plastic top BD's I've seen are gross), but it looks a lot better.
Good enough for government work!
Good enough for government work!
All back together, and clean!
Top was given a quick clean-up. Honestly, it wasn't too bad from the seller. She did take care of her Whirlpool.
Model tag for those just dying to know! Any idea of the year/week? The last stamping on the bottom of the agitator was 86.
More detailed shot of the control panel. Getting ready for a water test!
This 7800 has the elusive 5 button wash temp control. TOL right behind the digital controls.
This 7800 has the elusive 5 button wash temp control. TOL right behind the digital controls.
