Please, guys, tell me about agitators

[sarah]

Hey Y'all,

I hear you talking about swapping agitators--
straight vane, dual action, filters...
I'm mystified. Would you please wax eloquent and tell me all about them?

Many thanks,
Sarah

Who's probably in the market for a new washer for herself, her husband, and her two boys who have simply upped the ante on dirt and laundry quantity in our household by seven orders of magnitude in the last four years.

 

[knitwits1975]

OK, this is a dual action agitator. My Whirlpool, the bottom oscillates both directions while the top auger has a ratcheting mechanism which slips one way and grabs the other way, pulling it one direction only to circulate the laundry from top to bottom.

 

[knitwits1975]

This is a view of the agitator out of the machine.

 

[knitwits1975]

And this is a straight vane agitator. The whole thing oscillates together and while it is a simpler design, the rollover is not achieves nearly as well as with the other kind. Some people are old fashioned and prefer them though. Unfortunately many forum members have complained of shredding with these agitators. Another recommendation (if you still want Whirlpool) is a two speed model, these provide a two stage stepdown (speed changes from high to low halfway in the cycle) wash cycle.

 

[brettsomers]

how about spiralator and ramp-vane?

 

[knitwits1975]

Tragically those are obsolete. They would make them today if I had my way though.

 

[irishwashguy]

I miss the old thumpers that we had in the Fridgidaire------

I had a Green 1968 Rolermatic Fridgidaire Washer, that always got things really clean, plus it was fun to watch.The fabulous overflow wash and overflow rinse.I would love to see a pic of one of those again.

 

[jasonl]

It's not the height, it's not the size, it's how high the suds rise.

(ducks and runs)

 

[mixfinder]

Measurements

Its not the heighth or the breadth or even the length and speed of the stroke.
Its how often you get to wash.
Kelly

 

[cvillewasherbo]

different agitators

I have a 93 WP with the corkscrew agitator. Since there's been all of this talk about switching agis around, I've been thinking about it. Trying to figure out which different one would work (or work best). I think a problem with the DD WP's,KM's,etc. is that the stroke is way too fast, and the arc is way too small. I wish they had never gotten that way--I loved the speed and the stroke of tags and the earlier washers.

One question--do the new tags still have spin and drain or are they now neutral drain like so many others? I hate the neutral drain on my WP, it goes on forever and ever after all the water has been drained out and just makes that loud sucking sound (I don't know what to call it). My 22 year old KM DW does the same thing--I hate it. Since they are about 8 feet from each other, when one is operating I can hear it back in my BR, if both machines are running at the same time, I have to leave the house!

 

[mistervain]

Rollermatic

I've seen lots of talk of it, can someone explain it?

Is this the one that bobs up and down rapidly to move the clothes upside-down and around without having to beat them with the agitator paddles?

 

[DADoES]

Rollermatic is not a reference specifically to an agitator. It's a GM/Frigidaire mechanical design that (very simplified explanation) uses rollers (instead of a belt like the 1-18 or direct-drive like the Unimatics) to drive the agitation and spin functions.

 

[toggleswitch]

Gotta love Sears and WP.

That thar agitator is way too big and tall for the cavity in which it goes. We know thiis because a part of it never gets immersed or wet.

But psychologically, I guess, larger seems to be preferred.
My short little GE one works just fine AND gets fully wet.

 

[gadgetgary]

Agitator

So, are you saying it is the motion in the water(ocean) that is really getting the job done as opposed to size of the actual object that is doing the movement?

 

[Designgeek]

c'ville, that "giant sucking sound" is what respectable Republicans used to call the federal deficit. Sorry to say it's gotten so big by now that you can hear it all the way in Virginia!

Seems to me that agitators with a longer stroke (i.e. that revolve more in each direction before reversing) have shallower fins than agitators that operate on a shorter stroke (smaller arc of rotation) and higher speed. I never recall seeing such deep fins, particularly on the bottom, on the TLs I used over the years. The exception being the ramped spiral on the Hotpoint, which is a different design approach, since it's counting on creating reciprocating vertical movement of the water close to the center post (and lots of splashing!.

 

[foraloysius]

Here are some Frigidaire agitators. The 1958 - 1962 three ring agitator is one of the most popular agitators on this site I think.

 

[the7]

Modifier Maytag Agitator

The agitator on my 95/96 Maytag was modified to reduce the shredding effect and an home-made lint filter was added.

 

[the7]

Home-made Lint Filter

Home-made Lint Filter

 

[launderess]

There are two ways of cleaning laundry: moving the water through the clothes, or mechanical action against the clothes.
Of the two moving water through laundry is supposed to be more gentle and effective. The vintage Frigidaires, Philco's "water wave" and front loaders all to some extent rely on moving water through the laundry. Oh yes, impeller machines like the Hoover and Maytag twin tubs, and today's Oasis machines also rely on moving items through water.

L.