Slow, long stroke agitation versus short, fast stroke

[DADoES]

Direct-drive agitation

 
Those models are the same action as any direct drive from 1981 through 2010-ish.  Millions produced under various brand labels so the design apparently was successful enough to continue for the duration of the timeframe.

 

[frigilux]

What I appreciate about my 2017 Speed Queen is that its long/slow agitation stroke makes it a truly vintage-style washer. Ditto for the spin-drain.

Having said that, mid-1960 GEs had the fastest agitation of any machine I'd seen up to that point. Don't know the actual strokes-per minute, but it had to be 100 or better. Frigidaires pulsated faster than that, but utilized the unique up-and-down pulsation rather than traditional agitation, so I didn't include it in the strokes-per-minute count.

I had a middle-of-the-line 1989 KitchenAid as a daily driver for about sixth months. Its fastest speed was the same as the middle speed on Kenmores and Whirlpools, which had smaller fins on the agitator. Those dual-action agitators in direct drive machines could really turn over huge loads well.

If I recall correctly, back in the 1980s CR looked for three complete turnovers of a maximum capacity load during the wash portion of the cycle. As Glenn mentioned, this allowed for more clothes-to-clothes friction and a little more time at the bottom of the tub, improving cleaning ability.[this post was last edited: 1/2/2021-17:48]

 

[tomturbomatic]

RE: Reply # 13

Typed by someone who does not show interaction with a Maytag Wringer washer and never compared the wide tub and rolling action set up by the water currents of those machines versus the piss poor circulation set up by the same Gyrator, not the Power Fin, in the narrow tub of the automatics, especially the situation in the narrow tubs of Maytag's first automatics. Maytag had good reason for not wanting users to be able to watch the  automatic's washing action by putting that stupid lid switch in to measure the water level when it would have been much cheaper to use a timed fill.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

Combo52

Thanks John I'll look into picking one up along with the right belt.

 

[vacerator]

short vs. long?

^U^ ^u^ ioi IoI -_ While the long provides more torque, the short allows more r.p.m.'s without stressing the crank's as much. It's leverage over force. People tugging one behind each other can pull or push more than ones standing at angles from one another.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

GE washers

I have had GE washers with the short fast stroke which did a great job cleaning clothes. I especially noticed it in my post filter-flo pair. At full speed agitation, you could hear splashing of water, even with a full load of laundry.

 

[norgeway]

I think

The comments about a square tub Maytag wringer vs a Maytag automatic are spot on, the Maytag automatics DID last forever but the reason was, they really dont do too much, everyone seems to think they are the end all washer, but if you load the exact same full load in one that you load in a Norge or Whirlpool, it will not turn it over where as the Norge or Whirlpool will, As for those thrashomatic DD Whirlpools im of the opinion they are the worst machines ever built

 

[kenwashesmonday]

My 1972 Maytag A606 washes up a storm.  No, it won't hold as much as the large Whirlpool, but it doesn't use as much water either.  

 

I'd have to guess that every time I read "they really don't do much" or "they last so long because they don't do anything", it must be posted by someone who never used one regularly.  I've had GE Filter-Flo washers, Whirlpool belt drive, Whirlpool direct drive, and a Frigidaire 1-18, and none got my filthy work clothes any cleaner than my Maytag A606 does.

 

[maytag85]

Maytags do well if you don’t overload them or use too much detergent and same rule applies to the Whirlpool belt drive washers and you can usually get away with using more detergent in a Whirlpool belt drive washer but if you really over do it you’ll suds lock the machine and I’ve had that happen before with my ‘63 Whirlpool when I first washed a small load of towels in it since it kicked up a bunch of suds.

 

[good-shepherd]

or use too much detergent

How much is too much?

I've used 50% more than recommended dosages in an A712 and have very little sudsing.

Although we are on private well water.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I remember the cover of the early 70s Consumer Reports issue reporting on the tests of automatic washers. They had a Maytag and a Whirlpool side by side. The Whirlpool had two full laundry baskets stacked beside it and there were three full laundry baskets sitting beside the Maytag indicating that the WP could wash in two loads what it took the Maytag three loads. Someone who had not been indoctrinated that Maytag washers ALWAYS had to win had purchased the standard tub (16 gallon) tub model. Horrors! This prejudice for Maytags went back decades. It might have been Consumer's Research Bulletin that opined that the capacity of the AMP was 5 pounds of dry fabrics, but there was an issue in the early 60s when the "capacity wars" were in full swing when I think it was Consumer's Research Bulletin tried washing 12 pound loads in the machines of that period which were still the standard tubs. The most galling, I mean surprising, finding was that a standard tub Maytag could handle the load, but the Kenmore was overloaded with the same load. I don't know which agitator was in the Kenmore.

 

[maytag85]

I’ve washed fairly large loads in my 1963 Whirlpool before but never even dare think about overloading that machine since I’ve literally seen no others like it around plus I never have issues with things not getting cleaned in that machine when I load it properly. When lightly loaded, the load turns over a good 12 to 14 times a minute which is similar-ish to the Frigidaires of the era.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

GE

I remember when GE had that short/fast stroke agitation. They copied Whirlpool.

 

[cfz2882]

mid-1990s "plastic" GE

The transmission could be made smaller using a short stroke design-shorter rack and smaller gears.Like the WP DD,GE coupled the short fast stroke with a 1/2 HP motor that was closer to 3/4 HP actual output by amp rating.Though not a copy at all,no doubt GE had a couple DDs in their R&D department when the plastoid machines were developed

ike the

 

[rinso]

As a person with OCD and Asperger's, I couldn't resist bypassing the lid switch on my DE806 washer. It was supposed to hold an 18 pound load, but when I did that, it would barely roll over once or twice. A load of sheets would hardly roll over at all, as sections of them would stay above the water level, especially during rinse. Jeans, which I wore for work, wouldn't roll over at all. I think it's true that the "Dependable Maytag" back then was due to the fact that it didn't have to work very hard.

 

[maytag85]

Reply #33

I believe the large capacity Maytags were rated for 14 pounds of laundry or so. Since I put the dual action Load Sensor in, easily can squeeze a bit more in without putting too much strain on the brake and transmission.

Here’s my Maytag A806 washing an extra large load of shorts with the dual action load sensor agitator.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

cfz2882 regarding GE

When I say copycat, I mean the agitation of the GE and Whirlpool direct drive washers. they're similar to each other. I believe GE made a smaller transmission and decreased the oil capacity when the filter-flo was discontinued. I would assume GE used a different oil as they did in their filter-flo transmission to reduce wear. I believe it was very lightweight so the gears can mesh. Maybe it's what causes that knocking noise during agitation.