So why exactly are Direct Drive machines no longer made?

[kenmoreguy89]

Guess it does have something to do with the fact that gerboxes are expensive to make.

So as there are now available  relatively  cheap

motors that can do an alternate back and forth they use these, not to mention a gearbox always tend to be  more noisy, even the quietest one.

 Also, water leaks can mess them badly, oil leaks can damage floors, and  rebuilding one Simply ain't so easy, and getting one NIB installed is sadly more than often so dear that is just not worth it for most. 

Wringer washers or agitator semi automatic machines, where they are still sold, also got rid of gearboxes.

And it appears that the new motors can actually give a good back and forth almost comparable to the one a gearbox of old gave. Not too long strokes or non sense.

I quite fancy these, if they made a modern automatic with this kind of washing action-agitation, good tub brake system, no dubbed temps and all the way fill I would definitely buy one even though it doesn't have a gearbox.

In my opinion:

Could be way cheaper to make than a TC5 and still wash well and give out what people want, perhaps give a faster spin too as it doesn't have to spin the oil filled transmission along with the tub.





 

Under the skirt, as simple as it gets:



 

 

[this post was last edited: 5/27/2021-13:07]

 

[agiflow]

The second video with that very wringer looking roto swirl looks pretty decent. Is this driven by an alternating motor ?

 

[agiflow]

Nevermind..duh. Helps to read Pat..

 

[agiflow]

I'm quite impressed by the Amana I'm using now.Ive noticed with the different agitation speeds throughout wash it seems to have the best pull down on the medium speed with large loads. Would have been nice if they had a soil selector switch but hey I got them with my new home.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Patrick, yes. 

All these Koblenz  and "lavadoras redondas" in general have an alternating motor.

The newer koblenz have this spiralator agi indeed works Just like the one of the, easy.

Easy was very known in Mexico much that today you still find the Brand (rebranded stuff by Mabe IIRC) as it was big there! Probably more than it was in the US 

Guess folks demanded an agitator like the old easy machines and came up with this one in the new Koblenz 

 

The video got cartoons playing and kids in the background but machine sound is noticeable, anyway is very quiet..

The one with the whirlpool new surgilator-like agitator also is doing a good job to me.

There is more rollover with the spiralator as it is what the spiralator was famous for....

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

I have one question

Where on earth can I get one of these?

 

[foraloysius]

"Where on earth can I get one of these?"

For instance here:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/324565615851?hash=item4b919e44eb:g:NTMAAOSw5fFgcqk4

 

[agiflow]

That agitator in that 24" DD is the same one I am waiting for for the Estate DD I picked up last month. Been waiting over a month now because of backorders.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

It's a shame

that Whirlpool discontinued these. Most of the Maytag units are direct drives built by Whirlpool shortly before they went to the belt drive design.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

That Australian Whirlpool is cute. I like those controls.

It looks like it might just need a new timer motor.

They made tons of 220v 50hz DD for export guess parts could be not that hard to find 

 

[kenmoreguy89]

By the way I need a new inlet valve for mine.

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

I actually meant The Koblenz washer

But I do appreciate you sharing the Australian direct drive washer

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Oh, Indeed I was doubting what you were referring to, but as you did not say say anything to Louis then I assumed you meant a DD.

Anyway, these kind of washers called "round washers" are common in Mexico, they got rid of the wringer as most people now use a spinner instead, as said over there Easy twin tubs were-are very famous too .

Anyway it appears that even Walmart in Mexico have them and cost is about 3500pesos which is around 175 USD..

 

 

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Verifica tu identidad

 

[ozzie908]

If these Koblenz washers

are so easily used and liked why don't they attach a spin dryer to the side like the old Easy twin tub would make life easier surely?

Austin

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

I can imagine an idea where the spinner is designed

Where it can partially attach to the round washer, I wish I knew someone in Mexico who would help me try and get one sent here to Australia, I could probably even attach a pump onto it so that way it can drain the water as well

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Guessing:

The concept is to have a washer that just wash.

Guess that whoever gets them is someone already owning a separate spinner.

I also guess some are attracted to the idea of saving on hot water and detergent for more loads so maybe they do have an automatic that just use to rinse and spin.

The people in the video do have a spinner for example you can spot a big self pumping spinner on the left.

There are always twin tubs for that matter and if someone had to spend more money guess would end buying an automatic all at once...

 

Said this, there is still a pretty flourish market of Easy TT's down in Mexico both for parts and refurbished machines because people as I said liked them very much 

 

 

[foraloysius]

I guess you can't have everything. Koblenz makes twin tubs, but they don't come with agitators but with pulsators.

https://koblenz.com.mx/productos/lavadoras-de-2-tinas/

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

I wonder why they only

Come with pulsators is instead of agitators because you would get more washing action with an agitator than you would with a pulsator right?

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Pulsator TT's

Because they probably have them made in China imported and branded. Like 99% of TT's today available on market.

At best they are assembled but made with chinese parts and designs.

And for some reasons Asia is pulsator country instead of Agitators.

I also am not a fan of pulsators.

There were twin tubs sold recently in America with an agitator.

I recall Danby TT's, folks at Danby probably specifically requested a twin tub with an agitator to satisfy Americans, so what they did in the factory was simply replacing a pulsator and put an agitator. And put shorter back and forth but that still is too long and just not a proper back and forth like Koblenz 

With those long strokes  what  you get a lot is clothes wrapping up on the agitator and flush around like that.

Had they the agitation of a Koblenz it'd have been a better machine IMO.

Same is for portable Danby agitator top loaders, I think that with the agitator they of course do better than with a pulsator, but if they had a shorter stroke it would have been excellent.

Besides, they are not total junk but they could be a lot better.

Looks like current Danby now have pulsators IIRC