Stainless drums available for older Whirlpool Direct Drive?

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spin-doctor

spin-doctor

Active member
Joined
Apr 9, 2018
Messages
44
Location
Tennessee
Hi, newbie here. I've fairly recently developed a strange obsession with washing machines. My less than 10 year old "HE" machine started making sounds like R2D2 recently and it will cost a fortune to fix it (a familiar story I know). I've crested the 50 mark and remember how long the appliances of my childhood lasted. Plus, although I never thought of them as "classic" at the time, I was always interested in how they worked (I'm an engineer by trade and have a natural fascination and curiosity for machines). Fast forward to today, and I miss their rugged durability. And especially now the styling, which I have REALLY come to appreciate, especially the 60's and 70's models with all the "O-MATIC" buttons and the lighting behind the console on that Maytag? AWESOME.

Anyway, all of that has has led me to this very cool website. A website for classic washing machine nerds! (the internet truly has everything, doesn't it?)

I've already acquired two sets of Kenmore (Whirlpool) direct drive washing machines and dryer sets. One set is 1990 vintage, the second is 2005. I've got them all tore apart and am in the process of taking the best parts from each and recombining them into the "frankenwasher" that will hopefully last the rest of my life.

One thing I saw someone say in an earlier thread is that stainless drums are available for these old DD models. But try as I might, I can't seem to find one. Only the standard Sears white one (which is of low quality). Can someone confirm or deny the stainless drum's existence? And if they are available, where does one get one?

Thanks and great to be here!
 
Thanks Yogitunes! I was hoping you would reply. So can I just buy a new stainless Maytag Centennial washer tub for one of these machines that would be plug n play? If so, do you know the part number? The P/N for the porcelain basket I have now is 64217 or W10389328. I wouldn't know where to find a used/salvage Maytag stainless tub.

I've enjoyed reading your informative posts here, thanks again for the advice.
 
I am trying to locate a model number for this machine....that will give us the exact part number for the inner tub......

as I want to switch out one from my Limited machine....

yogitunes-2018040917241205949_1.jpg
 
Cool, thanks Yogi! Nice looking machine too.

The stainless tub is the one thing I think I'd like on my "new" direct drive. The newer DD porcelain tubs are pretty cheap and prone to rust from what I can see with the 2005 model I have.
 
Thanks. But how certain is the fitment the same? Looks very similar based on the pics. Just makes me nervous that the P/N's don't seem to overlap.
 
.
What part numbers don't overlap?
The model number describes basket as SS.
I then used that model number to locate the part number.
I succeeded.
The new part# at repairclinic matches the part# for the used one at EBay.
Do you have a different part number somewhere?
 
Thx Martin

The window lid goes with the next higher TOL model. You can see the original
in the background against the wall.

When I bought this machine I couldn't get used to the load sensing for the water
level. I couldn't see how much water it was using to dose detergent properly. If you open the lid after the cycle starts, it will automatically fill to the highest level.

Once you can anticipate how much it will fill per the load size, you're good to go.

I think a lot of these were returned when they were introduced for that reason.

I really like this model and use it frequently.
 
Thanks Stricklybojack and Wiskybill (great name by the way!).

Stricklybojack maybe I'm being dense here, but what I mean is how do I know the p/n's for my Kenmore ceramic steel tub (referenced in my earlier post) really cross over to the other p/n's for the Maytag stainless tub? I see that the p/n comes out of the website for Maytag Centennial washer parts shown, I get that part. I just mean I haven't seen any data that says that my washer's tub part number crosses over in fitment to the stainless tub part number. Hopefully that makes some kind of sense?

I'm just nervous about buying one, having it delivered and it doesn't quite fit and then I'm stuck with it.
 
My ceramic white tub is actually in quite good shape overall. But it has the beginnings of little rust specks and a few little chips here are there. And a lot of rust on the inside part of its shaft tube.

I actually already sanded most of the rust around these areas off and covered them over with JB weld marine epoxy. I also have some 2 part white epoxy tub/shower paint on the way to finish it up with.

So I could easily deal with the tub I have. But after looking at it closely (it's a 2005 model) and comparing it to the older 1990 one I have - you can just see the ceramic finish is cheaper on the newer one compared to the 1990 unit. The eggshell speckled ceramic coating on the 1990 one seems thicker and tougher. I think the metal may be a little thicker on that tub too. And despite the 1990 having a few chips in it, the chipped areas don't seem to rust, as if there's an underlying coating in addition to the hard porcelain overlay. And I don't see any vestiges of rust around the upper perimeter where it mates with the balance ring....which I do see on the much less used 2005 unit. There is no question whatsoever they cheapened/outsourced the unit over time. I see many other similar changes between the two 1990/2005 vintages.

I do not really anticipate the 2005 tub lasting more than 10 years before significant rust sets in again. I like the idea of a machine that'll easily go 25 years or more without any issues. So I might just get the stainless tub and know I'm good, probably for life.

Although on the other hand, after perusing all these other threads, I feel myself getting sucked into one of those awesome classic belt drive Maytags with the fancy light behind its display. And if one of those is on my horizon, do I really want to go all hog wild on this bohemian DD unit? ;-)
 

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