Super...

[Unimatic1140]

A big thanks goes out to David (Partscounterman) who called me when two Duets came into their shop and saved them for me. As some of you many remember I had talked about starting work sometime on the creation of a Super Duet. Both machines were made in the 2003/2004 time frame and now have bad rear tub seals and bearings. Luckily I was able to get my hands on a good tub and rear outer tub from one of the my local washer haunts around here. So the first step is to replace the tub and bearing.

Here are the machines...

 

[Unimatic1140]

I was just thinking how rare it is that I get to post in the blue Modern Deluxe Forum! lol

Here is the other machine, this one has an antenna on top...

 

[revvinkevin]

Wow Robert, this should be fun!

So what are your plans for the "Super Duet"? Since it's already computer controlled, are you going to create new custom programs for it (like a cycle specifically for towels)?

Or are you planning to really change it.... i.e... wash water recirculation, spray rinses, higher water levels, etc? Would you like to share your plans?

I look forward to the progress updates and lots of photos!

:-D

Kevin

 

[goatfarmer]

Nice machines. But it's a sad state of affairs when a washer get's scrapped at 5 years old.....

 

[jmirawm]

WooHoo !

I cannot wait to see what your imagination unfurls in the Deluxe Forum !!

 

[mrb627]

No Heater

Too bad neither one of these puppies has the built in heater.

MRB

 

[re563]

THE 2ED MACHINE IS THE EXACT

same one that I have now. It's coming up on it's 6yr for me. Still runs great. Infact, I just put a load of towels in before I came and sat down to check the website. Hope i'm not gonna have to replace it soon (can't afford to).

 

[autowasherfreak]

Robert:

What is the cool looking machine behind the first Duet? It looks neat.

 

[bertrum]

Duet?

What does duet mean? never heard this term, is it an abreviation for something you say across the pond?, I assume it is a term used for a frontloading washing machine.

 

[animasinsulinpu]

WP Duet

Hi, Robert. Im using that same machine right now. My friend Kim is moving and Im washing her couch cushions. FUN!!!!.....Bill in Az.....

 

[revvinkevin]

Bertrum.....

Duet refers to a Whirlpool Duet HT front load washer here in the US. For some reason Whirlpool choose to call their first (large capacity, front load for the US market) the "Duet HT". i have no idea why... simply marketing perhaps? Who knows.

This link is for the current version....

http://www.whirlpool.com/catalog/product.jsp?src=WASHERS&cat=115&prod=1505

 

[appnut]

What is the cool looking machine behind the first Duet? It l

That's alate 1950s or very early 1960s Hotpoint.

 

[appnut]

Duet HT".

Our resident WP exper3t Magic Clean will be able to resurrect what the Duet had meaning for. It may have been something like clean clothes and energy effencity. The "HT" models signaled there was an onboard supplemental heater, those without "HT" didn't have a heater. The Kenmore cousins were intially the HE3 and HE3T, again there were three "e" words meaning something about efficiency and such.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Ohh Robert Crosses to the Dark Side..!!!

Well take it nice & gentle with you dont worry!!! looking forward to seeing this project workin out!!!! methinks you`l have an in-line heater in these beauties before you can say quickwash!!!

I vote for;
in-line heater & sump
re-circulating jets
Vario spin, time & temp selection programming
Magic minute shampoo wash
Spin drain with pulsing spin spray feature
Spin to "Sudz Save" sump Recovery Tank

Ohhh, endless possibilities!!!Enjoy, Mike

AND, at least this wont happen!!!...Lol

 

[DADoES]

HE3t

HE = High Efficiency
3 = the three aspects of high efficiency -- Cleaning, Capacity, Conservation
t = thermal boost on the model with water heating

As I recall, the 4th parameter referenced by the HE4 line is Color -- the new colors at the time Champagne, Pacific Blue, and Sedona.

 

[Unimatic1140]

So what are your plans for the "Super Duet"?
The possibilities are limitless. Definitely want a high pressure recirculation spray, maybe out of multiple ports, multiple drain pumps to help take care of suds locks, high speed spins between the rinses, and of course 4 seven second spray rinses, I mean it is a Whirlpool after all!! Oh and of course I'll have to stencil a wavy while line horizontally across the center off the glass window and in a cool vintage font write "suds level"!

Too bad neither one of these puppies has the built in heater.
Not a problem with a machine that is going to be "moisturized", I'll put one in of some sort.

AND, at least this wont happen!!!...Lol
Uh huh, I'll deal with you in a few minutes missy when I get these pictures downloaded.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Ouch!! That hurts

So I have two machines with bad bearings as the tubs knock and rumble as you turn them. The Kenmore sounded worse than the Whirlpool when I moved the tub, so I figured I would try the Whirlpool last night first with a medium sized wash load of towels. Oppsie, during the final spin the knocking got really loud and the bearing gave way and let the top drop down into the outer tub and it shreaded out the front of the plastic outer tub!

 

[Unimatic1140]

So I decided not to try out the Kenmore and began the project of replacing the tub and rear outer tub/bearing.

When I took the back panel off the Kenmore, ouch! It appears it had been leaking for a while out the back of the drum. No wonder the bearing went, the rear tub seal was completely bad.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Parts everywhere

Its quite the project to replace the bearing as the entire machine has to come apart. It took me about 6 hours from start to finish. What a difference working on modern washing machine as opposed to a vintage machine, all the screws turn without any cursing lol. But plastic tabs used to hold wires in place break very easily, something that would never have been done 50 years ago.