The new agitator toploader from Whirlpool arrived in my basment this morning!

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pulsator

pulsator

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HERE IT IS!!! The new Belt Drive Whirlpool topload washer! I don't think I'll ever learn! I really hate HE impeller washers! I think I've bought my last in the BD Cabrio this machine replaced! (I'm not getting rid of the Cabrio, but it's going in storage.)

Also, you wouldn't believe the price I got on this washer! (I'm actually not allowed to tell technically!)

pulsator++12-20-2010-20-50-40.jpg
 
Money shot!

After one load, this agitator was swiftly removed. DA agitators belong in KitchenAids and Lady Kenmores. No where else. I really don't like them with the exceptiong of the KA and LK machines. I have a new agitator on order (Whirlpool single-piece Surgilator that is softener dispenser usable.) but the Kenmore straight vane will have to do for now.

pulsator++12-20-2010-20-54-45.jpg
 
And of course, for your viewing pleasure...

A wonderful little video demonstrating the wash action with a colorful load of towels! Quite stunning when watched in 720HD if you ask me!

<object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value=""></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object>
 
Congratulations on christmas!!! I have to admit, I would have liked to have seen the wash action with the original agitator before you switched it out so that I could compare. sure the action is a lot more gentle on fabrics than the dreaded direct drive machines. Fairly nice turnover. What soil level did you start the cycle on? Kinda like that it switched from the quick sstroke to the longer stroke, I guess that was to help get the load down under water. Does it switch agitation patterns throughout the cycle? How was the spin? Is the hot water temp dumbed down? How about warm?
 
I wonder how that dual action agitator would have done. Thats very impressive and a nice long stroke too. Now it makes me wonder how the 5 vane Surgilator would do in that machine. Nice!
 
I have a video of the original agitator, I'll upload that as soon as I get a chance! I selected Regular for the soil level on the Normal cycle. I like long strokes too! It does the short strokes at the beginning of the wash and at the very end to balance the load. Same with the rinses. It does a 400 RPM spin between the wash and rinse and the final spin reaches 700 RPM. The hot water is dumbed down to 120F which I love! I never need to wash anything in hotter water than that, not even my whites! The warm is dumbed down a bit, though I'm not a fair judge as my cold water is set to 85F. It does seem to do more warm than cold water when mixing, not sure if it's sensing my cold water temp or not. The warm feels very warm (approx 105F) when I set it to warm. Cool is around 90F and cold is 85F.
 
BTW is that the highest water level you can get in the machi

Peter if the first pic with the whole panel is what the setting were used for this load, then it's the level right below the highest water level.

And thank you again jamie for answering my questions. Look forward to more!!
 
Belt drive??

when did Whirlpool go back to making belt drive again? Did I see the tub indexing? long stroke? Someone please fill me in on the details of all this please.

Rich
 
Rich, this is the brand new Whirlpool line which will replace the direct drive washers. it's part of their line that includes both high-efficiency as well as what you see here.
 
The water levels are: Small, Medium, Large, and Super. I used the Large water level on that load of towels.

The new belt drive machines reverse the motor back and forth to provide agitation. The tub does index slightly and the agitator does do approx. 180 degree strokes.
 
The mechanism is somewhat similar to the GE Hydrowave machines however, Whirlpool's version has been around for decades. At the very very least 11 years as I have one from about 11 years ago.
 
Me thinks this may be Whirlpool's last hurrah with top loading agitator washers.It reminds me a bit of the old,classic Maytag Wringer machines.Only because they too are now history.
 
Thank you for posting that, Jamie.

However, I am having a hard time believing it's really a belt-driven machine. :) :) Where's the "D" shaped tub opening????

I hope you enjoy it.

Lawrence/Maytagbear
 
great video and i feel much better about these new machines if i ever had to get a new one. i just hope that penhouse861 on youtube doesn't see your video where you changed out the agitator. he saw my videos where i changed out the agitator and gave me all kinda of hell about it.
 
The machine does have a tub break but it only uses it to help hold the tub still during agitation, it's not used to stop the tub at the end of the spin cycle.

If someone wants to scold me about changing agitators, then they can risk facing my wrath. No one tells me what to do with my washers!

Spray rinsing... There are 4 rinse option to choose from. The first is "Off" which means that it will do a regular spray rinse for the rinse cycle. The spray rinse on this machine is the tub turning around 20-30 RPM and the machine drenching the clothes with fresh water, then it takes off for a spin and I believe it repeats. The second option is "Extra Rinse" which does an extra spray rinse. The third is "Yes" referring to the question above it asking if fabric softener was added. This does a deep rinse like any other standard TL washer with no spray rinses. The fourth option is "Yes with Extra Rinse" which does a full deep rinse then a short spin then it stops and does a spray rinse like above and then continues through the final spin.

The lid does lock and the lock contains a magnet. Just so happens that my belt drive Cabrio has the exact same lid lock and I had to remove that one from the lid so I could place it in the slot and make the machine run open. I use the Cabrio one so that I can decide to leave the machine to run unattended with the lid closed.

Overall, I really like this washing machine and for those not willing to pay the price for a Speed Queen TL washer, I will be suggesting this machine as an alternative. It may not last as long, but I'm very pleased with the performance and the reliability is far better than anything else out there for this price!!! Go Whirlpool! I actually like one of their new washers!
 
Very interesting machine. Love the long strokes.
Does it do a natural drain?
The rinse sequences sound very effective and cool!
What is retail on these? I have not seen them as of yet. I wonder if they will offer an electronic model. Electronic as in push buttons.
Brent
 
It does do a neutral drain. The suggested retail is $429. I usually see them at $399. I don't think that they will be making a push-button model for this machine. If you want push buttons, you need to go higher end, and those machines are all HE impeller washers. The step up from this machine is all dials, has more features, but is indeed an HE impeller washer. Here is that machine:

http://whirlpool.com/catalog/product.jsp?src=WASHERS&cat=115&prod=2033
 

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