Final 1983 line of KM belt drives
Hello David and everyone!
I am happy to see others excited with these final generation belt-drives. I recall not too long ago that my enthusiasm for them was only luke-warmly received because of other more vintage belt-drives, etc.
David, the machine you have is a rather rare one from the 1983 line up, which was the last full line of belt drives. There were 10 models in the large capacity configuration that year. One 60 series, four 70 series, four 80 series, and one 90, the Lady K. In some of the models, the only difference between was a couple of water levels, or auto temps.
Three of the 70s were immensely popular, as was the entry 80, and the Lady K, but the 60, one of the 70s, and three of the 80s were not common to rare, including the one you have here. It differed from the entry 80 only by having the double coat white basket from the Lady K. I have come across many dozens of the entry 80, which had a blue/gray speckled basket, but only one or two of these. Note that when I say “rare” or “not common”, that is relative to Kenmore’s output vs. other truly rare or uncommon manurfacturers.
You mention the timer getting stuck in the final spin. My first thought is that your machine has its original 376011 Mallory timer, which is developing dead spots from wear. That will only get worse. Giggling the timer knob is a dead give-away of this, pardon the pun. When I come across this, I like to replace the 376011 with a CCA/Singer 376008 if one can be found, or a 378133, which is Whirlpool’s replacement and has been for several decades. The 378133 requires a jumper wire added to the timer wiring harness to retain spray rinses. I installed 378133 in my Mom’s 1982 Kenmore back in the mid 90s and I am sure the replacement did more loads of laundry than the original, which I used for parts to “make” a timer for my 1985 entry 80 that I like to refer to as ‘Robo-washer’ because of how much of it has been rebuilt or replaced.
Again, it’s nice to see enthusiasm going toward these machines! I bought one of these new in 1986, an entry 70, as a college kid, and I still have it. It’s where my enjoyment of this line of models started. If I can answer any questions, I’m happy to.
Enjoy!
Gordon
