Whirlpool and Samsung are reducing the maximum spin speed on their washers

[Chetlaham]

For top loaders this with the case tho, I think the motors on your typical VMW spin at the same speed of the drum. The drum would only be slower than the motor if the bearings were severely worn, the speed sensor is failed, or the hub is stripped.

VMW has a pulley that reduces the motor's speed. The Cabrios were direct drives as there was no belt or pulleys.

Ok, my ignorance will show here to a profound extent but only because I have a very strong dislike for modern machine. Which Whirlpool washers today, if any, are direct drive in the sense of having an inverter driven motor that controls the tub directly?

 

[whirlpool862]

VMW has a pulley that reduces the motor's speed. The Cabrios were direct drives as there was no belt or pulleys.

Ok, my ignorance will show here to a profound extent but only because I have a very strong dislike for modern machine. Which Whirlpool washers today, if any, are direct drive in the sense of having an inverter driven motor that controls the tub directly?

I think the pulley reduces it, but the motor I don’t think spins faster than the drum unless there’s a mechanical issue. I don’t mind modern washers. I definitely like direct drives better, but the older Cabrios would’ve been great if they had good seal and bearing. The older VMWs and VMAXs were decent if maintained properly.

The newer GE’s are fine, I actually don’t hate them, and GE keeps improving. They sound like older VMWs (but with a different pitch) on agitation, but many eventually get used to it and it isn’t that loud. Much better than the latest VMW. Samsung still is awful. LG is good as well.

I used to be a major Whirlpool fan, and Whirlpool was the go-to brand for me for a while. I always encouraged people to get a Whirlpool for new appliances, even with the cabrio and VMW. I didn’t know VMWs had bearings until I was told on my first thread “Whirlpool high efficiency top load washer is very loud on the spin cycle”. I thought only the cabrios had bearings.

Mine is a 2014, manufactured 9th week of 2014 according to serial number, so it’s 11 years old. Still runs other than the loud bearing noise. I’ve had friends who had issues with their newer Whirlpools constantly draining. Bad boards are a very common problem. I have four friends who had issues, they weren’t all having the failure at once but they all did at one point, all are 2023 or early 2024 I think.

 

[Chetlaham]

The motor spins about three times faster than the tub itself on belted VMW washers. The motor spins around 1625 RPM the tub around 600-800 RPM.

 

[whirlpool862]

The motor spins about three times faster than the tub itself on belted VMW washers. The motor spins around 1625 RPM the tub around 600-800 RPM.

I’m guessing the inside of the motor spins that fast but not the outside of the motor. You said the motor pulley makes it spin slower.

 

[Chetlaham]

I’m guessing the inside of the motor spins that fast but not the outside of the motor. You said the motor pulley makes it spin slower.

The squirrel cage rotor, the shaft and the motor's pulley all spin at 1625 RPM. Because the motor pulley is smaller and the splutch drive pulley is larger, the motor pulley must complete about 3 revolutions before the drive pulley makes one full revolution. The advantage here is that the reduced speed is turned into increased torque.