Whirlpool Direct Drive discontinuing more parts

[blockeight88]

It appears Whirlpool is no longer making the following (very common) timers.

Part #3953156
Part #3955340

Both of these timers are used in my Kenmore Direct Driver washers. Model 11020852990 and 11022942100. Both were available last month.

I have also seen that they have discontinued the temperature sensor (Part #3352282) and bleach hose (Part #3948705).

The water pump (3363394) has been on back order for the last couple months now.

I noticed they also discontinued the drive block (Part #388952)

This is VERY BAD. Yes, the timers are still both readily available through retailers, but for how long? These direct drive washers are not going to last forever. This is scary.

What determines when a certain part gets discontinued?

 

[qsd-dan]

Gotta drudge up sales and keep stockholders happy somehow, right?

In all honesty, it appears they followed the 10 year parts availability requirement but given how many of these are still out there chugging away, they seemed to cut the supply off fairly early. It won't be long before they go the way of the Maytag Helical and GE Filter-Flo designs unless another source steps up to the plate.

 

[maytag85]

Complete nonsense that Whirlpool is discounting parts for their direct drive washers. It seems that they simply are forcing people to get new piece of crap machines that don’t work worth a darn and aren’t as environmentally friendly as they claim to be.

Maybe people like me, QSD-DAN, and a few others who are likeminded should all join together in trying to bring back the machines of the past since the appliance tycoons have a virtual monopoly on today’s appliances since there’s no real choice in anything anymore.

 

[Chetlaham]

Sad, very sad. Whirlpool doesn't care and of course people care less. You've even got service techs on here blithely defending every decision made by the industry be it good, bad or just down right awful.

I do agree, people need to join forces finding a way to print and manufacturer these parts, including entire washers, independently. I would have absolutely no problem with DDs and Dependable Care machines being brought back into production. There was nothing wrong with these designs. They kept the scrap pile clean by lasting longer in service.

Same goes for front loads. European designs like the Indesit L8 revamped for the North American market would catch on as the gold standard.

 

[blockeight88]

So when direct drives ceased production in 2011-2012, did Whirlpool basically promise 10 years of parts?

 

[cfz2882]

save a supply of salvaged parts

I have junked lots of DDs resulting in boxes of recovered parts-a recently junked '02 KA had a porcelain lid and top which was good and I kept

 

[ryner1988]

Now this is nerve-wracking...

Considering I just purchased a used direct drive machine a few months ago, this has me a bit on edge. I made this purchase with the confidence that parts would still be available well into the future should I need them.

 

[ryner1988]

Also...

I had thought at the time to buy some spare parts for the machine so that I wouldn't be up a creek later. I was told by others, and even told myself, that this was a slight over-reaction. Now I wish I would have followed my instinct. Guess WP has moved faster to discontinue these parts quicker than anyone expected they woud.

 

[tomturbomatic]

WP did that with KitchenAid dishwashers, which still had parts available for early models, when WP bought KitchenAid, forcing people to replace dependable older machines.

 

[appnut]

Tom, I current event reminded me exactly of that scenario when WP acquired KA.

 

[good-shepherd]

Too numerous to mention

How many items have been discontinued the last few years, not just appliance parts. The latest for me is the J&J contact lenses I've been using for over a decade. (At least they gave a warning on that one)

My advice if that happens is to stockpile items you will definitely use while they can still be found. And buy spares of parts you may need in the future. They can alway be resold later on if necessary and likely at a profit.

Also, if you notice a favorite item is suspiciously not on the shelves better find out why and quick. Could've been discontinued and not a supply chain issue.

 

[ryner1988]

Reply #10

Douglass, what parts would you recommend keeping spares of for a direct drive Whirlpool? My bro in law can do repairs on the machine for me if necessary.

 

[combo52]

Extra Parts For DD WP Built Washer ?

Hi Ryne, I would not buy any extra parts for your DD washer except maybe a timer if you have money burning a hole in your pocket.

 

There is nothing that machine will need in the next ten years that you will not be able to find easily on the internet, and how likely are you going to keep this washer 10 years, I think I can guess the answer.

 

John L.

 

[ryner1988]

Hi John, of course I'm not sure if this washer will last 10 years but if it can, of course I would prefer that. Our family was going through a lot of personal issues when my Maytag Pitman washer finally became unusable this past summer, so we needed something cheap but also effective. I chose the DD washer because of their reputation of lasting a long time and being easily repairable -- I don't like gambling on something that might or might not work, but yes, I absolutely hope to be done with the washer dance for a long time.

 

[blockeight88]

I can deal with some of the smaller parts being discontinued by WP, but timers are the brains of the machine.

And buying a few now isn't a bad idea, but still pricey.

In July I had to purchase a bleach hose (Part #3948705) and had no issue ordering it. Fast forward to last month, I went to purchase a second, just have and couldn't find it. It was completely gone. I had to go through eBay.

When this happens with the timers, gear cases, and motors, the days of the Direct Drive may really be approaching the end.

 

[good-shepherd]

what parts would you recommend for a direct drive

You'll have to ask the DD experts on that one.

I'm more familiar with vintage Maytags and have a stash of the common and not so common replacement parts and spares. Many (but not all) can still be found for sale today but not at the bargain prices I paid 7 or 8 years ago.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

My reasoning

My reasoning is that Whirlpool doesn't want us to have the real machines that do wash and rinse properly. They want us to buy this garbage that's out now.

 

[potatochips]

Settle down.

No, there is no conspiracy that WP, GE, or anyone want us to "transition" or be "forced" to buy a new machine. There isn't profit hungry tycoons in ivory towers conspiring to screw us little guys over. And don't kid yourself, we have choice in the market. Let's all stop with the theatrics.

There is NO, read again, NO point in any company that makes a product to support it ten plus years after production ended when the consumers who still have it is becoming less and less every day. I would sell my shares in any company that continued to support a product that has dwindling ownership (ie DDs being replaced by new machines). There would be no return on investment for WP to pay for a part maker to continue to make parts. If it's not profitable, why do it?

eBay is a great place to find parts. There are all kinds of timers on there. Additionally, there are repair shops that exclusively repair timers, including one in Ontario, Canada. You should be able to support this washer by purchasing donor machines, eBay, and specialty repair shops for many years. As John said, when the time comes you need to fix these parts, you probably would want a new machine anyways.

 

[panasonicvac]

I thought Whirlpool quit making the parts all together when they ceased production of their direct drive top loaders. That would honestly make alot more sense.