Whirlpool Direct Drive

[dnastrau]

Design 2000

We had a family friend who bought one of those early Design 2000 machines new and had it until she passed away in 2005. It looked exactly like the one on the cover of that manual. She never had any problems with it, but also didn't use it that heavily.

It stayed with the house after it was sold; I wonder if it is still going (?) It is hard to believe that early "Shredmorepools" may now become collectible!

Andrew S.

 

[kenmoreforever]

I've also had a few dealings with the design 2000 machine with no problems. Kenmore must have rid it of all the bugs before it hit the market. A rare thing nowadays with all the future problems you see with the new models coming ot. Recall after recall.

 

[norfolksouthern]

It is hard to believe that early "Shredmorepools"

Much of this will depend on how things pan out with the HE machines. I do know that the ones with a blue agitator are starting to get a little more desirable.

NorfolkSouthern

 

[nmassman44]

Those KitchenAids have a much larger base vanes and they agitate at a slower rate at 120 spm. Whirlpools and Kenmore move at 180 spm on High speed. From what I understand that you should not interchange the agitators since the transmission with the KitchenAid Agitator needs to run at a lower spm because of the size of the vanes. Plus it needs a larger capacitor to get the system, into motion. If I remember right someone here put this agitator into a Kenmore washer and ran it on high with jeans and fried the motor and killed the transmission. Not a good thing.
And I think that the KitchenAids used the Gentle Wash feature where it starts off at 120 spm then switches down to 90 spm to finish off the wash cycle. Plus they had the stepped spins. Nice machine

 

[dnastrau]

KitchenAid toploader

We sold our mid-line 2000 model year KitchenAid two years ago to buy our Maytag Epic. I wish I'd held onto the KitchenAid as a second machine. It was a good, flexible machine. It had the same style agitator as the blue and stainless trim model above, but by 2000 they were just plain white without the stainless trim.

Andrew S.

 

[norfolksouthern]

Like the tentacles of a giant squid...

IT pulls its prey down to the fins with its strong suction.

 

[norfolksouthern]

And...

The billowing sponge gives up the fight to its captor, as the predator sucks down and devours its prey.

NorfolkSouthern

 

[everythingold]

Agitators on DD's are not interchangeable, some will bind the clothes around the shaft, and yes you can strip out a tranie with that. A decent DD with a 3 speed motor and speed control, properly leveled is a very decent machine. Slowing down agitation is the key. For the average Joe or Sally, it is the way to go. matt

 

[yogitunes]

installed this larger in my first kenmore limited...my tranny did snap a gear but never thought it was from the agitator...stupid me...then I got the newer kenmore electronic 3 speed...never had any problems on any speed...but i really liked the normal cycle...in this model normal gave a medium wash action and a high spin...really moved clothes compared to the original agitator....and the machine was really quiet compared to the high speed wash...

 

[everythingold]

There have been some cool DD's made. There was a Kenmore Limited Edition in Black with Chrome, a Panel Light, and a board that was really neat, shows the actual water level going up and down. There is also a portable DD with an additional suspension system similar to a GE. Smaller tub, but the full size motor mounted diagonal. It has to spin at around 800, and the additional support makes it a real smooth ride. Anyway, DD's have their place, most "normal" people have a HUGE bias against any washer or dryer that is "old." I think a lot of that is from media disinformation. Old appliances draw enormous amounts of juice (some do, but it's because your fridge gasket has disintegrated, lol), they are water hogs (yah, that's because they actually clean clothes). If you are so concerned about water usuage, run your gutters into a barrel and use it to wash clothes, water the lawn etc. All this energy star ratings and high efficiency stuff is just marketing BS. Putting an under-sized compressor in a fridge is "energy efficient" in a certain sense, but when it pops after 4 years, that is not efficient. Neither is running a heating element for defrost instead of using the existing heat like the good old GMFR's. But, I have started forcing Whirlpool BD's down people's throat with warranties. Tough to say no to a 6 or 12 month garrantee, no matter how old the machine is...matt

 

[goatfarmer]

Which Frigidaire didn't use a heating element for defrost? All the ones I remember, from the early 60's, up til the WCI era, used a heater, if it was a Frost Free model.

 

[kenmoreforever]

Everythinf gold.,i'm not being Mr. smartypants here but i must beg to differ with you on one of your comments concerning the fact that you state that you cannot innrchange agitators from one DD to another? What basis do state that claim on? I do it all the time my freind.Maybe I misunderstood your post or maybe your post didn't go into more detail as to what problems may have risen in your dealings with them? Once again, i'm not doubting your wisdom, just wondering why you think such a thing?

 

[everythingold]

Goatfarmer,
I have a Cycla-matic mod# FCD 150T which uses passive defrost, unless I'm mistaken. It wouldn't be the first time.

Kenmoreforever,
There are probably a dozen dual action DD agitators and several tub sizes. While you can mount any of these agitators on any DD, some styles do not work properly on some machines. On the wrong machine, some agitators will catch clothes at the bottom, or twirl the clothes around till something long wraps all the way around the agitator. I know this because I sell and fix appliances for a living, and DD's are 70% of what I sell in washing machines. But you are right in that most of them can be swapped without an issue. matt

 

[kenmoreforever]

everythinggold, i also do this for a living and i do agree that there are some issues where clothes will get wrapped up at bottom of agi. you are correct.