Whirlpool Discontinues Direct Drive and Maytag Neptune parts, Short RANT

[maytagneptune]

In our ever so growing world of artificial obsolescence. Whirlpool has decided to stop making Direct Drive Parts and Maytag Neptune Parts. The 12002039 Motor Conversion Upgrade has recently gone NLA with No replacement. According to Matthew James. The Timer and some of the less common parts on the direct drives are being discontinued as well. Parts for the Calypso and Maytag Neptune TL are pretty much impossible to come by these days and it's quite frustrating, I made a seprate thread of what I plan to do to fight this, I want to install a Dexter T-400 in my laundry room with a few modifications to fit it. That will be one heck of a project. As for this though, I am incredibly frustrated that Whirlpool is doing this and now 2 more of my most favorite machines ever will be OBSOLETE in the next few years, soon enough the supply of Neptunes and Direct Drives will be Exhausted and there will be no more donor parts. It's honestly extremely frustrating to be honest. I feel this is the end of an era and soon it will be if you want a washer that washes your clothes and lasts for a long time, Buying an Industrial Hardmount washer from Dexter, Speed Queen or one of their subsidiaries. (Huebsch, Unimac, Ipso etc). I don't think Whirlpool makes Hardmounts anymore and I don't think any of them are as tough as a Dexter. Dexter machines are basically Bendix machines in disguise, They bought Bendix or vice versa.

 

[maytag85]

Whirlpool is a progressive company, not much of a surprise. While Whirlpool’s machines are easy to repair, they deliberately under-build certain parts case in point the motor coupler on the direct drive washers, thousands of direct drives have been thrown out over a broken motor coupler and if Whirlpool over built the motor coupler to the point it would never break, many would still be around but Whirlpool was simply too cheap to make a durable motor coupler. While the Whirlpool direct drives were good machines, there’s simply no comparison between them and the older belt drive machines which are heavily built, a belt drive that’s gently used and babied will outlast a direct drive many times over.

 

[DADoES]

 
The only reason a direct-drive would be thrown out for a broken motor coupler, assuming it's not otherwise deteriorated beyond redemption with rusting and abuse, is consumer ignorance of the simplicity of the repair.

 

[ryner1988]

Since a broken coupler presents what would seem to the uninitiated like a serious issue (no agitation, no spin), the machine will likely be junked due to sheer ignorance. Glenn is correct on this point.

 

[jben]

I'm not so sure that WP deliberately under-build those motor couplers. This washer platform was designed back before all the planned obsolescence that we all despise. However I could agree that couplers do fail, but perhaps that was by good design so that this inexpensive part could be replaced vs. damage to the motor or transmission when a washer is overloaded.

As one example, our KM DD has been operating in our home for almost 30 years now and we raised two daughters during that time. It still operates with it's original motor coupler so it's hard for me to consider that part was under-built.

Now don't get us all started about some of these other newer designed washers. I've been offered one or two of them for free and I will not drive across town to do so.

 

[repairguy]

Sean you are correct that many direct drive machines have been tossed over the years due to a broken motor coupling. It made used appliance dealers a lot of money as it was an easy inexpensive fix and the machine was sold again. In any system where a motor is directly connected to a load(gearcase or something else) the coupling is designed to be the weak spot to fail first before the motor or the load is damaged. The original DD couplings may have been an inconvenience when they broke but they didn’t damage the motor or the load(gearcase). When whirlpool redesigned and debuted its current coupling with the metal insert it was the ultimate planned obsolescence move on their part. Even when they are installed correctly a little wear can cause a loose fit which ultimately destroys the motor or gearcase shaft or both.

As for BD washers vs. DD the DD machines may not have been as heavy built as the BD washers but they were certainly more dependable for a longer period of time. Many of the older DD washers were in service for 30 years or better with few or no repairs. The repairs they did need were usually quick and inexpensive. The BD on the other hand had a lifespan of about 10 years often needing complete rebuilds at that point which could be done but were very labor intensive and expensive to repair.

 

[combo52]

Planned, obsolescence, etc.

Machines are made down to a cost, according to what consumers will pay if more consumers would pony up the money for Speed Queen’s that would kind of put whirlpool and GE and everybody else on notice, and they would improve their products and raise the prices.

There’s a lot of miss information about drive couplings on whirlpool, direct drive washers, the drive coupling is not there to protect the motor or protect the transmission.

The drive couplings only function is to help isolate the 60 cycle home from the transmission and the rest of the machine. That’s why the motor is also rubber mounted. Yes, thousands of direct drive washer’s have been thrown away when the drive coupling breaks or fails, just like tens of thousands of belt drive whirlpool washers were thrown away with broken belts. The drive coupling. It’s not much different than a drive belt, they will fail eventually.

The whirlpool direct drive washer is almost all out lasted a similar belt drive whirl pool, not the least of which the drive coupling is easier to replace than the belt on a belt Drive whirlpool washer

When whirlpool redesigned the drive coupling with the metal inserts, the drive coupling became much more durable however, it had the unfortunate consequence of sometimes working loose and ruining the motor shaft.

By the time whirlpool had made the change to the metal insert the direct drive machines were being phased out.

John

 

[philcobendixduo]

My 1987 Kenmore Limited Edition....

.....washing machine still has the original motor coupler.
The only parts NOT original on the machine are the agitator dogs.

 

[DADoES]

 
Are there any known incidents of anyone instantly breaking a direct-drive motor coupler by overloading, or physically jamming the agitator and starting it?

 

[repairguy]

Glenn I can’t say that I’ve ever purposely tried to wreck a washer. Lol I’m sure heavy loads have caused the couplings to break instantly but I’ve never witnessed it in person.

 

[maytagneptune]

Overloading DD

My Dad had to fix a machine for friends twice because they kept overloading it. Broke even the coupler with the metal insert, motor shaft was fine thankfully.