Whirlpool Duet Baffles

[stevet]

This thread may best be answered by our members who actually service Front loaders on a regular basis but I am more than open to any suggestions and observations concerning getting more action out of our current WP Duet.

We have a Duet Model WFW9150 which is probably 5-6 years old and it has 3 rather plain, straight baffles in the drum. This machine is basically the BOL model of that line and it seems that the WFW 9450 has baffles that are configured differently, but would seem to do a better job of moving the clothes around the tub.
Our current baffles just don't seem to give the clothes enough lift and drop regardless of the water level of the particular cycle. Nothing ever seems to go any higher that the distance that would be equivalent to moving from the 6 o'clock to the most, 3:30 and from 6:00 to 7:30-7:45 in the other direction. And at the higher water levels, the clothes just seem to roll around near the bottom of the drum.

I checked the part numbers of the drums themselves and the 9150 and 9450 drums are 2 different part numbers so I would hate to buy new baffles and not have them fit.
Both drums do actually include the baffles and new spiders when ordered.

Do you think it would be worth changing out the baffles to get better cleaning results?

Are all of these baffles interchangeable or will only fit the drum that mates to the specific model?

 

[hairyguard]

Why Change

If the baffles are giving some sort of agitation in the water for the clothes, and the clothes are coming out clean and fresh then why bother changing. But if its a preference that you want to see more activity in the drum then go ahead your choice you choose

 

[logixx]

My Duet has the second type of baffles that you are considering. Maybe it's also due to the tilted drum... but they tangle everything with sleeves (or pants) into one big ball. That design was abondoned and the current Duets have proper baffles again.

 

[retro-man]

I don't feel it is the lift and drop that cleans the clothes. In a front loader it is the clothes on clothes friction that does the cleaning. So if they are rolling around at the bottom then it is doing the job that it was made to do. I have the same with a small load or just a shower curtain, but all comes out clean, which is what it is supposed to do. This is in a Whirlpool Duet also. You have to remember these are not Westinghouse front loaders from the 50's. These have been redesigned as all machines have and do not work the same, probably 1 of the reasons is water consumption and 2, much larger load capacity.

Jon

 

[mark_wpduet]

My Duet just turned

10 yrs old this month.

The baffles aren't huge in mine at all......but I absolutely have LOVED this washer! It does an awesome job.

 

[jerrod6]

10 years is great Mark!

 

[gusherb]

"My Duet just turned 10 yrs old this month"

That's great! Have you had to put any work into it yet?
I'm surprised at how much the controls layout and overall design appearance hasn't changed much over all these years.

 

[lakewebsterkid]

Duet

In that picture, I notice you are using the normal cycle and that the water level is quite a bit higher than my WFW9750. Any tweaks to it? I am praying my Duet lasts this long, as it has been perfect.

 

[logixx]

The 9750 has the non-adjustable analog pressure sensor.

 

[mark_wpduet]

The only work

I've had done was year 2. It ended up being the control board - which was replaced. Nothing has gone wrong since but I keep it plugged into a surge protector.

I tried adjusting the water level a long time ago, but I could never get it right, so I moved it back to where it was to begin with....That's about what the fills look like for all cycles except delicate, which is even more, and it has a hidden clean washer cycle that uses the most water.

I use a little LCB with whites, always have used powdered HE detergent, and vinegar in rinse with a little fab softener. The thing still looks brand new cuz I'm the ONLY one who touches appliances in my house.

Actually, from what I've read, I thought some of the newer front loaders (maybe even Duets) use even more water that this depending on the cycle you use, like Bulky, or jeans - at least that's what I've read on the forum in the past.

 

[pierreandreply4]

my duet is also 10 years old but its a very poor cleaner in term of washing when it breaks its going to be replace by a good old fashion top load washer with agitoator witch is a better washer in term of cleaning power

 

[gansky1]

The pictured baffles appear to be the second generation design, the early Duets/Kenmores HE3 machines had full baffles from front to back. Perhaps one our WP guys can explain the reasons for change. The first Duet I had (same model pictured) had the full baffles but I've used machines with the lowered design and have not noticed any difference in washing, balancing, etc.

 

[mrb627]

Baffle Shrinkage

was purely done so the claim of larger capacity could be made...

Malcolm

 

[a440]

1st Generation

I can't get over that I have had this HE3T W/D set for 14 years now!  Bought 6/12/2001!  Time flies!

 

This is the original Baffle. Much taller than the new design.

 

Malcolm I have always wondered about the shrinking baffle to raise the cubic foot of the washer.  I never noticed the tub getting any larger.  Just the baffle getting shorter in height and width.

 

B

 

[logixx]

The tub got a little deeper during the production of the German-made Duets. Electrolux did the same thing with the paddles: the initial ones were nice and large... the new generation ones are merely small bumps on the drum.

Nothing like those paddles:

(watch for the spin rinse)

 

[mark_wpduet]

14 yrs old? WOW!

Were the 1st generation he3t's German made as well, like my Duet?

Those baffles on that Maytag are GINORMOUS! You can tell that larger baffles would be beneficial - at least based on watching that video.

Back when I tried to adjust the water level on my Duet, I could never get it right, but at one point, I was doing a load of laundry, and there was TOO much water, and the clothes sort of rolled instead of lifting and dropping like they did before I raised the level. I think that if my duet had baffles that large, it wouldn't have been an issue.

Pierre - I don't think my Duet is a poor cleaner at all! Seriously - Actually, before I had the Duet, I had a WP TL Shredmore washer. I loved that washer too, but set in old oil stains in a few t shirts came out after a couple of washes in the Duet, that would not come out using the TL washer. I recently discovered that you can put a small amount of dish liquid on an oil stain and that brings it out pretty well, but back then, I didn't know this.

 

[a440]

Hi Mark,

Yes my HE3T washer was made in Germany.  Does anyone know when they started making them in the USA?

I was looking at the sales receipt and the washer cost as much as a set today.  I am sure the Taxes on it coming from Germany was a factor in the price. 

B

 

[a440]

Maytag Neptune

Love the video of the Maytag Neptune!

I had no idea that it spun with full water during the rinse.  Did all models of the Neptune do this?

Did it also do it during the wash?

Has anyone ever cut out a window in a Neptune Washer like Robert did with his dishwashers?

Fun machines!

B

 

[a440]

I guess I answered my own question about the wash.  Here is Eddy's video I found of his Neptune's  wash action.

These Neptune's had such an awesome wash action going on.  I will never understand why they never designed them with a window!  Maytag's Neptune Front Loaders were the only washer out there with a wash action you could actually see...and they decided not to have a window.