Whirlpool Imperial Mark 18 - She runs!

[streakers]

Had these two sets in my basement for about 5 years, unfortunately no washer hooks-up available till today...!

The Whirlpool has a tiny water leak which will need investigating, but the Speed Queens are brand new, just been sitting - waiting to be put into service.

I picked up these Whirlpools from an estate sale in Cleveland, the homeowner was still using them as their daily drivers... The washer and dryer came with all instruction manuals and service receipts.

Now, to investigate the small water leak and repair that! (Any tips on where/what I should be looking for are greatly appreciated)

 

[mayfan69]

Good going!

Hey Steve,

They both look great! The WP runs very quietly.

Congrats!

Cheers
Leon

 

[maytag85]

Is the leak coming from above the baseplate or below the basement? If it’s above the baseplate it’ll need a new tub seal, new tub bolts/seals, and a new pump grommet. If it’s below the baseplate it simply needs new hose clamps and they are the kind you tighten up with a screw or nut driver.

 

[appnut]

Oh boy!! Love the Whirly. It's so quiet. Noticed it has the arrangement of separate delicate & knits cycles. Was only offered for a few years. Beautiful set!!!

 

[gregingotham]

whirlpool

we had a whirlpool of this same vintage and color, just not this many bells and whistles, growing up. Good machine, solid workhorse. Didn't stop me from envying my Aunt's 1-18.

 

[rp2813]

Beautiful machines.  That is the quietest Whirlpool I've ever heard.

 

[toploadloyalist]

Knit Cycle era

The Knit cycle, which featured a single cool-down, as opposed to the double cool-down in Permament Press or no cool-down in Gentle, lasted from 1973 to 1979.

 

[launderess]

Congrats on a great WP Set!

Hope they bring you many years of laundry pleasure.

Am by no means an expert but to determine leak have one suggestion. Remove agitator and let washer fill about 1/3 to 1/2 then stop water. Wait and see if any air bubbles start coming up from around center seal area. If so then leak likely means center post seals need replacing.

Had same issue with my vintage WP convertible washer (also in Harvest Gold), and repairman diagnosed small leak in that manner.

 

[combo52]

Beautiful 1975-6 Whirlpool Imperial Mark 18 Pair

These were the last WPs with florescent console lights, these machines are far more rare than their sister Lady Kenmore models of the same time period.

 

To look for the leak you just have to move it out and look through the rear panel or underneath after running a load Etc, Seans suggestions in reply #2 are a good start,

 

Removing the agitator and looking for air bubbles does not work because water leaking out of a hole in a bucket does not produce bubbles in the water in the bucket, LOL

 

Good luck with these nice machines

 

John L.

 

[launderess]

Well one did try...

But wonder does anyone want the bother nowadays.

 

[swestoyz]

Beautiful set! A shame their cousins were much more plentiful - Whirlpool always had such nice TOL lighted panels.

Hopefully the leak isn't anything drastic. One suggestion I'll add to pay attention to when it's leaking during the cycle. If during the fill portion pop the top and check out the water valve/hose/air breaker.

Ben

 

[reactor]

pulsed timer

One of the coolest thing about those Whirlpool, which fascinated me as a child, was the pulsed timer. Unlike most other machines, Whirlpools timer does not rotate continually and imperceptibly. It is stationery,then visibly moves several degrees foward at periodic times.

When I was a child, of about five years old. my mom's Imperial Mark XII seemed alive (and kind of spooky) when all of a sudden the timer knob silently rotated itself.

Just out of curiosity, how did Whirlpool achieve this pulsed rotation in their timers?

 

[peteski50]

Whirlpool!

Love the Whirlpool especially the console light!

 

[frigidareu]

Beautiful machines! Totally customizable wash/spin speeds are my favorite and somewhat rare for this time period for Whirlpool. IMO best agitator ever made-- nothing could stand in its way.

 

[DADoES]

 
My favorite console design for the Imperial Mark 18 line.  I like the graduated shading on the buttons and hash-marks on the water level control.

Per parts diagrams, the "0" and "1" engineering versions apparently have the full QuietPak treatment with skinny belt?  The "3" and "4" versions have the standard 95405 belt but still with the special rubber isolation grommets on the motor mount.  Which is yours?

The previous LAA9800 pair had a 3-speed motor and 3-speed tumble on the dryer.  LDA dropped back to 2-speed on the washer and two tumble speeds on the dryer.

 

[washerlover]

Beautiful ‘Pools! Such nice machines.

Norge/Wards had the same “pulsed” dial. It would make a loud click, then advance. I’m still fascinated to this day!

 

[DADoES]

 
Whirlpool had intermittent advancing (or whatever is the correct technical term) timers for years.  I never saw one that advanced continuously, like a GE, until the 2002/2003 direct-drive that I have.

 

[arris]

Great Machines !!

I have a set of those also, I got from Kevin, like you though I have not had the time to finish them.... Hopefully soon .... they had the Quiet Pack... the thinner belt and pulley's to minimize Noise, I also like the option on the dryer to adjust the tumble speed.....

 

[appnut]

Jim, I'm glad to know you ended up with that Whirlpool set from Kevin. When I saw these in the original post upthread, I thought of him and wondered if he still had them. I remember wen he got them.