Whirlpool/Kenmore Design 2000 Thread

[yogitunes]

fantastic.....makes you feel good to repair something so simple that most people would toss out....

but where did you go for the part?....and charged you that much?....YOW!

 

[repairguy]

Congrats on repairing your washer. It is usually very satisfying.

 

[agiflow]

Hey guys, Thanks. I went to Redmond's appliance service in New Brunswick. About an hour drive away. Couldn't find a repair place that would come out that day.

There are enough YouTube tutorials on these machines for me to follow or just some of the great advice on this site.I have an interest now in doing these jobs myself. A DD washer is certain a good machine for a novice to cut his teeth on.

 

[agiflow]

Yeah. I quite like this 24" Estate. The simple straight vane is very adequate for the tub size and I can load the machine full to the tub ring (not overloaded of course) and get good rollover. No need for a corkscrew, but they are fun to use in these smaller machines.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

the 100 degree arc during agitation.

 

[agiflow]

What about the 100° Arc?

 

[gelaundry4ever]

100 degree arc

I like how aggressive the 100 degree arc gets out tough dirt. Who knew it would trickle down to the maytag line eventually? It went on from 2007-2010 before the switchover to the vmw design on practically all models.

 

[imperial70]

Look at the overall design of the Whirlpool "wig-wag" design vs. the "DD." Easier to assemble, less parts, Easier to repair, better initial quality. IIRC there was an insert that came with each Design 2000 washer letting people know about the new wash system and the fact they could reduce the agitation time.

The GE FF vs their Plastic Tub design was a major reduction in cost too. That clutch system, the filter flow plumbing... It was the start of then end of over-engineering.

 

[agiflow]

On my current 24" Estate I only used the full 14 minutes once just recently. That was for a dirty full load of work clothes, but generally I use 10 minutes or even 6 in many cases. On the low water level the straight vane makes the water "boil".

 

[gelaundry4ever]

GE copycat

I remember when I was at my babysitter's house with a whirlpool dd washer. I'd hear it running all day. Before I moved into a single family home in 1999, my mom's friend and coworker had a whirlpool washer which had a short/fast stroke. We had to stay there for a few hours while we were getting my house ready to move in. Later on when we'd start using the GE filter-flo, I'd sit there and listen to it running. Even before I heard it running, I walked over to check it out when we moved into the house. Little did I know that in 2 short years the transmission would dump oil all over the area where it was sitting. We had to get a complete new set. What I didn't realize was that we received the GE copycat to the whirlpool direct drive so you could imagine what I was thinking when I expected filter-flo and minibasket. The agitation is what sounded similar to the whirlpool direct drives.

 

[combo52]

GE FF Washer Dumping Oil

This happened from time to time but was an easy fix, it took less than 1/2 hour to install a replacement rebuilt GE transmission and there was certainly no reason to replace the dryer in any case.

 

I will never understand people, if you have something you like fix it.

 

John L.

 

[Chetlaham]

If people were like me

The Raytheon 2 belt stationary motor design would have dominated. The DD design would have been rejected for more than several reasons and Whirlpool would have been copying Raytheon.  

 

But, as much as I don't approve of DDs their longevity has and is being proven. I remember Maytag did a competition where a DD Kenmore ran 24/7 side by side with a Maytag washer. The DD only needed two minor repairs, but kept going along side the Maytag. There are homes with DD washers that have lasted as long as Maytag center dials. 

 

For what it is, and considering its cost, the DD lasts for its money.  

 

[neptunebob]

I noticed that the transition from BD to DD was gradual, and also kind of hush-hush, over about 5-6 years, and the lower priced models were first to get converted. Top of line like the Limited Edition were still BD as of 1986 when we looked at it. Was there any reason for this gradual change over? Maybe Whirlpool wanted to see if people would object? Did I read maybe here that WP stockpiled some BD machines toward the end of production in case consumers were not happy?

 

[gelaundry4ever]

GE vs whirlpool

We had to get a new complete set so that we could have a dryer that could keep up. It was the same brand as the previous GE pair. The plastic GE and whirlpool sounded very similar when they agitated. I have used both units before and they did a good job. Now, whirlpool DD is taking the place of the GE filter-flo as far as durability is concerned.

 

[agiflow]

I understand Whirlpool had to redesign their washer line. It was an outdated design and hard to work on. I've liked the DD design since our first Whirlpool DD in 1988 and think it's a great design. Would have been nice though if they could have made the DD a longer stroke agitation but it was a VERY reliable design overall. I'm pro DD design. Never had anything ripped up in one.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

whirlpool dd

I miss the whirlpool direct drive washers. They could provide turnover on big loads with the extra roll agitator. I love the smells and sounds of it.
I've noticed the gear oil smell during operation which reminds me of my GE filter-flo. That's the only thing the 2 washers have in common is the gear oil and how it smells. One more. Both clean well. I believe the whirlpool/kenmore direct drives took the GE filter-flo's spot in durability.

 

[ddfan92]

What I found on Google:

So this design IS 1970's! Maybe not quite this design exactly, but they were just in the beginning stages of engineering what would ultimately become the DD. From 1979--however on Google, it actually says it was filed in 1978.

US4174622A - Automatic washer suspension system - Google Patents

A suspension for an automatic clothes washer tub which supports the clothes container, agitator and driving mechanism, comprises a combination skate and rocking support device, the machine frame supporting the device for horizontal movement and the device supporting the tub for rocking...

patents.google.com

 

[DADoES]

 
Surely it takes a few years to get engineering/design settled and patents registered.  That patent is in the Patent of the Day library.  Do you look at those?

Direct-drive was introduced sometime in 1981 via Kenmore, a few models in the line to test the market response, then all standard-capacity models segued to DD with 18lb super-capacity remaining belt-drive until the 27" direct-drives debuted and replaced them.

 

[ddfan92]

DADoES,

Do you know if there's a way to get to the POD library? I only know how to see the current one, but wasn't sure if there was a way to see the archives or not.
Anywhos, just found that and got real excited I guess...

 

[maytag85]

Reply #57

The Picture Of The Day (POD) and Patent Of The Day (also POD) is updated every day. Only way to have a library of Patent Of The Day is to save them to some sort of digital album. Usually the Picture Of The Day along with Patent Of The day will repeat itself sometime within the next year or so.