Whirlpool kind of weekend.......

[DADoES]

Austin, I can't say for sure (I never compared them directly), but I believe the Surgilators were the same in both standard- and super-capacity machines for a few years leading up to the Double-Duty. Notice the fill levels on these pictures:

This is a 1983 super-capacity electronic control machine, with a winged Surgilator.

This is a 1961 standard capacity machine.

Both of them leave a couple inches of agitator exposed.

Our 1976 super-capacity LDA-7800 Supreme 80 filled to the level I've marked in red on the 1983 pic -- ALL the way to the TOP of the agitator / bottom of the agitator cap. Thus, the same size agitator used in a standard capacity machine handled an 18-pound load by way of a higher fill (relatively).

 

[mrcleanjeans]

the Whirlpool Whopper ad claims that they did not take a regular size agitator and put it in a bigger tub.

 

[fixerman]

The very early 18lb WP washers did have a taller agitator than the standard ones. They used a longer transmission shaft. Eventually WP shortened the agitator on the 18's and made up for the extra length needed by using a taller agitator cap.

 

[DADoES]

Not only taller, but the lower fins were larger.

 

[goatfarmer]

Can't comment if the homemade timer dial is correct or not. The white part is a piece of paper that someone glued on to the console.It may have 3 cycle selections,they just used one.
It also has an adjustable buzzer under the lint filter door.

kennyGF

 

[repairguy]

Update

Fast forward over 18 years and I found myself on a road trip which ended up involving a stop at a goat farm in Indiana to save some wayward washers and dryers that were going to meet their maker and apparently no one else wanted to make the effort to save them. Those are not what this post is about and I’ll do another one on those later. I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Goatfarmer who made a very generous donation to the Texas branch of the home for wayward washers and dryers. I can’t thank them enough and it’s great to meet such good people.

Mr. Goatfarmer told me I could have this set if I wanted them and I sure was surprised as I had no idea they would be part of the donation. Both machines are neat and rare in their own way and I think it’s possible they could’ve been sold as a set. The washer is a 3 speed Mark 18 built in 1972. Sears Lady Kenmore was not 18 pounds until 1974 so I thought that was cool. This washer is also one of the last to have the longer gearcase and basket drive shafts to accommodate a taller agitator.

The dryer is an actual 3 speed model where the speeds are changed by moving the belt on a tapered motor pulley. It was built in 1973 and was not the top of the line as mentioned above. Today I spent several hours working on them cosmetically including wax jobs on both. I’m not sure how long it will be before I’ll have time to go through these but I really like this set and they cleaned up better than I was thinking.

Washer model: 1LXA9920A0
Serial: C21601424

Dryer model:LAE8800A0
Serial M31501228

 

[repairguy]

The timer dial is not the correct one for this dryer but it’s close. The original is a 3 cycle: timed, auto regular, and auto perm press with finish guard. The cycles are spaced a little differently on the correct dial which I believe I have obtained NOS.

 

[DADoES]

 
Yay!

Does the Hand Washable load size force ex-low agitation?

That was the last model-year for 3-speed dryer tumble.

 

[repairguy]

That’s a good question. I’m pretty sure this set hasn’t operated in over 18 years and I spent all the time today working on the exteriors. I was going to plug the washer in but ran out of time. I spun the timer dial and have a feeling it is out of sync with the timer but I could be wrong. It only has one water level switch if that means anything. I’ve seen some late sixties models in the archives that had 2 water level switches maybe for that purpose?

 

[goatfarmer]

That is the best those have ever looked, Melvin, fine job!

 

[repairguy]

Thanks Kenny! I can’t wait to go through these machines. I think they will both turn out nicely.