Whirlpool Surgilator Agitator on a Whirlpool Direct Drive Washer.

[maytag85]

Is it even possible to a Whirlpool Belt Drive Surgilator on a Whirlpool Direct Drive Washer? I don't know how a Whirlpool Direct Drive would be like with a Surgilator agitator, but it would be interesting!

 

[washdaddy]

A surgilator in a direct drive would put excessive strain on the transmission because of it's larger dimensions.

I don't even think it's possible to switch it to a DD machine cause I don't think they have the same stems inside for the agitator to mount to.

And with the surgilator moving that fast with a load of clothes in it's way while agitating....there would probably be damage to clothes from the excess pulling and tugging of the agitator vanes

 

[brucelucenta]

Train wreck is probably what you would have by doing that. It would certainly ruin the transmission quickly or just strip out the splines on the agitator if you could manage to find one that would work on it. I don't think there is one with splines low enough in the agitator.

 

[potatochips]

I wonder if short post agitators would fit on a DD machine?

Either way it would be a great way to ruin it. If the coupler doesn't give out before hand, the transmission will probably not be happy. I think this is the only downside to the DD design is that there is no slip between the motor and transmission, as in a belt or clutch or something, that could give way to high stresses.

 

[combo52]

Switching WP agitators From BDs To DD Machines

The agitators attach to the agitator shaft the same way BUT the shafts are shorter on DD machines so it is not possible to change them out without doing some major modifications. If I were to do this I would weld the extra length to the agitator shaft on a DD washers transmission.

 

I dough that it would hurt the DD washer very fast to have the larger agitator in it, many members here have put the large KA washer agitator in WP-KM DD washers that were not designed for it with no ill effects.

 

No automatic washer is designed to have the belt or clutch slip during agitation with the exception of the poorly designed MT Helical drive machines from around 1960 the mid 90s [ early HD machines from 56-59 had a better belt tension system that did not allow belt slippage during agitation ] when they finely tried [ and largely succeeded ] to correct this major performance design flaw.

 

[potatochips]

I know no machines, aside from Maytag, were designed to intentionally have slip. But regardless of intentional or unintentional slip design, belts and clutches will allow slip if load demands become unbalanced.

 

[yogitunes]

well, for a Maytag, just slide a board in there and apply pressure to the motor, you will see a significant increase in wash action...spin too...

slippage for a ramp up during spin is one thing, once high speed is achieved, if slippage still happens, you not getting full use of the torque....

many machines used a clutch belt slip type of mechanism...ex.WCI-Frigidaire, even Speed Queens use a idler pulley/spring setup.....they have the potential to slip...

a good example of this is reaching in and grabbing the agitator, and being able to stop it, yet the motor will still spin....

now for machines like a Ge FilterFlo, Kenmore/Whirlpool, 1-18, for example, those belts are fastened tight, and bolted in place.....these mechanisms do not 'give in' to the load....they will power through any load, and again, clutching is only for spin ramp up....a better mechanism locks it in place for full torque, wash or spin...

I added a tighter spring to my SQ, and an extra to the Maytag...tighter tension, better grip!....

 

[potatochips]

Ahh yes Yogi! The third spring is the ace in the hole for any Maytag owner, none in my fleet are without it!