Whirlpool top loader--fix or replace?

[sarah]

Hey Y'all,

Our Whirlpool top loader has seen us through eleven years of hard work--and probably lots of overloading at my hands. My husband has repaired it cheaply and easily many times over the years--especially those nylon couplings.

We love that it's been easy to repair, and we haven't needed to hire service professionals to fix it. Otherwise, it seems to be a dependable, but not impressive machine.

It's broken again, and this time my husband thinks it's the transmission. The coupling is intact. The motor runs; the machine fills and drains but does not agitate or spin and the shaft exiting the transmision does not turn. He's priced transmissions on the net at around $150.

So, for a ten year old machine, what's your input--repair or replace? And if we replace, what new machine should we replace it with? (I love vintage but old appliances are hard to find around here, the household repairman says "NO," and I need it YESTERDAY) I've got two boys--four and two years old. I'm doing ten to twelve loads of laundry a week. Heavy duty is good, tough is good, easy to fix is better.
Do you still recommend Whirlpool?
What about front loading versus top loading?
What machines get the clothes cleanest?
What machines do the least wear and tear on clothes?
What machines are the easiest and cheapest to repair?
What machines last the longest?
Which ones are the cheapest to run?

I'm looking forward to your opinions.

Thanks in advance,
Sarah

 

[knitwits1975]

Hi Sarah!

In this case I would say this Whirlpool has served you very well, but sounds like it has a lot of mileage. I would probably give Mr. Whirlpool a respectful burial and replace him. You could replace the tranny today and in a week or two the motor could quit, because you still have other old parts.
Now as far as a replacement goes, I would recommend a Whirlpool with a dual action agitator, not a straight vane. Because they are easy to work on, parts are readily available, and based on my experience, they are a dream to obtain warranty service from. I hear their front loaders are cool too if you want to go that way.

 

[bajaespuma]

If you're doing that much laundry a week(sounds like there are children in the home)I'm going to throw in my $.02 and recommend you buy an LG. It holds at least twice the amount of laundry as the largest top loader and works very well. The only complaint I've had with it is that the water doesn't quite heat up to advertized 167 F; complaint I've read on the site is that it, like a lot of FL's take a long time to "balance" big loads for spin, but if you're doing two loads in the space on one, I don't think that's such a problem. They are expensive, but, I think, worth it. They're efficient, convenient(truly a "set it and forget it" machine), and unbelieveably quiet. The one with the 1200 rpm spin cuts drying time in less than half. It seems the direct drive motor has been less trouble prone than machines that are belt-driven.

More than you probably wanted to know.

 

[knitwits1975]

Aren't all the front loaders direct driven now?

 

[norgeman]

Need a new washer sarah.

In my opion of course I would go with Fridigdaire either in a top or front loader. Electrolux has done a world of good for Frigidaire and White Westinghouse. One thing in their top loaders is the 3/4 hp motor and steel gears in the transmission so it's going to hold up longer than they used to. My dad bought a Fridigidaire washer 3 years ago and I got to use it this last March when I was in Texas for my Mom's funeral. I really was impressed with it, also have looked at their front loaders and am also impressed with them, with bigger openings to load and remove clothes more efficiently . Because they have been assoisated with it's sister company White-Westinghouse which has been building front loaders in the U.S. forever and know how to build them.
Another reason is that they have about the best pricing right now. You should be able to pick up a washer anywhere for about $649.00 to $800.00 depending on if you want both or just the washer, ($649.00 for frontload washer alone)and about,($459.00 for a top loader this might be a little high but pretty close in price). Hope this helps you in any way possible to make a choice. But this is my choice when we get ready to buy a new washer. This is what I would buy.

 

[brettsomers]

what i LOVE about front loaders, is the ability to process pillows and king comforters that a top loader couldnt even touch. i dont thing anyone has mentioned the importance of getting a front loader that has a heat option for the water. if price is a major consideration, the kenmore conventional top loaders have a good record and CHEAP. if i had to get a NEW toploader i would lean toward a Speed Queen, but they arent very widely available. can anyone here recommend the heavy duty Speed Queens?

http://www.speedqueen.com/home/index.htm

 

[brettsomers]

and

most ALL front loaders will be quite gentle on clothes. a friend got the Whirlpool Duet and loves it. what do members think of Whirlpool vs LG vs Samsung front loaders? these machines handle huge loads BUT require a long cycle-time to do the job. a top-load Speed Queen would be gentle on clothes too. the conventional Kenmore top-loaders have very vigorous agitation, and should not be used on high-speed for most clothes. the reliablity for the most modern front loaders is still to be determined. heavy duty Speed Queens seem exceptionally reliable, but Kenmore is also reliable.

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: I Vote:

Sarah, for you to either have your "Personal Repairman" Replace the Transmission and give the great Old Whirlpool Washer some more Life, or if you are really wanting to replace the poor "Old Reliable" I say to replace it with another new Whirlpool Top-Load Washer. Did you happen to buy the Matching Dryer, when you bought "Old-Reliable" new, or were they 2nd Hand Machines?

I would suggest to go with at least a comperable Featured Model or maybe even a Step-Up Model, from what you've got now. Make sure to check the Tub Capacity of your current Washer and the new Models, to make sure that you at least get the same Capacity, instead of getting a smaller Capacity Model, without even knowing that happened, until you get it installed and try to put any somewhat larger Loads of Laundry in it.

Please keep us informed as to what you decide on and which you end up getting, as far as Top-Load or Front-Load.

Peace and Happy Whirlpool Washing and Drying, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...

 

[bajaespuma]

metaphor-o-mat:

Unfortunately, for me, top loaders have gone the way of manual transmission on a car. For my daily driving, frought with traffic and slow-downs, my aging left leg is tired of the old clutch pedal and my new cars from now on will have to have an automatic tranny. My fleet of vintage sports cars will still have a 4 on the floor.

 

[irishwashguy]

I like david's suggestion--------

i have looked at the Speed Queen when they first broke away from Maytag and I have to say for the Money, you really can't go wrong with it. they are best known for comercial equipment.They use parts that are long wearing.Plus the stainless steel tubs are Fabulous!! I know they sell them here in Portland. I looked at them at of all places, at a Maytag dealer in Olimpia Washington.Speaking of which, are you planning to buy a pair, or just a Washer?

 

[brettsomers]

only speed queen downside...

the capacity is less that the largest capacity topload conventional kenmore/whirlpool and much less than a front loader. suspect the queen would far outlast a modern frontloader though.

 

[brisnat81]

Expected SQ Life is about 10 years

The SQ machines have been available in AU as Kleenmaid since 88 or 89 and the machines when they work are great.

However they are prone to leaky lower seals anywhere between 5 and 10 years and in AU the cost in parts alone is about $250AUD and they are much harder to fit, than a seal kit on a DD Whirlpool.

When they work they're great machines, however they still have a weak point like any modern washer

 

[brettsomers]

leaky lower seals

can others expand on this?

 

[sarah]

We Got A Washer

Hi Y'all,

I checked out the LG frontloader and couldn't find a bad thing about it. I dreamed front loader dreams all night long. No more trips to the laundromat for the king sized blanket...

Then I got practical and bought essentially the same machine we've had for eleven years with a slight upgrade. The front loader was too expensive on the front end and likely to be something expensive and beyond my husband's skills to fix. As nice as it sounded, it ultimately seemed like having a Ford Expedition and paying for a big truck all the time so that we'd have it for the rare times we wanted to pile in four adults and four kids...

When the kids are in school and I'm working again, the time lost in the laundromat may be more precious than the cost of the front loader and service, but we'll revisit the issue then...

For now, I have a Whirlpool LSW9700P. It's right in the middle of their top loader line. It has the largest capacity of their top loaders, dual action agitation, hot water sensor (which seemed like a good idea) and a mechanical control panel. It seems to have a bit larger capacity than our old one--LLR9245DQ0--but I haven't been able to find capacity information for the old one anywhere. Our appliance repairman says he thinks Whirlpool makes the best washers on the market, and our local parts supplier used to say that too until they started selling GEs a couple of years ago.

Thanks for all the advice; it's washing its third load as I type, and my husband says, "Somehow, the clothes just seem cleaner."

Sarah

http://www.whirlpool.com/catalog/product.jsp?src=WASHERS&cat=115&prod=245

 

[brisnat81]

The components are as follows

The components when you dissasemble are as follows:

Agitator
Drive Hub
Basket
Basket Drive
Lower Seal (Rubber cone with a spring inside
Lower bearing which is above the transmission and below the outer bowl.

All of these are always under water except the lower bearing and can get quite rusted on.

The seal underneath the basket drive plate, perishes over time, and you end up with a rusty wire sping with bits of rubber attached to it.

This allows water to leak out around the drive shaft and all over the lower bearing.

To replace the lower bearing You have to remove the outer tub.

A seal replacement kit comes with the following:
Agitator Drive Hub
Basket Drive
Lower Seal

Plus they reccomend you buy the bearing seperately and reinstall.

Its unusual to end up with water in the transmission and therefore displaced water, instead oil just leaks out into the bottom the machine, and shorts out the connector that is right at water spray level.

Its important to note that in AU a Kleenmaid/SQ is worth about $2000AUD so a $250 repair is cheap, assuming it hasnt damaged the motor or wiring underneath.

However by the 10 year period the paint has started to bubble on most of them and the rust quickly takes over. The only porcelien enamel is on the outer tub, the rest of it appears to be powdercoated or acrylic. This is on the domestic machines, the Commercial ones may be different.

Home - Kleenmaid Appliances - Simply the Best You Can Own

Kleenmaid produces high quality ovens, cooktops, rangehoods and other appliances. Available with repair services and spare parts.

www.kleenmaid.com.au

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Hi! Sarah and Mr. Whirlpool Repairmaster:

I happen to have both the Literature showing your new WP Washer and your older WP Washer, with your exact Models listed.

Your new WP Model #LSW-9700-P is a 3.2 cu-ft Capacity.

Your older {1995-year} WP Model #LLR-9245-D is a 2.5 cu-ft Capacity.

I hadn't thought about the "ATC" Auto Water Temp feature, since for me it is a "Must" on any and all of my New/Newer Washers, so I didn't think about suggesting you look at those particular Models of Washers. I'm glad that you did get the feature on your new Washer, it does make a big deal with a more precise Water Temp, for Warm and Cold Water Filling. It is especially important in areas where the Winter Months are extra Cold and the Summer Months are extra Hot, to adjust the incoming Water, for both the Warm and Cold Fill's.

Enjoy your new WP Washer and I believe that you've already found out that the new Washer does have a much Larger Capacity to it, over you older WP Washer's Capacity.

Peace, Happy WP Washing and Fun Times, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...

 

[brettsomers]

whirlpool

for the price range, you prolly made the best choice. and stop overloading the machine!

 

[mistervain]

Hey Sarah--you probably made the best choice, especially with a family, to get the top loader. They are cheaper and you have more control over the machine. I would've gone for a Frigidaire, I just love all of their appliances.

And it's better to take the comforters to the laundromat anyway--the commercial FL's are WAY superior to the domestic versions: I don't believe for one second that a pint of water per fill will get a huge comforter clean in one of those LG's!

 

[brettsomers]

ive washed comforters and pillows in the Duet, and the Duet does an excellent job. if it didnt, it wouldnt sell.