Whirlpool Transmissions Oil Question

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Reply #19

They switched to the 3 pad design since it allowed everything to continue running at full speed when the spin engaged and the older style of clutch tends to grab a little and bogs everything down when it engages into the spin which can cause a suds lock and the newer style of clutch can still suds lock but not as badly with the older style of Whirlpool clutch before 1968.
 
Got the new clutch installed and installed the external parts on the transmission. Only thing I have left to do is install it back in the machine and see how it works with the new clutch.

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Here’s a video I made explaining how the spin works (requested by a viewer) and made videos showing my progress of getting it all back together. Everything seems to be working as it should and definitely works better with the new clutch and I had to adjust the clutch so it would engage properly.

 
Now here’s one observation I’ve noticed is you know how a Maytag helical transmission sounds when in operation? The transmission now makes a somewhat similar sound but that’s probably the gear oil doing it’s job by lubricating and sticking to the gears in operation.

So far I’ve ran 4 loads of laundry through it and definitely seems to be running smoother with the gear oil in it.
 
Reply #25

Why are you replying to a thread from last year? And keep replying to threads from years ago and asking the same question over and over again? I know you are anxious for answers but it will take patience and persistence to answer all the questions you have about gearnouls and how a Whirlpool direct drive transmission works.
 
gear oil reasons

The reasons why I'm stuck asking the question whether the GE filter-flo and the whirlpool direct drives use the same oil is because they smell the same. So it makes me wonder if they both use the same oil. It's a pressing question that nags me. When I sit in front of a whirlpool direct drive, I am immediately reminded of my GE filter-flo when I smell the gear oil while it's running.
 
Here’s a video of someone doing a oil change to a GE Filter Flo washer and doing other various repairs to it. It appears that STP oil is being used to replace whatever oil was in this transmission originally.

 
Whirlpool always used SAE 60 weight non detergent oil for their gearcases and that is what you purchased NOS. That is not what was used in the final years of the DD machines or the replacement gearcases today. I do not know what they switched to but I’m sure it’s not petroleum based and is definitely thinner.
 
Gear oil and automotive oil have different viscosity ratings. Here's a couple of charts that show the difference.

From my own experience, 75/140 synthetic gear oil is slightly thinner than conventional 80/90. 85/140 synthetic is thicker than 80/90.

Viscosity choice should be chosen on several different parameters such as operation temperatures, internal/excessive wear, operational noise, and known issues. One could probably use 85/140 in a belt drive Whirlpool/Kenmore with no problems while that would probably be too thick in the DD. DD's are known to have issues with neutral draining when the oil is cold. It would probably be best to use a 75/140 oil in that case.

I used a 75/140 in my 906 when I rebuilt it. With the lid down, the noise level is identical to Maytag transmission oil or conventional 80/90. With the lid up, one could juuuuuust barely hear the gears (sector gear/pinion gear) meshing. It's extremely faint, but there. This is not the case with 80/90 gear oil or Maytag transmission oil. However, I can cold soak that machine down to 38F (maybe even lower) with a tub full of 38F water and it'll bang right up to speed with zero sluggishness. That's not happening with the other 2 oils. Since I don't run my machines at those temps on a regular basis, a 75/140 oil really isn't necessary but I used it for experimental purposes.

I have 85/140 in the transmission of my A902 washer. When I finally get done slapping it together, I'll try running it at different temperatures this winter and see what it can handle. It's won't really be an apples to apples comparison since those early transmissions hold less oil and less water/clothes in the smaller tub. The thicker 85/140 oil is closer to the viscosity of what Maytag used back then.

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