Whirlpool VMW washer

[maytaglover68]

This was a washer that was released in 2010 and is still manufactured today. Not a fan of them and are prone to many problems, some of the most frequent problems I encounter with them is the suspension rods, splutch, or the shift actuator.

Another very common failure for these is a loud screeching or grinding noise during wash. As for bearings, I have many roaring machines laying around but I didn’t get any roaring ones today.

What issue do you have with your VMW? How old is it?

Although they do seem to self balance thanks to their suspension system, while direct drives didn’t self balance.

VMWs don’t have a brake so they take a long time to slow down, which is why they have a lid lock.

 

[agiflow]

You already have other threads about this why are you starting a new one?

 

[Chetlaham]

My issue with the VMW is that it exists as a full size washer in the first place. VMW came from a compact model you rolled around to this sink and was technically not intended to be ever adapted to a full size machine. But Whirlpool shamelessly did. That is all you need to know. Of course you're going to have problems. Thats like sticking a 1 HP motor where you actually need a 5 HP motor. Parts are pushed beyond their limits are destined to fail. It is common sense.

 

 

Want my honest opinion? Bring back the direct drives in the most brutal, shameless, unapologetically simple no nonsense way possible. That is what the world really wants and needs. Precision built quality, all commercial components, in the most straightforward implementation.

 

 

I've already have ideas in mind and I don't care if I offend anyone showing them off. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cfz2882]

VMW problem areas for me

I don't repair washers as a business-just sometimes repair machines worthy of salvage
-Failed main seal/ruined bearings-several of these.
-bad PC boardsn a '10 Bravos,visably bad capacitors were noticed-replaced these and machine fixed-this is a "collection"machine,and gets rotated into use fro time to time.
-one had a bad lid switch/lock.
-a piece of broken piston ring in pump of one
-a guy told me his (vmw)washer quit:symptoms were of bad shift actuator-i handed him one from a washer i had just junked,he said it fixed his washer
-I have a 2020 cheapie Roper i was given ~3 years ago and placed into storage-with all this VMW discussion lately,might drag that out and see what is up with it

 

[agiflow]

I have not used any 1 VMW washer over 2 years, so can't really comment on major problems that arose. I do like them though.

If I was to get another one it would only be the Maytag commercial or whirlpool. The agitation in those two is definitely stronger.

A direct drive overall is better than any one of them by a long shot. I used to defend the VMW but they are really not a worthy replacement.

Whirlpool could have made these the most durable machines yet but craftsmanship and engineering went out the window a long time ago.

 

[Chetlaham]

Pat, the only real solution is for Whirlpool to set up brand new tooling, molding, manufacturing and bring back the direct drives. Re-engineered with parts that last. Offer BOL all the way up to TOL versions. It will give people exactly what they're are looking for.    

 

[agiflow]

reply # 5

Chet 100% agree

 

[d-todd]

Chetlaham, the machine of yesterday that WP made was called the World Washer. I think they made the platform to be adaptable to multiple countries, adding or subtracting a component as needed. For example, for some applications the drain hose would be simply laid down on the ground instead of having a drain pump. I didn't think this machine was very easy to repair, especially figuring out the cryptic keystrokes needed to test it.

Today's machine that we call the VMW or Vertical Modular Washer has some similarities, but I don't call them the same, imho. On the other hand, the similarities have led to a buddy and I calling it the Anti-World washer as a joke. These machines seem to have very consistent problems as mentioned previously. You faulted WP for using the WMW platform for a full size machine, but I fault them not for that but for using the platform on ultra high capacity/high featured machine. In other words, there seems to be some overlap with the rotor/stator machines.

There is a new problem that has appeared in the field, and that is a fault in the pressure switch on the board leading to constant draining. WP knows about it, but doesn't have the boards to fix the problem, hence a PR problem for them. They will fix it within the serial number range for free if they have the part.

 

[Chetlaham]

The world washer and the VMW are iterations of the same design. The design goes back to the 70s from the Asian market where washer are typically smaller in size. The world washer and the VMW that followed just aren't beefed up enough for a full sized washer.

 

 

The mechanism that was right for the load and duty imposed on it by a typical full size US wash basket were the direct drives. Direct drives were built around replacing the original belt drives which could hold more laundry than a typical compact or Asian washer when all was taken into account.

 

 

 

Pressure traducers are asking for problems as seen here. Whirlpool should put primary and separate backup analog diaphragm pressure switches in each washer and no look back.

 

 

[maytaga806]

How many threads about these washers do we really need?