Whirlpool's new DA washer

[Chetlaham]

On the plus side

These machines look like the easiest to service machines ever created. If the parts were just a hair more durable they would be worth it.

 

[vacerator]

True,

there is not much to them. Back in the day, when my dad was a service tech for Sears, he mostly replaced timers, belts, mix valves, pumps, the little things. The occasional motor.
A heavily used washer, or one in a larger family or abused occasionally needed a clutch or a spin tube rebuild with new oilite bearings. if the machine was very old, Sears used to offer a credit towards a new one if the customer had a service policy when the repair cost was too high.
Once, a Ford engineer argued with him about his dryer motor. The ignitor wasn't operating. The customer insisted the motor had nothing to do with it. My dad explained that the motor had the ignitor energizer in it's start circuitry. He didn't buy it, and refused to have it repaired. My dad then asked why his newer Ford Galaxie 500 was hard starting.

 

[Chetlaham]

The dryer had no tech sheet to show the guy the gas valve passes through a centrifugal switch.

 

[vacerator]

Cheltenham,

I don't know if machines came with tech sheets back in the 70's. Seems I recall a large sticker on the backs with a wiring schematic?
My dad was a stickler. If you P/O'd him, he may not have offered the info to the guy. My dad likely figured if the guy was so smart, he could fix it himself. Why did he even call for service? Maybe the guy just said he was an engineer? Then there is a difference between a mechanical, and an electrical engineer.

 

[Chetlaham]

Big difference lol. But yahhh, I think you are right, in the 70s it was glued to the back.

 

[mrb627]

Engineer -

The guy in the front of the train. LOL

Malcolm

 

[vacerator]

Right Malcom!

and if he/she doesn't hit the red button once every few minutes or when the buzzer sounds, the trains slows to a stop.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Requires use of HE detergent, only 2 tablespoons max.  Does not sound like a machine that fills all the way and that agitator skirt looks like it only has two vanes. This sounds like a sick puppy.

 

[Chetlaham]

I think that is only the case when deep wash is not selected, at least I hope. The agitator looks like a true DA, so Im guessing (hoping) that it fills at least 2/3s up on deep wash.

 

[vacerator]

The drive system

was fine for the smaller compact washers. They're just not robust enough for heavy loads in my opinion. The splutch gears may be very durable, but once the seals give out, the gear case fills with water, and fails.
In my honest opinion, Whirlpool needs to design something else. It will only be the fourth time after all. The Clyde division has been through two major tooling changes.
The original belt drive design from the Nineteen Hundred corporation, then the 1986 released direct drive. The helcon splutch VMW gear box pieces have always been made in Mexico.

 

[Chetlaham]

Good info, Thanks Where are VMW constructed?

 

[vacerator]

Final assembly

for the USA is Clyde Ohio, along with front loading Whirlpool Duets, and Maytag Epic and the top of the line front loaders.
Parts come from Reynosa Mexico.
Dryers are assembled in Findlay Ohio, and or Marion. Dishwashers in Findlay. Ranges and ovens in Marion, and Mexico. Refrigerators all Mexico.
Only headquarters and engineering and design are still in Benton Harbor.

 

[vacerator]

In ligth of

culture shifts, and young people not wanting factory work anymore, I think we will see entire appliances imported more. Not overnight, so long as sales are strong enough. Whirlpool isn't looking to put near retirees on the street before they are ready, I hope.

 

[runematic]

Refrigerators all Mexico -- NOT true.  Amana, IA makes the bottom mount refrigs.  They also do freezers in Ottawa, Oh.

 

Maytag Epic  -- has been out of production for some time & was made in Germany.  Now the Maxima is in the US.

 

 

[vacerator]

I was trying to

remember the "Maxima". So the Epic was built by Bauknecht?
I didn't know they made any fridges stateside, since WP closed the Fort Smith Arkansas plant. Glad they do.