Worst Washer

[autowasherfreak]

A friend of mine when I was growing had a Kenmore belt drive, BOL the water temperature was controlled by the wash time on the timer 14 was hot, 12 warm, and 10 cold if I remember correctly and only two water levels high and low. She lived and worked on a farm and had two children and was constantly doing laundry, and the only problems that she ever had with it was an occasional belt would break and I think the timer was replaced once. She also had a problem with the water valves because of the very hard well water. Other than those minor problems the machine was great, she used the hell out of it especially when doing work clothes.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

About the agitate stroke on Whirlpool DDs...

I am right there with everyone else in that I dislike the short, fast agitation stroke. I am quite sure though that this was designed on purpose as a solution to creating enough water current in a tall slender basket to allow for good roll-over. I'm not saying it was the right decision, but I think that's why it was done.

If you look at the history of Whirlpool's belt-drive machines, little to no real development was ever done on the standard capacity machines in regard to functional design alterations that would affect wash performance. From the beginning, there were Roto-swirl, straight-vane, and Surgilator agitators, and they lasted the entire near 40-year production span. The basket size didn't change much, and I don't think anyone ever complained about them other than for lack of overall capacity.

The large capacity machines though had initial problems moving clothes. The first agitators were enlarged versions of the originals, but they tore up transmissions. The next batch (the penta agitators) didn't wear the transmissions, but people complained of lack of rollover (when over-stuffed). The Dual-Action was the result, which is better, but a highly stuffed machine can still clog-up.

The problem was attributed to the height of large capacity baskets, since they were taller than standard, but not much wider. Seems that clothes could only 'climb' and roll-over a certain height in a basket with the long stroke. Since the DD machines are narrower and even taller than the baskets in a BD, something needed to be done to ensure that clothes would circulate. Hence the 'blender effect' you see in a DD vs. the dramatic storm going on in the water of a BD. Since Maytag went to a similar short stroke, they must have come to the same conclusion.

I think if WP were to go back to the long agitation strokes, with all else the same, the water would become more turbulent but less able to "carry" the clothes in a current from basket top to bottom.

Speed Queen still uses the nice agitation arch, but I think their tubs are wider and shallower, yes? Did Maytag's short stroke result in clothes wear? I suspect the 2.4/2.5 cu ft. large capacity Whirlpool DDs are worse with this than the 3.0/3.2 cu ft. super capacity models.

Gordon

 

[70series]

Everythingold:

I agree with you about the slow agitation/fast spin on the DD Kenmore/Whirlpools. On the 90 series we had, that was the speed combination we used for average loads. The clothes were cleaned very well, and nothing was ruined or worn. The only times we used the Heavy Duty Fast/Fast speed was when washing large loads of sturdy items.

Have a good one,
James

 

[jonvance1990]

Although I loved these washers, both the 1970s GE portable with the little disc not agitator, and 1980s or early 1990s GE portable washers that had WCI mechanical built in them were very wobbly and to be honest I actually find wobbly washing machines amusing, I'm just saying some people might not like how wobbly those washers were so their pretty much one of the worst wobbly washers in my opinion.

 

[jonvance1990]

Another thing, a reply for Ttuee.

Shredmores used to scare the crap out of me. My grandma had a Shredmore from 1989? to 2006 and the agitator made loud clicking noises and around the time I became fascinated with washing machines which was before I turned two that machine used to scare me. but eventually I got used to it.

 

[whitekingd]

75 or so Kenmore BOL

One water level, one speed, one temperature. All this is actually fine, except for the Penta-Vane agitator. Two inch paddles, and a huge wash tub! Rollover? HHAAAAA! No wash action to speak of. Just, awful!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[davy1063]

I find it hard to believe....

that the Calypso was not mentioned anywhere in this thread. It has taken such a beating previously.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Dave -

I mentioned it in the sixth reply. A friend calls them 'collapso"

 

[davy1063]

LOL, my bad. Must be the 45 year old eyes.

 

[robliverpool]

My worst washer was what i thought was a bargain, a Haier 1400rpm washer. bought from comet and it took ages to wash and the clothes never spun it kept saying un balanced load, so tried everything to no avail. called comet they sent engineer out said machine was faulty, like i didnt know, they sent out a replacement machine and that one done the exact same thing so i have stuck with my faithful old hotpoint thats never gave me any problems except fot the odd drain pump change

i wouldnt have a haier washer even if they were giving them away for free

 

[panthera]

any WCI 'product'

I won't dignify them with the name, washer.

My mom fell for them, thinking she was buying a 'real' Frigidaire several decades back.

When I finally got around to hauling it out of the basement, I was surprised to find I could do it buy myself. All plastic, there was nothing there to it, at all.

And that 'stroke'. God's, worse than the fourth wife in a harem gets when she's last up for the night.

Haier, by the way, has been improving their quality. Their cooling division now has the parts assembled in the US for their NA market and they actually have a better look and feel than GE products. The life expectancy is still too early to tell, but if they could get their washers and dishwashers (make the washers look good) up, that would be so cool.

 

[everythingold]

The Calypso deserves a special place on the wall of shame. Really expensive garbage.

 

[nmaineman36]

I would have to say the worst I have ever used is what I am using now and thats the Maytag/Samsung built Neptunes here in Mass. The washer takes forever and its on its last leg. I get a TE code meaning there is something going on in the sump or board. Once this washer dies then we are getting the new GE Hydrowave top loader. Its will be either that or bring a washer down from Maine that I have in the basement of my condo. And that will be my Miele washer that will come here.
And whats all this about Direct Drive Whirlpools? I have one and not had anything rip or shred. One thing I do make sure is that all zippers are closed so the agitator vanes dont get nicked up. They are smooth and that makes a differnce...plus I dont overload. If you wash a BobLoad in a direct drive machine then you get what you ask for. No pity for you! And also adjusting the wash time helps as well. My Whirlpool has the Gentle wash feature where the cycle starts off in High 180 strokes then steps down to a nice 120 strokes. Plus I am using the 5 vane Surgilator with the softer vanes and filter.
The 2nd worst washer I have used is a Speed Queen solid tub. I killed that machine. Worst sand removal and detergent ''sand'' left over at the bottom of the tub. Extraction was something to be desired and capacity wasnt there. But it did wash well.

 

[bobbins]

70's top loader westinghouse - oil leakage on to the clothes. Washed good, but not very good of extracting water out of the clothes.

Bendix flextub top loader

 

[angus]

First generation of the plastic GE's (circa 1997) - average life span of 18 months with multiple repairs along the way.

 

[foraloysius]

I wanted to contribute to this thread, but I can't make up my mind! LOL!

 

[eddy1210]

Louis

Well how about your opinion of the american machines you used when you were here? Which impressed you the most and the least?

 

[gansky1]

Nobody has mentioned those "ghastly" GE front load washers made by Little Swan? I've seen several of these (trying) to run and they are just a joke. Friday, I saw one try to balance for the final spin and it took nearly 20 minutes to get it. The machine had skipped all the previous spins between wash and rinses. Considering it was a load of king-size sheets, truly a pathetic showing. This GE was about 18 months old, the recent CR report on washers gave them pretty high marks this round but the jury is still out on reliability.

For vintage machines, I think the Franklin design (Wizard, Coronado, later Kelvinator, etc.) were pretty skanky.

 

[foraloysius]

Eddy

With the risk of getting slapped I remember how I loved all the washers in Robert's basement and being impressed with them. Except for one, the Timeline Norge. It was noisy and the rollover was far from impressive. Very unlike a certain Speed Queen!

 

[dubstar85]

Hotpoint Washer Driers...

I had a 9934 and it ripped clothes to shreds if you didn't have the 'gentle action' button pressed! The hot air vent stuck out a bit too far into the drum and if you were washing a full load then clothes would get caught and ripped. They were even on telly! Watchdogs "Hotpoint washing line of shame"

The machine we had only lasted a few years and the cold water valve failed so it would stop at the rinse cycles. My mums friends machine had the same problem.

There was only one thing i liked about it and it was the spin sequence. It was my first experience with graduated spins.

Here's a picture I lifted off an eaby listing i think!

David