Thread Number: 22611
What to buy? |
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Post# 354220   6/2/2009 at 20:33 (5,413 days old) by wetguymd (Maryland)   |   | |
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My Whirlpool Duet FL has bitten the dust after only 5 years... bearings gone.... I want to get a good vintage machine to use as a daily driver. I really have missed the TL action. I have seen so many different praises for so many different machines on here from Filter Flo to Maytag to Whirlpool. I had a Filter Flo and a Maytag years ago. Any advice on what to get and look for? I keep looking at sites like Craigslist to see what I can find in my area (Maryland)but haven't found too much. Ideas? Thanks!!
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Post# 354223 , Reply# 1   6/2/2009 at 20:44 (5,413 days old) by qsd-dan (West)   |   | |
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You really can't go wrong with any of those if they were properly taken care of. As far as Whirlpool/Kenmore, I'd stick with a belt driven machine. Maytag, stick with the older helical trans with the tall tub and turquoise powerfin agitator (pre June of 1986). Also, stay away from the pre 1966 models as they all have the smaller tub and parts are getting VERY difficult to find for them now. Be prepared to do a little work on any of the above 3. The good ones are all 20+ years old now. |
Post# 354231 , Reply# 2   6/2/2009 at 21:04 (5,413 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)   |   | |
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What year did the older Maytag washers start using the white extra size DEEP tub? |
Post# 354233 , Reply# 3   6/2/2009 at 21:08 (5,413 days old) by qsd-dan (West)   |   | |
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Post# 354377 , Reply# 5   6/3/2009 at 12:13 (5,412 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)   |   | |
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Oh yeah, definitely go for the older washers and rebuild with new parts and refinishes. That's what I working on. The older Maytag A712 or A612 and LAT9806AAW combined with interchanged parts. If I find a LAT9904AAW I'll use that machine instead of the LAT9806. |
Post# 354784 , Reply# 6   6/5/2009 at 06:34 (5,411 days old) by washendry (pinconning,mich)   |   | |
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Lyle, I have 2 different maytag sets here in Mich, you could also get the Kenmore Vistaview (in pink), let me know! Kim |
Post# 354841 , Reply# 7   6/5/2009 at 12:08 (5,410 days old) by everythingold (Grand Rapids, Michigan)   |   | |
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Post# 354896 , Reply# 8   6/5/2009 at 18:06 (5,410 days old) by xraytech (Rural southwest Pennsylvania )   |   | |
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Post# 355019 , Reply# 11   6/6/2009 at 10:48 (5,409 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)   |   | |
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Post# 355144 , Reply# 12   6/6/2009 at 22:31 (5,409 days old) by wetguymd (Maryland)   |   | |
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Thanks for all the great suggestions. Now, as the songs says "My head is in a spin"!! LOL... I have many ideas to go with and I really want one of each... however if I did I would be divorced! LOL. No, all kidding aside... I think I will look for a Maytag set, maybe a A712. I have always loved the wash action of a surgilator but I think Maytag will be the winner. I may also look for a good filter flow and alternate between the two for a "daily driver" set-up. I am so convinced that the machines made these days are only made to last a couple years and then you have to replace them. I guess that is a great marketing tool! Think about it... they certainly will sell more machines since its cheaper to just buy a new one instead of having it repaired. Thanks again guys for all the suggestions!! I really appriciate it. |
Post# 355206 , Reply# 13   6/7/2009 at 04:48 (5,409 days old) by whitekingd ()   |   | |
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A 60's or 70's Kenmore would be my choice. Great, great machines. |
Post# 355223 , Reply# 15   6/7/2009 at 09:04 (5,408 days old) by panthera (Rocky Mountains)   |   | |
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All the vintage toploaders washed well. Each, however, had strengths and weaknesses - as well as parts availabilty problems today. A deep-tub Maytag built back when they were real Maytags and not Amanananatags or some such trash, will not be a major parts problem for some time to come. I'd go two-speed and not Fabrimatic, tho'. A Whirlpool belt drive is going to require some searching for the most exotic parts - but there are more Whirlmores around than any thing else. Just don't expect your local Sears to have a clue. A Thumper is, of course, the only perfect TL. Unfortunately, parts are already a serious problem and you are not looking at a life-long daily driver. Sigh. Filter-flos suffer from tubs rusting out. Otherwise they have so many advantages, that would be my choice. I live with cats and dogs and they just plain do a better job on pet hair than all the others. |
Post# 355297 , Reply# 17   6/7/2009 at 15:34 (5,408 days old) by panthera (Rocky Mountains)   |   | |
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Well, yes and no. It's relative. I mean we are basically all in agreement that nothing but trash was built by anyone in the US after when, 1995? Give or take a year or so. So anything decent is getting on in years. But, Maytags were built to last, Maytag didn't change many components over decades or they remain interchangeable and really icky stuff like bearings tend to be bog standard. That's why I said they're pretty much going to be around for a while. Now, personally, I'll take a pre-rollermatic Thumper any day..... |