Thread Number: 26111
The short life of a Whirlpool Duet 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 400865   12/20/2009 at 13:10 (5,233 days old) by norfolksouthern ()        

I picked this up at a local Rent-A-Center. It cleaned up nice, and overall the condition seems reasonable. But sadly, it has a few issues and may be on its last legs. It's harder to tell by looking at the outside. But rather, one must pear under the toe panel to get an idea of its overall condition. So far, I discovered a slow leak from where the water inlet is. And it's not the boot. This has caused some rust on one of the shocks. The boot WILL have to be replaced eventually, and this will cost at least $100.00 for that part alone.

So far, this machine has done a good job of cleaning. It didn't turn my winter parkas inside out, and it handled my queen sized comforters and pillows with no complaint. But I am saddened by having to take it back because of these issues. If I don't buy this machine outright, it may end up in the crusher. I guess I'll have to put Alice back to work.

Sorry about the oversized photo.

NorfolkSouthern




Post# 400867 , Reply# 1   12/20/2009 at 13:15 (5,233 days old) by norfolksouthern ()        
Detergent Dispenser

 It was bad when I got it, plenty of deposits that looked like rust or perhaps it could be a red mold. Not sure. But, it cleaned out for the most part and there is no evidence of foul odors. Of course, I thoroughly cleaned where I could. Then, I gave her some meds (a couple Affresh tablets) and had her do a "whitest whites" cycle to help clean her pluming.

I couldn't get all of it, though.

Post# 400868 , Reply# 2   12/20/2009 at 13:17 (5,233 days old) by norfolksouthern ()        
Small tear on the boot

 OK, the tear is only on the flange and is not the cause of any leak. I tried repairing it with some rubber glue, but it just peeled off after it dried. If anybody has ideas, I'd like to know!

Post# 400869 , Reply# 3   12/20/2009 at 13:17 (5,233 days old) by hoover1100 (U.K.)        
$100 for a door seal!?

 No wonder they end up in the landfill so fast!

Post# 400872 , Reply# 4   12/20/2009 at 13:23 (5,233 days old) by norfolksouthern ()        
Rusted Shock

 So far, she runs quiet, even during the fastest spin. So, her bearings are still good. However, some water has been dripping over the years, causing one of the strut legs to rust. To get her fixed, the whole front panel and boot will have to come off. Plus, a new boot ordered and obviously a new shock. This could make a $300.00 expired rental into a $500.00 machine, or maybe more. That's almost enough to buy a brand new Speed Queen top loader! Again, sorry about the oversized photo.

Post# 400873 , Reply# 5   12/20/2009 at 13:29 (5,233 days old) by norfolksouthern ()        
This is very depressing.

 She did such a wonderful job on a couple jackets. This almost rips me apart, having to have them come and pick her up. I just don't think there's much I can do to try to save her, except for maybe negotiate a lower price. And the real horror of all this, is that I'm not aware of them donating to Habitat or the Reuse Center. While my Frigidaire 1-18, "Alice" may live to be 100, this poor girl will most likely die an untimely death, as Toyota parts.

Note how the shocks should look, there is no rust in the right suspension.

Post# 400875 , Reply# 6   12/20/2009 at 13:32 (5,233 days old) by norfolksouthern ()        
I forgot to mention:

 Her "date of birth" was some time in March, 2006. She's less than 4 years old.

NorfolkSouthern

Post# 400881 , Reply# 7   12/20/2009 at 14:38 (5,233 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia)        

ronhic's profile picture
The water inlet leak may be a slightly split inlet hose on the machine side of the valve in or near the dispenser draw - my old hoover had a 1/4" split in the hose here which caused a drip or a loose or split hose from the dispenser to the drum both of which should be easy to fix...

as for the suspension leg, if it still works, why not clean it up with something?

Mind, if you have had to pay good money for this machine, send it back and look for another one...

Post# 400885 , Reply# 8   12/20/2009 at 14:58 (5,233 days old) by norfolksouthern ()        

I am at least going to try to negotiate with them. The repairs shouldn't be too difficult. It's just that they would have to remove the machine, and take it to their shop to have it worked on. And by the way: They transport their machines without shipping bolts!

On the shock leg: I have some fine steel wool, which is good for removing rust and shining up metal surfaces.

NorfolkSouthern

Post# 400913 , Reply# 9   12/20/2009 at 17:33 (5,233 days old) by mark_wpduet (Lexington KY)        
OMG

 mark_wpduet's profile picture
That looks like a 9200. I have the 9300 (near 5 years old) and it still sparkles. That thing looks like it was abused

Post# 400952 , Reply# 10   12/20/2009 at 20:13 (5,233 days old) by toggleswitch2 ()        

~If I don't buy this machine outright, it may end up in the crusher.

OK. So it is a rental. Did you acquire it in this condtion or has it deteriorated, due to normal wear-and-tear, while beign used by you? It is noble to want to "save" if from the Krusher; but in all honesty EVERYTHING will eventualy end up there, and it is not anything special, desirable or collectible at this time. I would say don't buy it unless the price is $50 or less. Period end of story. Can't you just send it back and ask for a different one, since it is a rental?

Beware of renting and leasing household effects. Oftentimes it is a way of the lessor to screw the lessee out of over 20% effective annual interest and circumvent "usury" laws, since technically it is not interest charges you are paying. Many states rescinded or adjusted usury laws in the 1970's to deal with double-digit inflation that was commonplace then, so now the consumer is no longer protected. Perhaps a better way to have restated the law was to say that interest rates may not exceed 5% above the federal funds rate, LIBOR or some such appropriate benchmark.

Rental centers are often seen in poor or economically challenged neighborhoods. Frequently the appeal is that the payment are due weekly, which often is how some workers are paid. This is of great interest to those without banks accounts or who are not able to accrue (put aside money for) both their monthly rent and debts from their pay which is weekly.

International friends: Hourly workers here are often paid weekly. Salaried workers are generally either paid twice monthly (easier for accounting purposes) or every other week (PITA for accounting purposes). American friends: Some Europeans are paid once a month. At least I was when I worked for the American arm of a British firm. We got paid on the 25th for that month's work. Lawd help you if an unepected birthday or anniversary or emergecny expense came up and it wasn't in your budget!

Please excuse me if I have jumped to conclusions, but I am not following your situation or the need to rent very clearly. Anyhoo I will read this thread again, becase much of the logic involed is not coming to me. I think I must have missed something!

Best regards!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO toggleswitch2's LINK
Post# 400961 , Reply# 11   12/20/2009 at 21:12 (5,233 days old) by norfolksouthern ()        
Actually;

 Mark_wpduet: This is a GHW9150, which today would likely be classified as the Duet Sport. It was still an $1,100.00 machine back when it was new.

This was just a two-week rental, Toggleswitch2. So, it was acquired in this condition. Temporarily, of course. The goal here, was to determine how one of the modern HE machines work. Well, I accomplished that goal for $20.00, without having to make a $900.00 investment in a new HE front loader.

Obviously, a modern high-efficiency machine is not going to be collectible any time soon, if ever. So, it's really nothing to raise an issue over should it eventually end up on the pile. But what's sad, is that it is only 4 years old. There are a lot of delicate plastic trim pieces and quite a bit of thin sheet metal in the chassis. While it performed admirably, I don't think the results were as good as what I could get out of my belt-drive portable.

I once purchased a direct-drive Whirlpool portable from a different Rent-A-Center many years ago, and it was like a diamond in the rough. It was priced far cheaper than a "scratch and dent" at the local Sears Outlet, but had fewer flaws. In fact, it was almost totally free of any blemish after I removed all that crud. I was hoping to get the same results here. But, that was back in 1990 when portables were truly robust. They were made to last back then, like the old center-dial Maytags. Today, I guess nothing's made like that any more unless it's a Miele or something from Alliance out of Wisconsin (I'm sure you know where this leads).

While this goes back to the Rent-A-Center, it looks like I'll be off to browse for new Speed Queen.

NorfolkSouthern

Post# 400966 , Reply# 12   12/20/2009 at 22:11 (5,233 days old) by toggleswitch2 ()        

Genius!

I get it now!


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