Thread Number: 40692
2012 Crosley (Whirlpool) VMW washer and dryer pair
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Post# 601947   6/8/2012 at 13:49 (4,311 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)        

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Before I start in with my story, I'll share a few pictures of a 2012 Crosley washer and dryer pair built by Whirlpool.

We'll start with the washer. This is the model on the sales floor.






Post# 601949 , Reply# 1   6/8/2012 at 13:49 (4,311 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)        

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The dryer

Post# 601950 , Reply# 2   6/8/2012 at 13:50 (4,311 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)        

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The actual pair lined up in the laundry closet

Post# 601951 , Reply# 3   6/8/2012 at 13:59 (4,311 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)        
Now for the story

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My first washer friend that I met here on AW.org lives about 30 miles away. His parents are moving to the area next week, and he has been busily being the GREAT son and is preparing them an apartment unitl they decide if they want to buy, and where, etc.

They are leaving their well-used Maytag Atlantis and a KitchenAid dryer behind, so tbis interesting Whirlpool - Crosley VMW washer and 29-inch dryer have been bought for the new place.

I installed them Tuesday night. The dryer is what you'd expect from a 29-inch dryer - fast, capable, and predictable. The washer was a first for us both in using the new belt-drive WP washer.

I have to say, I was for the most part impressed. The wash action is authoritative, not overly aggressive, NICE LONG arch, and I can't see why laundry wouldn't wash very nicely in this machine. I would not hesitate to suggest one of these machines if someone is interested.


Post# 601955 , Reply# 4   6/8/2012 at 14:11 (4,311 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)        
That said....

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The machine has a few "quirks".

First, the tub drops as it is filling, little by little as if it is going to sink into the sub-floor. Its crazy, but I understand this is how the older Cabrios are as well. Its nothing that would cause a usability issue with the machine, its just odd to see. It dropped at least four inches in a full tub fill. (By the way, it's awesome that we can get a FULL TUB in both wash and rinse!).

In my opinion, the machine spends too much time trying ascertain whether or not it is going to have a balanced load. When you start the machine at first, it spends a couple minutes slowly rotating the basket to check for balance. Then it starts to fill. If the machine weren't so lightly sprung in the cabinet, it wouldn't be so fussy about balancing, but then again the design spins at 720 rpm and the mechanism is suspended from the cabinet like the original belt-drives, so at that speed, balance is critical.

The fill would ruin MY appreciation for the machine, though I know most people don't scrutinize them like I (or we) do so I don't hold this against the design for others to use. The machine takes approximately 8 minutes to fill!!!! Warm or hot water is going to loose some temperature in 8 minutes! During those 8 minutes the machine does the usual auto-temp thing and switches the taps on and off to moderate the temperature. STUPID! I know this has been a part of new machines for several/many years, but its frustrating when it results in an 8 minute fill, which translates to 16 minutes per load. I can say I would have an auxiliary garden hose nearby to blow away the fill-valve.

This means that on a day like tomorrow, when I am going to wash at least four loads of laundry, that my machine would use an extra 10-12 minutes per load of my time futzing around with a degree or two of water. That doesn't say much for Whirlpool's appreciation or value of my personal time. In four loads that is over 40 minutes, or the time my old belt-drives take to wash an entire load.

Other than that, the machine was fun to use, very quiet, and seemingly quite capable. How one of these would behave after 5,000 loads remains to be seen, but we both gave the machine a thumbs UP for now.

Gordon


Post# 601962 , Reply# 5   6/8/2012 at 14:42 (4,310 days old) by Pulsator (Saint Joseph, MI)        

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I know exactly what you mean about the fill time!!! I have the Whirlpool labelled version of this machine and while it is a fantastic washer, the fill takes FOREVER!

 

I discovered that the water valve they used for his machine has flow restrictors in it for both the hot and the cold, similar to the new Speed Queen machines (but they only have the restrictor on the hot valve).

 

I found an older fill valve without the restrictors and wired it in the see what it would do. It filled in about 2 minutes is what it did! (It also kind of made a whistly/whiny sound when both valves were open...)

 

I'll have to figure out a way to mount it and see about the noise it makes when both valves are open but the machine doesn't seem to mind a different valve...


Post# 602054 , Reply# 6   6/8/2012 at 22:42 (4,310 days old) by pdub (Portland, Oregon)        
Thanks Gordon!

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That was a good review of the machine. So did you get any pictures of the agitator and tub? I'd love to see what the insides look like.

Patrick



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