My new old washer.

It would be interesting if you could find a KitchenAid dual-action agitator and install it in your new-old machine. For those who may not know, the KitchenAid top-loaders were Direct-Drive Whirlpools exactly, but the motor and components were made from higher-grade materials, for example, the motor they installed in these was called a "Gold-Seal" and carried a 10-year warranty--something about the bearings or seals in the motor being gold rather than copper or whatever cheaper material the Kenmore/WP versions had. The KA also had the Sure-Scrub agitator, which was cosmetically similar to the WP dual-actions, but the lower agitator had a wider base, and the fins were longer and taller. Because of that, they only used the motor's mid-speed for fast agitation, identical to what should be slow on your machine there.

In my opinion, the KA version was a better performer, because the slower, more powerful strokes of the agitator gave better rollover with large loads, but was much more gentle than the choppy 180 opm action of its WP sisters.

Because your machine allows you to manually select the speed, Slow/Fast would be perfect when paired with the KA Sure-Scrub agitator, and would look especially fantastic if you can find it in the original turquoise color.


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Post# 778963 8/23/2014 at 22:51 (3,527 days old) by aaronfitzy (Pennsylvania)
Checkrate/Likes Been awhile since I've posted! Due to our five year old Whirlpool Duet front loader dying on us (different thread), my wife and I were left scrambling for a washer. Luckily, my brother and sister in law had just purchased a new home. The shed out back contained a nice 80 Series Kenmore top loader that was left behind by the previous owners. My brother told me to take it if I pleased. Since it was shoved in the shed, I assumed there was some kind of problem with it. After running the machine, it was clear...bad lid switch. It was thrown out for a bad lid switch! I've bypassed it for now (new one on the way), but runs great! It's like brand new. After running the Model and Serial number I discovered it was built in 2002. The neutral drain works properly and everything! My favorite part of this machine is the ability to pick the speed combinations. Photos... < > Photo 1 of 2 View Full Size

Post# 778998 , Reply# 1 8/24/2014 at 07:51 (3,526 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes *New Old Washer* WP Direct Drive washers from the mid 80s-the mid 2000s make great washers that are fairly easy to keep going for a long time. I have said several times on AW that people that are looking for classic washer performance should grab WP built KMs, KA TLers, and WPs from this era as I believe these washers are going to be some of the best washers overall in the history of AWs ever. John L.

Post# 779046 , Reply# 2 8/24/2014 at 11:23 (3,526 days old) by sel8207 (naples, florida 34117)
Checkrate/Likes *Curious* John; To a novice like me, am curious as to what is it about those models that causes you to think that they are better? More rugged transmission, better spin cycle, etc. From your mechanics point of view, are they easier to repair, never break, or something of that nature? Thanks , Les.

Post# 779056 , Reply# 3 8/24/2014 at 11:52 (3,526 days old) by cornutt (Huntsville, AL USA)
Checkrate/Likes I'm not the expert, but I know that the direct-drive Whirlpool designs are mechanically pretty simple and easy to repair. About the only repairs that are common on them are the motor coupler and the Dual-Action agitator's ratchet mechanism, and both of these are pretty easy -- I've done them. That said, we had a DD Whirlpool and my wife hated it... she said it was rough on her clothes. Interesting that your model has a temp setting which provides a warm rinse. I would have thought that energy regulations had killed all of these by 2002.

Post# 779081 , Reply# 4 8/24/2014 at 14:46 (3,526 days old) by murando531 (Augusta, Georgia - US)
Checkrate/Likes It would be interesting if you could find a KitchenAid dual-action agitator and install it in your new-old machine. For those who may not know, the KitchenAid top-loaders were Direct-Drive Whirlpools exactly, but the motor and components were made from higher-grade materials, for example, the motor they installed in these was called a "Gold-Seal" and carried a 10-year warranty--something about the bearings or seals in the motor being gold rather than copper or whatever cheaper material the Kenmore/WP versions had. The KA also had the Sure-Scrub agitator, which was cosmetically similar to the WP dual-actions, but the lower agitator had a wider base, and the fins were longer and taller. Because of that, they only used the motor's mid-speed for fast agitation, identical to what should be slow on your machine there. In my opinion, the KA version was a better performer, because the slower, more powerful strokes of the agitator gave better rollover with large loads, but was much more gentle than the choppy 180 opm action of its WP sisters. Because your machine allows you to manually select the speed, Slow/Fast would be perfect when paired with the KA Sure-Scrub agitator, and would look especially fantastic if you can find it in the original turquoise color.