Different Washing Machine Sounds

The VMW platform machines do have a "transmission", but not in the traditional sense. It's mainly a set of planetary gears that convert the torque from the motor and drive pulley down to around a 270 degree rotation for agitation. It also causes the tub to index in the opposite direction of the agitator stroke, which provides stability for the force of agitation to "push" against, rather than that force being transferred to the body of the washer. This also is a way to reduce strain on the drive system itself, so that under very heavy load, some of that stress is dissipated by indexing the tub, which is why if you grab and hold the tub, the agitator will begin rotating over 360 degrees each direction, but you'll hear a noticeable "strain" from the gears.

The sound during agitation is actually a low rhythmic hum from the motor with each stroke, as well as maybe a bit of whining from the gears depending on the load size, but it is in no way intrusive or loud. The "dog barking" sound can only be from the drain pump. Once the tub is emptied, the remaining water in the sump and drain hose can't be propelled all the way up the hose, and this is a good thing because without the remaining water, the pump seal would have no lubrication, and could overheat. The pump on these machines is vertically mounted directly to the bottom of the tub, with no elbow hoses or anything. This causes the noise to be especially audible because it's right there just underneath the wash basket. The "barking" sound is the remaining water "jumping or bouncing" up and down the hose while the pump is running.


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Post# 839043 9/1/2015 at 13:54 (3,152 days old) by washer10 (FL)
Checkrate/Likes 2 Why Whirlpool/Kenmore Belt Drive makes a WOO WOO sound,direct drives makes a chugga steam train sound and the dog barking sound in the Vertical Modular Washing Machines when in wash cycle?

Post# 839125 , Reply# 1 9/1/2015 at 22:48 (3,151 days old) by washdaddy (Baltimore)
Checkrate/Likes 1 I'm familiar with belt and direct drives but never a term referring to a Vertical Modular Machine before. What type of machine are you referring to especially since it makes a "dog barking" sound when washing.

Post# 839135 , Reply# 2 9/1/2015 at 23:49 (3,151 days old) by hippiedoll ( arizona )
Checkrate/Likes 1 *maybe......* washer10 means a front loading washers by "Vertical Modular Washing Machines"?�

Post# 839139 , Reply# 3 9/2/2015 at 00:34 (3,151 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Isn't The "VMW" the new WP,KN,Maytag belt drive system?Ie it doesn't have a transmission-the agitation is done by "plugging" the motor--forward-reverse from a circuit board.

Post# 839155 , Reply# 4 9/2/2015 at 04:54 (3,151 days old) by DADoES (TX,�U.S. of A.)
Checkrate/Likes 1 � VMW (Vertical Modular Washer) is the Whirlpool belt-drive design that replaced direct-drive.� It does have a transmission module.

Post# 839164 , Reply# 5 9/2/2015 at 05:56 (3,151 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)
Checkrate/Likes 1 How does the transmission in this work?

Post# 839214 , Reply# 6 9/2/2015 at 10:59 (3,151 days old) by murando531 (Augusta, Georgia - US)
Checkrate/Likes 1 The VMW platform machines do have a "transmission", but not in the traditional sense. It's mainly a set of planetary gears that convert the torque from the motor and drive pulley down to around a 270 degree rotation for agitation. It also causes the tub to index in the opposite direction of the agitator stroke, which provides stability for the force of agitation to "push" against, rather than that force being transferred to the body of the washer. This also is a way to reduce strain on the drive system itself, so that under very heavy load, some of that stress is dissipated by indexing the tub, which is why if you grab and hold the tub, the agitator will begin rotating over 360 degrees each direction, but you'll hear a noticeable "strain" from the gears. The sound during agitation is actually a low rhythmic hum from the motor with each stroke, as well as maybe a bit of whining from the gears depending on the load size, but it is in no way intrusive or loud. The "dog barking" sound can only be from the drain pump. Once the tub is emptied, the remaining water in the sump and drain hose can't be propelled all the way up the hose, and this is a good thing because without the remaining water, the pump seal would have no lubrication, and could overheat. The pump on these machines is vertically mounted directly to the bottom of the tub, with no elbow hoses or anything. This causes the noise to be especially audible because it's right there just underneath the wash basket. The "barking" sound is the remaining water "jumping or bouncing" up and down the hose while the pump is running.

Post# 839314 , Reply# 7 9/3/2015 at 00:43 (3,150 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)
Checkrate/Likes 1 This is something I would like to watch to see how it works-kept thinking the agitation came from the plugging the motor method.Guess its other washer builders that do that.So if you hold the tub of the WP machine while agitating--wonder if this could cause damage.The discharge pump design sounds kinda possibly problematic.