Thread Number: 38496
Tub Capacities |
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Post# 571090 , Reply# 2   1/24/2012 at 23:53 (4,475 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)   |   | |
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I actually measured the amount of water per water level load and maximum usable water for a 'super large' load with my Maytag 712 wash tub. It is 23 gallons which is just about (3/8") topping the ribbed vanes. |
Post# 571094 , Reply# 3   1/25/2012 at 00:19 (4,475 days old) by Kenmore71 (Minneapolis, MN)   |   | |
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The "rated" gallon capacity of the Matyag machines through the end of the *12 series (about 1991 or so IIRC) was 19 gallons for the "large" tubs and 16 gallons for the "standard" tubs. WP/KM machines of the late 50s, 60s and 70s were all rated at 18 gallons until the early to mid-70s when the "Large capacity" machines made their debut on certain models.
Here is an amusing chart produced by Maytag sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s talking about "usable" washing capacity of various machines. While I am a great fan of the Maytag product, I would never consider cramming a 15# load into a 19 gallon Maytag tub and expecting decent results as this ad seems to sugvgest can be done! |
Post# 571119 , Reply# 4   1/25/2012 at 01:33 (4,475 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))   |   | |
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When you think about it, who actually WEIGHS washloads? So "pounds" is pretty useless as a figure of merit. So is cubic feet--we don't even know for sure that the volume occupied by the agitator has been subtracted.
Hi-Fi manufacturers used to DOUBLE their continuous power ratings and call it 'peak' which was good for several microseconds before the power supply saturated. The Feds eventually came down on them. They haven't done that on laundry equipment. Industrial/institutional machinery like Wascomat, Milnor, Unimac still rate their machines in pounds and they're probably pretty accurate. But I've been in an institutional laundry and THEY don't weigh their loads either. |
Post# 571139 , Reply# 5   1/25/2012 at 06:05 (4,474 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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The owner's manual for our 1960 all-pushbutton Model 80 Kenmore stated the machine filled with 18 gallons of water at the HI setting, which was suggested for loads of 8-to-10 pounds. The LO setting provided a very splashy, tub-light shattering 11 gallons.
I agree with what others have stated in this thread: The weight of a load isn't as important as its volume when loading a washer. Fill the tub loosely to the top, then stop. |
Post# 571214 , Reply# 8   1/25/2012 at 14:51 (4,474 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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Tom is right.....
bulk is more a factor rather than weight....but you can't actually measure bulk so to speak......and not that anyone ever follows the directions in the laundromat....but I think the best description would be either to fill the machine 2/3rds full, or to the top of the agitator vanes with loose DRY clothing....of course the machines were ST SpeedQueens....... but seriously....a Maytag handling the biggest load out of all these machines....effectively.....not happenning....we know better |
Post# 571224 , Reply# 10   1/25/2012 at 16:14 (4,474 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)   |   | |
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I really like the Maytag's that I have. Like anything that someone uses a lot, they get to know the machine. I know all of my machines very well and I can attest to the Maytag loading and capacity. It can be a fickle thing and literally one sock can stop the roll and results fade. Loosely to the top row of holes is a good index. These machines wash great when they are slightly underloaded, you love em or hate em. My roomie has a habit of overloading, and really he doesn't care, I don't see how he stands it. He throws socks in with the black work pants and anything that's not black ends up grey. I also find that the Maytag holds about as much in a good wash/turnover rate as my 24" DD Kenmore with the straight-vane. The capacity of the A502S is not comparable at all IMO. Between the solid fins and smaller tub, the usable capacity while going easy on the clothes isn't much more than my BD KM portable. Still it's a smooth machine and it will clean very well, probably the best CLEANING top-loader I have albeit capacity.
Of the machines currently in the laundry room, the big-tub GE seems to hold the most while still moving the load. The ramp agitator will still toss and roll the load long after the Maytag gives up but I've noticed that the Maytag will wash a cleaner load when loaded correctly. While the ramp seems to move the load well, it doesn't clean as well the Kenmore or the Maytag. The major downside to that machine is water consumption and our small hot water tank. I like it for all the accessories and it is a cool machine nonetheless. The Asko/Merloni front loader is the best cleaning machine that I have, but not really relevant to this conversation. I will say though that I collected the grey socks of the roomie and ran them through the "heavy stains" cycle and was amazed. I used a little Tide w/Bleach and set to extra rinse, the heavy cycle heats to 140* and holds it and the socks came out bright white, he was amazed, that same feat would have taken several soaks in the Maytag and still would have required additives not to mention the water consumption. |
Post# 573596 , Reply# 12   2/4/2012 at 21:49 (4,464 days old) by electronicontrl (Grand Rapids, MI)   |   | |
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Post# 573604 , Reply# 14   2/4/2012 at 22:50 (4,464 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)   |   | |
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My Maytag LA 511 uses, according to the original book, (Approx.) per load is what it says, Reg. 40 gallons/151 liters or PP 59 gallons/223 liters on the Extra large setting. I usually add even more water on every load. Dont have to worry about water shortage here, as I live on a lake. But I have to pump waste up to a leach field. I want to put Gram's old Maytag wringer in my storage shed this spring , get a hand pump and a laundry sink and do all my wash there until it gets too cold like it is here now. The well water here is way too hard and the lake water is so much better. I will just put the drain out in the woods and nobody wiil know.
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Post# 573611 , Reply# 15   2/4/2012 at 23:52 (4,464 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))   |   | |
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Post# 574555 , Reply# 16   2/8/2012 at 23:12 (4,460 days old) by whirlykenmore78 (Prior Lake MN (GMT-0500 CDT.))   |   | |
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In my experience in commercial laundries I found a great discrepency between the capacity amongst manufacturers. The difference was as great as 5 queen sheets or 15 towels in some cases in a 50# washer. I found the Milnor,35#, Continental,125 and Wascomat50# machines to be the most capacious per rated capacity. I learned what really maters is cubic feet of drum space not pounds.
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Post# 574562 , Reply# 17   2/8/2012 at 23:57 (4,460 days old) by lebron (Minnesota)   |   | |
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Post# 574565 , Reply# 18   2/9/2012 at 00:28 (4,460 days old) by Kenmore71 (Minneapolis, MN)   |   | |
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IIRC, my mother's 1980-ish Kenmore Large capacity suds-saver machine used about 22 gallons of water for a full fill. I remember this because Kenmore had a rather ingenious feature that, when the machine was set to extra-large, would drain the machine to the main drain hose until the the pressure switch sensed that it had reached the "large" setting (which was c. 18 gallons). It would then engage the suds valve and drain the last 18 gallons into the laundry tub. Gordon or John can probably speak definitively on this.
The rational for this was that very few laundry tubs had a capacity of greater than 20 gallons. I remember very well pulling those 18 gallons of "medium" (110-115 degree) water after the first load of "hot" (140 degree water) sheets and adding more "hot" water to continue washing underwear and towels. The third "go" with this water would be work clothes. |
Post# 574608 , Reply# 19   2/9/2012 at 07:38 (4,459 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Rating a washer in terms of how many pounds it can wash is a sound system if you are using similar type clothes loads, usually the standard was mixed cotton towels etc.
But the thing that gets forgotten is that most manufactures never made poundage claims for their washers, yes many salesman made claims but try to find them in print from the manufacturer.
I never saw MT make a 14# or 18# capactity for their washers, can someone here find one.
When WP & KM automatics first appeared they claimed that they would wash 9# loads and later in the early 1960s they stretched the truth and claimed 12#s for the same tub. Again I never saw a 14# or larger for the standard capacity washers in print. When WP introduced their huge 25 gallon+ tubs they would sometimes state in their ads [ up 18#s capacity with a little * and footnote that says WP SELECTED LOAD ] as they were admitting that you could not normally expect to put 18#s of laundry in this washer. Latter in the 1990s on some dual action agitator DD washers they actually printed on the washers console that the machine could wash 20#s of clothing.
WP was able to put this 20# claim on the washer the same way that Norge was able to do this. Norge as many of us know was one of the major companies that constantly did make capacity claims for their washers. Their little solid tub washer went from 8-14#s with the same size tub and the 1963- the end went from 15, 16 18 and finely 20 claims. I both cases the initial claim was probably the most accurate.
I order to actually put a capacity claim in print the washer actually had to make it through the cycle without tripping the motor overload. This is why Norge rated some washers at 20#s and others at 18#s as the 20s had 3/4 HP motors and the 18s had 1/2 HP motors. WP was able to get through the test on the ruggedness of the DD washer and the dual action agitator [ and no this will not break the drive coupling LOL ].
GE did get into the capacity race and we all watched their standard capacity FF washer grow from 12#s to 14# and then 16# without getting a bit bigger and they did make a 18# claim when they brought out their bigger tub washers in the late 1960s.
But you can see why many manufactures tried to stay away from capacity claims. We are seeing the same problems the current claims about cubic foot capacities with both washers and dryers today. |
Post# 574613 , Reply# 20   2/9/2012 at 08:21 (4,459 days old) by alr2903 (TN)   |   | |
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The parents went from a late 60's std tub tag, the new 1974 Kenmore with the Pentavane could wash almost double the load of white cottons. The Aunt's all made the trek to the basement to see the modern marvel. |