CL: 80's Kenmore Washer

Tim is correct - the first several years of Direct Drive washers were 24" only for Kenmore, I think WP as well. Kevin asked some questions about BD and DD washers of this era, so I'll try to address some topics while being brief (LOL):

Kenmore DDs were available in lower end plastic top AND black panel machines from 1982ish into 1986. Some of the earliest DDs were a little different with gold agitators, manual agitator mounted filters, and a rear pump/motor configuration. The rear pump and motor configuration (as well as the gold agitators) didn't hang around long. Talk about product development due to in-field experience...

There were also 24" belt-drives availalbe during this time as well. Oddly, the true BOL of the machines remained belt-drive well into 1983, maybe even early 1984. There were four or five black panel 24" BDs during this time, but there were fewer each model year (I think three in '81, two in '82 and just one in the '83 line). They used either the venerable gold straight vane or the standard capacity DA. Not super fancy models by this time, but they of decent usable capacity.

Nate is correct that the lid is probably the easiest tell-tale sign of BD/DD differentiation. The BD lid is less deep, and not quite as wide. I can see subtle differences in cycle layouts with the DDs as the timers were not the same. They needed pauses for motor reversal and later for the neutral drain kick-out, etc. These pauses are not necessary in the BD timers.

Tim has a bit more of an open mind than I, but I hated the DDs when they first appeared. I would have gone without a washer vs. having one of those. They simply weren't what I wanted to hear or use. BUT, that said, they are still out there, and obviously have been very useful and will continue to be. Today I would not judge them so harshly as I did back then.

I would LOVE to find a 24-inch BD black panel washer, especially a late model with a straight vane agitator (I would swear that the very last were actually white).

Gordon


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Post# 573312 2/3/2012 at 13:46 (4,463 days old) by joefuss1984 (Little Rock, AR)
Checkrate/Likes They are asking 75$. Is this a good buy and what determines what should be paid for an older machine? CLICK HERE TO GO TO joefuss1984's LINK on Littlerock Craigslist

Post# 573316 , Reply# 1 2/3/2012 at 14:06 (4,463 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)
Checkrate/Likes It's a direct drive machine. Probably an OK price if you're looking for a direct drive (late 80's?) Kenmore. What should be paid? Depends on (A) the condition (B) if that's what you're looking for and (C) what you're willing to pay for it. Kevin

Post# 573319 , Reply# 2 2/3/2012 at 14:15 (4,463 days old) by joefuss1984 (Little Rock, AR)
Checkrate/Likes *ugh!* Nevermind, I just knew it was a BD. How do you tell the difference?

Post# 573321 , Reply# 3 2/3/2012 at 14:25 (4,463 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)
Checkrate/Likes *The difference* The giveaway is the smaller size and the large lid. Belt-drives had smaller lids. It can be tricky to tell on these older machines, though.

Post# 573322 , Reply# 4 2/3/2012 at 14:27 (4,463 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)
Checkrate/Likes *How do you tell the difference?* Hmm... we'll have to have Gordon confirm, but I'm thinking this just might be a 24" model! The lid is smaller on the BD models, larger on the DD models. Here's the photo from the ad.

Post# 573323 , Reply# 5 2/3/2012 at 14:28 (4,463 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)
Checkrate/Likes Here's a pic of one of Gordon's BD's. Notice the difference in the size of the lid. Kevin

Post# 573324 , Reply# 6 2/3/2012 at 14:33 (4,463 days old) by joefuss1984 (Little Rock, AR)
Checkrate/Likes *ugh! again* I knew something looked different. I have probably been told this before but I am making a mental note this time. I am just not as fond of the sounds of the DD as I am of the BD

Post# 573325 , Reply# 7 2/3/2012 at 14:39 (4,463 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)
Checkrate/Likes *Objects May Appear Smaller...* This is a 1st generation Kenmore Direct Drive. This, and all of these DD models were 24" from 82-85, I don't think the larger cabinets returned with the DD guts until 86. Kenmore DID make a belt drive version of this machine for a couple of years, it looked the same with a smaller lid and of course the guts. As far as DD machines go these are neat. They have the old style control panels and most were spin-drainers up until 1985. -Tim

Post# 573361 , Reply# 8 2/3/2012 at 16:20 (4,463 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *On 24" KMs and early DDs, etc.* Tim is correct - the first several years of Direct Drive washers were 24" only for Kenmore, I think WP as well. Kevin asked some questions about BD and DD washers of this era, so I'll try to address some topics while being brief (LOL): Kenmore DDs were available in lower end plastic top AND black panel machines from 1982ish into 1986. Some of the earliest DDs were a little different with gold agitators, manual agitator mounted filters, and a rear pump/motor configuration. The rear pump and motor configuration (as well as the gold agitators) didn't hang around long. Talk about product development due to in-field experience... There were also 24" belt-drives availalbe during this time as well. Oddly, the true BOL of the machines remained belt-drive well into 1983, maybe even early 1984. There were four or five black panel 24" BDs during this time, but there were fewer each model year (I think three in '81, two in '82 and just one in the '83 line). They used either the venerable gold straight vane or the standard capacity DA. Not super fancy models by this time, but they of decent usable capacity. Nate is correct that the lid is probably the easiest tell-tale sign of BD/DD differentiation. The BD lid is less deep, and not quite as wide. I can see subtle differences in cycle layouts with the DDs as the timers were not the same. They needed pauses for motor reversal and later for the neutral drain kick-out, etc. These pauses are not necessary in the BD timers. Tim has a bit more of an open mind than I, but I hated the DDs when they first appeared. I would have gone without a washer vs. having one of those. They simply weren't what I wanted to hear or use. BUT, that said, they are still out there, and obviously have been very useful and will continue to be. Today I would not judge them so harshly as I did back then. I would LOVE to find a 24-inch BD black panel washer, especially a late model with a straight vane agitator (I would swear that the very last were actually white). Gordon

Post# 573364 , Reply# 9 2/3/2012 at 16:34 (4,463 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)
Checkrate/Likes *24" Surprises* Why Gordon, I'm amazed that you don't have a 24" version of this machine! Shame on you! Open mind, funny, that machine is currently on loan as it wasn't really unique enough to add to the tight laundry room. It was a low-mileage machine and it's a neutral drainer. When initially purchasing the machine, I had thought that because of the clothes guard that it would be a spin-drainer. It was not, and only retained the clothes guard. So just a normal 24" DD machine with a neat control panel. From the photos I saw online, it also appeared to have a gold agi, but turn out the machine was in a barn and that was lighting and dust. Double Whammie. -Tim

Post# 573387 , Reply# 11 2/3/2012 at 18:35 (4,463 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes *SUPER CAPACITY WP DD WASHERS* Were diffidently out in 1985, we were selling quite a few of these. They used the five finned non Dual Action agitators. It was very interesting as we were doing a lot of WP warranty work during this time period and we could tell by 1984 that the DD washers were having 1/2 the warranty calls that the BD machines were having. So for the last two years of the BD washers we went out of our way to only sell the more reliable more energy efficient DD washers. Once they went to the neutral drain system in 1984 the complaints went away and people generally loved the new washer.

Post# 573375 , Reply# 10 2/3/2012 at 17:12 (4,463 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes *Why Gordon, I'm amazed that you don't have a 24"* Tim - Well.... I simply haven't found one. Andy/RedCarpetDrew DID find a beautimous near BOL 24-inch 1982 built BD last fall and it will soon debut here along with its 200-series counterpart / alter-ego 29-inch copy. So that you don't get double whammed again if you continue to search for the more "interesting" and elusive early DDs, ask the seller for the model number before you make a trip. If the tag is on the front cabinet over the left front foot, that will be a big "I hope so, I hope so!" for sure as the tag was relocated to the lid well in January 1983 or so. The most plausible model number for something really early would be 110.8116xxxx or 110.8117xxxx something, or 110.8125xxxx, 110.8126xxxx or 110.8127xxxx. Those are 1981 and 1982 model numbers, 500, 60, and 70 series. I think the gold agitators were only in a couple 1981 models. I CAN and will look those up and tell you the exact model number for reference if you like... Gordon