Thread Number: 60029
/ Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Should I pick up this Kenmore set? (advice for newbie) |
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Post# 826788   6/6/2015 at 01:11 (3,218 days old) by amyofescobar (oregon)   |   | |
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Hi there, I am very much a noob, and a youngin to boot (25yrs old). I got our lovely and pristine coppertone dishwasher through this site, you guys are the bomb!
Anyways, I'm in the Portland, OR area and I saw these guys. I really want to stop using the laundromat. They seem well taken care of. $175 for both. I'm pretty tight on budget, of course. There is a 10 year old wash/dryer set right next store that is for sale for only $100. Good condition. But I'm wondering if I should go for vintage because of quality. Questions: -Does anyone know anything about these models? -Do vintage washers need more TLC than ones made 10 years ago? -I doubt I'll be able to test these guys before I buy, what should I look for when I go to see them? -What capacity are these? Hope it's not too small. Anyways, I just thought they looked taken care of and pretty darn cute. I wonder how long they would last... CLICK HERE TO GO TO amyofescobar's LINK on Portland Craigslist
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Post# 826793 , Reply# 1   6/6/2015 at 05:28 (3,218 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)   |   | |
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Post# 826807 , Reply# 2   6/6/2015 at 08:38 (3,218 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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Post# 826815 , Reply# 4   6/6/2015 at 10:29 (3,218 days old) by mayken4now (Panama City, Florida)   |   | |
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Post# 826827 , Reply# 5   6/6/2015 at 12:48 (3,218 days old) by amyofescobar (oregon)   |   | |
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Post# 826832 , Reply# 6   6/6/2015 at 13:47 (3,218 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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Post# 826834 , Reply# 7   6/6/2015 at 14:08 (3,218 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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easier than you would think.......remove the cap, remove bolt, lift old one out....
slide new one in, replace bolt, some may have a shield to be placed on top of the dogs, and pop either a cap or dispenser on top.... their so plentiful, you can find used ones almost anywhere....you just may have to put a set of dogs in there, as they will wear out over time and the top part wont function as it should....but again, easier than you think......check out youtube for simple videos.... something like this is what you will be looking for......I prefer the spirals that tilt downward, this is called a 'Plus' version.....there is also a 'standard', and a 'Triple' in that the spiral will bounce up and down to help push the load down as well.......and a dispenser would fit on top if you prefer.... CLICK HERE TO GO TO Yogitunes's LINK on eBay |
Post# 826843 , Reply# 8   6/6/2015 at 15:06 (3,218 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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Post# 826844 , Reply# 9   6/6/2015 at 15:08 (3,218 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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Post# 826847 , Reply# 10   6/6/2015 at 15:16 (3,218 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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Post# 826866 , Reply# 12   6/6/2015 at 19:25 (3,217 days old) by TwinTubber (Toronto)   |   | |
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Avoid this machine at all costs. |
Post# 826869 , Reply# 13   6/6/2015 at 19:53 (3,217 days old) by amyofescobar (oregon)   |   | |
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Ouch... Really? Is DD that bad? Hey, what about these two, $60 for both.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO amyofescobar's LINK on Portland Craigslist |
Post# 826878 , Reply# 15   6/6/2015 at 21:10 (3,217 days old) by amyofescobar (oregon)   |   | |
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I'm confused. Some folks said they were good, but now you're saying they're horrible.
Sniffles, looks like the nice maytag has been taken :( welll... How's bout these? (Im trying to pick some up during the weekend while I'm borrowing a friends truck) CLICK HERE TO GO TO amyofescobar's LINK on Portland Craigslist
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Post# 826881 , Reply# 16   6/6/2015 at 21:52 (3,217 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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Post# 826884 , Reply# 17   6/6/2015 at 22:18 (3,217 days old) by amyofescobar (oregon)   |   | |
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Post# 826885 , Reply# 18   6/6/2015 at 22:29 (3,217 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)   |   | |
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Too bad Amy you misssd out on that Maytag but grab that set if you can. My 32 year old washer is the exact same model as that, that dryer is newer but the same model, neither having a penny spent on repairs in all this time. Too bad Speed Queen is the only one left making laundry that lasts and washes the way you want, not how it wants to like these Maytags will.
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Post# 826889 , Reply# 19   6/6/2015 at 23:03 (3,217 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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Amy, Whirlpool produced many millions of the direct-drive design over the course of 30+ years. They wouldn't have endured on the market for that long and in such numbers if they were bad machines. They're easy to repair, parts are as yet available and largely inexpensive. My parents had a 1994 (KitchenAid) model that ran for 18 years with a few minor repairs (motor coupler, agitator dogs, lid switch) until the timer broke. A rebuilt/replacement timer could been had for $70 but I had a 12-years-old refurbished Kenmore on standby that they took instead. I also had a KitchenAid for some years. My grandmother had a 1984 Whirlpool model that had no repairs for the duration her use (14 years), which was sold when I swapped my KitchenAid to her. |
Post# 826890 , Reply# 20   6/6/2015 at 23:32 (3,217 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)   |   | |
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Post# 826896 , Reply# 21   6/7/2015 at 00:52 (3,217 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
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Post# 826910 , Reply# 24   6/7/2015 at 06:43 (3,217 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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both machines will work out fine for you, the maytag is just a bigger capacity...if that is a factor for you.....
on the Maytag, the lint filter is inside the agitator, and usually works best on higher water levels.......but all in all, if your separating clothes properly, with the right detergent, cycle and water temp, leaving those filters out wont cause an issue for any machine......I never use them.... and you want to slightly underload a Maytag for best washing performance..... I have a DirectDrive, and installed the larger base Kitchen Aid agitator in it, and I use it at HIGH speed.....and have never had an issue..... if you were closer, I would say come take one of mine and try it for yourself.....but that would be like putting my money where my mouth is.... best advice ever is to talk to a mechanic who works on any appliance or car, and find out the true ins and outs of any machine, versus some johnny come lately.... as I suppose every member here who has a direct drive, ALL have bad issues with them?... your mileage may vary....
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Post# 826940 , Reply# 25   6/7/2015 at 11:10 (3,217 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Amy-- Welcome to the storm of opposing opinions that deluge anyone foolish enough to ask "which is the better washer", LOL. If it's any help, a good friend has the same early 1990s Kenmore set and it has been very reliable, doing a fine job of cleaning with the straight vane agitator already in the machine.
Let us know which ones you get! We love follow-up. |
Post# 826947 , Reply# 26   6/7/2015 at 13:11 (3,217 days old) by TwinTubber (Toronto)   |   | |
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Post# 826950 , Reply# 27   6/7/2015 at 13:26 (3,217 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
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Scott, you know how much I hated my Lady Shredmore. Rinsing and shredding are my complaints. That's why I was quietly directing her toward the Maytag. I an understand why anyone would one to quit going to the Laundromat. But a one speed, one cycle, one water level wash, even in that situation, is to plane jane for me. |
Post# 826958 , Reply# 28   6/7/2015 at 14:07 (3,217 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)   |   | |
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Post# 827017 , Reply# 32   6/8/2015 at 01:56 (3,216 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)   |   | |
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The Maytag washer in reply 15 may be BOL, but it offers more options and cycle choices than the BOL Kenmore. It doesn't appear that you can even select water temperature or load size on the Kenmore.
At $30 for the set, those Maytags are a real steal. The Kenmores, OTOH, seem overpriced for their age.
Too bad you missed out on that first Maytag you posted. It's by far the best of the bunch for build quality, provides more options than the other two, long stroke agitation, and speed selection for wash and spin.
The $30 Maytags would be my next choice if they're in proper working order.
Regardless of which set you end up with, people here can provide help for both makes if anything needs fixing. |