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Thread Number: 76799
/ Tag: Vintage Dishwashers
Near Mint Condition 1982 Whirlpool SHU!!! |
[Down to Last] |  |
| Post# 1006644 9/10/2018 at 12:22 (2,053 days old) by Privatelyprivat (Midwest) | ||
I’ve been lurking (dreaming) on this site months (thank you for all the invaluable info, everyone!!!) I never thought I’d so lucky as to have something to contribute! Our 4th dishwasher in 10 years conked out in July, and with no money to invest in yet another expensive piece of garbage, i took I to the online classifieds for at least a cheap piece of garbage. It must have been kismet — newly listed THAT day in a town only 40 min away, in a condo development my husband had once lived in, was this barely used 1982 Whirlpool SHU400 series dishwasher for $25. My husband would never have agreed to paying what this treasure was REALLY worth so this was even MORE incredibly lucky. Although in the 2 months we’ve had it, its 35-min cycle and the impeccable cleanliness of our dishes have convinced the usually anti-second-hand man of its value. I’ll learn on here about its maintenance as it demands it and I’m NEVER leaving it behind if we move. I’ve never cared so much or been so attached to an appliance in my life. It reminds me of my mom’s Harvest Gold 1970s Kenmoore which that also had the utensil rack on the door and lasted her 30+ years with 4 kids and their countless friends filling it up and abusing it for decades. So of course, I prefer that panel color for mine even though it matches nothing in my kitchen. Lol. What do you guys think? It also has an almond panel I’m not too keen on and it came out white on pics so I didn’t bother uploading it.
So why was it in near mint condition with even the manual intact? The original owner (whose kind neighbor was selling it online) purchased in 1982 and was a widow in her late 60s. She lived alone and used it once a week for 36 years before moving to assisted living this summer. Its minimal use was practically mere maintenance for preservation. I cleaned very little “kitchen dirt” off the exterior and minor superficial rust on the motor’s surface and boom. Installed and running, purring like a kitten. Even the HOSES were still in great shape! After our child getting sick from our previous piece of garbage’s poor performance and having no budget for a new one, this sucker is a godsend. I’m SO thankful for it AND all you wonderful people on this website! | ||
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Post# 1006647 , Reply# 1 9/10/2018 at 13:28 (2,053 days old) by Washerlover  (The Big Island, Hawai’i) |
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Love the Harvest Gold! | ||
| Post# 1006664 , Reply# 2 9/10/2018 at 16:19 (2,053 days old) by cycla-fabric (New Jersey (Northern)) | ||
Good Choice - Whirlpool
Those Whirlpool dishwashers from that era the mid 70's I think, were very good cleaners. We had a Whirlpool machine that was the Supreme with 4 cycles and the super scour cycle that would take care of anything that was put into the machine. It lasted over 15 years with no repairs. You will like that machine as it was a good choice. Whirlpool made some really good stuff and still does in my opinion.
Doug | ||
| Post# 1006666 , Reply# 3 9/10/2018 at 16:25 (2,053 days old) by hippiedoll ( arizona ) | ||
I vote...
The HARVEST GOLD!!
1st; I LOVE the funky 70's colors, so naturally, I'm gonna lean towards the HARVEST GOLD! 2nd; You say "even though it matches nothing in my kitchen"... PERFECT, that just means it will stand out & will catch your attention everyone you walk into your kitchen! CONGRATULATIONS on your GREAT find, in GREAT condition, and for a GREAT price! And WELCOME to the group! :o) | ||
| Post# 1006699 , Reply# 4 9/10/2018 at 20:18 (2,053 days old) by Privatelyprivat (Midwest) | ||
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Thanks, people!
WasherLover: Thank you! Indeed the modern ones don’t last at all and our incredibly hard water just killed them dead even faster. Mineral residue and circuit boards don’t mix! Lol I have to change my profile though. I’m not sure why I put in that I have a vintage washer/dryer but I don’t. :( I’ll certainly look into it as mine age though!
Cycla-Fabric: Thank you! It’s nothing fancy and a very basic model for sure, but its with its speed and our crazy high water pressure, it’s still faaaaaar better than anything modern for sure. As for current-day Whirlpool, I have reservations. Ours died the same quick death as all the others and my wp washer didn’t do much better. The way they’ve all merged now, nearly everything is made by the same people and comes out pretty much the same (in my experience, anyway.) But thank you! HippieDoll: Thank you and I agree! If it won’t match, make it clash! Lol It’s a heck of a conversation piece and I get a private kick out of my uptight, “vintage-hating” in-laws nearly breaking a sweat holding back objections at the very sight of it. Practical, but harmlessly entertaining to boot. There’s nothing that d/w can’t do. Lol! | ||
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Post# 1006717 , Reply# 5 9/10/2018 at 22:36 (2,053 days old) by peteski50 (New York) |
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whirlpool dishwasher | ||
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Post# 1006719 , Reply# 6 9/10/2018 at 22:43 (2,053 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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 | ||
| Post# 1006783 , Reply# 7 9/11/2018 at 10:10 (2,052 days old) by Privatelyprivat (Midwest) | ||
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Peteski50: Here ya go!
Gansky1: You’re telling me! At first it really sounded like “She only drove it to church on Sundays” car sales pitch, but when I actually saw it I was shocked. It was barely even dusty! Its only smell was a slight “been closed too long” scent that went away upon its first run. Unreal. Now I have to remember not to put any light items in the bottom rack lest I hear a cacophony of banging dishes and open it up to find a kitchenware Picasso of sorts! Lol | ||
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Post# 1006784 , Reply# 8 9/11/2018 at 10:19 (2,052 days old) by peteski50 (New York) |
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whirlpool! | ||
| Post# 1006789 , Reply# 9 9/11/2018 at 12:07 (2,052 days old) by Privatelyprivat (Midwest) | ||
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Btw | ||
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Post# 1006852 , Reply# 10 9/11/2018 at 23:07 (2,052 days old) by bigalsf (Salt Lake City) |
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This is a great dishwasher; thanks for sharing the pics. This is one of the last series with the slanted upper rack tines. This model has the standard filtering system, a very reliable pump/motor combination. You will get many years of use from this machine. Enjoy! | ||
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Post# 1006904 , Reply# 11 9/12/2018 at 06:53 (2,052 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Great Dishwasher We sold and installed hundreds of WP DWs from 1975- approximately 2012.
WPs standard tub machines were the best all a round DW throughout the 80s till they switched to the tall tub machines.
These DWs were the
Easiest to install.
Easiest to repair, complete motor and pump change in under 15 minutes.
By far the best cleaning DW for the money, Every model had a real upper wash arm that reached into the corners of the upper rack by the late 70s.
Best Pots-n-Pans cycle, the only DW that combined a thermostatic hold in the first water change with a real filter, these would clean about anything that could get clean in a DW.
Best overall rack design, top rack holds glasses better than any other design, and the in-door-silver-ware-basket is shear genius, every time I use a DW without this feature I wounder why anyone would put up with getting your hands covered with food to load a DW.
By far the simplest DW design and the least service calls, NOTE that I did not say longest lasting DW, Hobart KA DWs were built like no other DW and did potentially last longer, but they also needs more repairs than a WP DW over its useful life.
But overall You are going to enjoy your SHU-4000 WP DW, you can even up-grade to the Power-Clean pump system and do away with ever having to fish anything out of the trap or filter in the bottom of your machine.
John L. | ||
| Post# 1007045 , Reply# 12 9/13/2018 at 09:54 (2,050 days old) by Privatelyprivat (Midwest) | ||
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