Thread Number: 8449
Kenmore Portable Washer
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Post# 159866   10/11/2006 at 18:21 (6,377 days old) by brettsomers ()        

Im considering getting one. the 80s (early?) type with the metal cabinet and speckled porcelain basket. str8-vane agi. what should i expect? i want something that holds more than my Danby. four medium bathtowels in the Danby is a full load. the Danbys spin is in the mid 600 rpms, i think. am i gonna be dissapointed with the Kenmore spin? is it the same mechanism as the common belt drive Kenmore? input please!




Post# 159870 , Reply# 1   10/11/2006 at 18:39 (6,377 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

toggleswitch's profile picture
David~ you get me hot when you talk techincal.

Post# 159877 , Reply# 2   10/11/2006 at 19:27 (6,377 days old) by westytoploader ()        

David, congratulations, that is a vintage Kenmore belt-drive portable! You will definitely enjoy that machine, especially the sounds it makes (in 2 weeks you'll get to experience two variations of its full-sized counterparts as well as these sounds firsthand) shifting in and out of agitation and spin. Jason had one of these for a while and knows more about them than I do, but if I remember correctly, they spin at around 700 RPM...not bad!



Post# 159883 , Reply# 3   10/11/2006 at 19:36 (6,377 days old) by dadoes (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
IIRC the mechanism is the same in regards to tranny, wig-wag, etc., but the belt is different. Also different suspension (sits on springs I think?). Faster spin is to compensate for smaller basket diameter. Should be plenty fun.

Post# 159889 , Reply# 4   10/11/2006 at 20:08 (6,377 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Glenn, I agree--I've seen a couple of these in used-appliance shops and they have a VERY soft suspension; very easy to move the tub assembly back & forth. You would think that, like the GE Portable, it would be too soft for adequate balancing. But I think that while spring-and-rod suspension tends to make the machine vibrate more when it's up to speed, it also handles off-balance loads better than others, and they will NEVER walk. Definitely essential for those portables, and probably one of the reasons why the earlier 12-pound Kenmore portables had retracting casters! Another characteristic it shares with the GE Portable is that the tub sinks downward as it fills higher; push down on the agitator and you'll see what I mean.

Judging by the relatively small tub size, I'm willing to bet the capacity is the same as the Danby, but if you plan to use the two in conjunction, capacity wouldn't be an issue. I wonder if there's a way to connect two machines to the kitchen faucet simultaneously? Trust me; once you get used to washing in more than one machine at once, you'll never turn back!

I prefer the full-sized 24" Kenmores because they have a larger tub and can accept any type of BD Kenmore agitator, however, if I saw one of these at an estate sale I would grab it in a heartbeat! Would definitely be fun to play with.


Post# 159905 , Reply# 5   10/11/2006 at 21:43 (6,377 days old) by launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        

launderess's profile picture
One of those washers was on eBay several weeks ago. Looked interesting but don't have room for yet another washer.

L.


Post# 159964 , Reply# 6   10/12/2006 at 08:50 (6,376 days old) by jasonl (Cookeville, TN)        

The Kenmore portable indeed sits on a set of springs. It also spins at about 800rpm to compensate for the small tub. It's probably bigger than your Danby but alot smaller than the traditional standard Kenmore tub.

Post# 159965 , Reply# 7   10/12/2006 at 08:50 (6,376 days old) by jasonl (Cookeville, TN)        

Bottom line is...

GET IT! You'll have fun and it is afterall a belt drive Kenmore.


Post# 160077 , Reply# 8   10/12/2006 at 16:09 (6,376 days old) by irishwashguy (Salem,Oregon.............A Capital City)        
i had one briefly in college

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i had the Whirlpool verson in college.it was fun to have it around.It certainly saved the quarters. One thing that I would do when you buy your toy, check the mixing valve. My machine decided one night when I was unatentive and on the computer to stick open and flood the kitchen.At that time, i lived on the Third floor(it was on top) and had leaked all the way down to the first floor in eight different apartments.I was totally embarassed and beside myself. The good thng, I was able to repair it ( it was a simple fix),and it never happened again The beautiful, gorgious guys that lived downstairs came up and helped me sop up all of the water.They were nice and nice looking plus I made them dinner for their time and trouble. I miss having hunky neighbors.OMG!!!

Post# 160293 , Reply# 9   10/14/2006 at 00:23 (6,375 days old) by brettsomers ()        

cool. can anyone tell me about the lint filter in these? a neighbor likes my Danby and i will sell either the Danby or Kenmore, keep whichever i like better. one thing i liked about the danby, it starts to drain if the machines senses an overfill of water. whats a fair price for the Lady Kenmore version with water level selector but no water temp box? i think Jasons had a water temp added to the machine?

Post# 160309 , Reply# 10   10/14/2006 at 04:41 (6,374 days old) by panthera (Rocky Mountains)        
curious

panthera's profile picture
I have a question which is not quite on or off topic here. One of the things which often comes up in discussing front loaders versus top loaders in our forums is the capacity of each.
Most European front loaders have a rated capacity of 5-7Kg. That is between 11 and 15.5 lbs. (for those who are at this very moment writing a correction out to the hundred-thousandth decimal point, yes, I know that is not quite 100% right, but folks in the US will never accept metric if we keep droning on about our .91724 gallon nonsense). You are supposed to load the clothes until the drum is full except for about an inch at the top...
Reading many US comments, I get the impression folks are underloading by a factor of five or six.
Are the Europeans changing their machines that much for the US market (???!!!) or are folks in the US not being informed properly by the manufacturers?
The two Kenmore portables I ever used in the US washed and spun much better than their bigger cousins. I would guess Whirlpool was using the same basic components in these they used for the standard size models - with the result that these units were "truly" heavy duty.
I once drowned my folk's basement with one of those snap on connectors some of these portables use...just too dangerous to leave unattended.


Post# 160314 , Reply# 11   10/14/2006 at 07:08 (6,374 days old) by easy-spin ()        

I have used a belt driven Kenmore Junior as a primary washer and found it most satisfactory. It cleans well and even with a very full load does not vibrate excessively. I customized mine with a Whirlpool surgilator which improved the action dramatically. The higher spin spped produces a very easily dried load.

Mike A.


Post# 160412 , Reply# 12   10/14/2006 at 23:21 (6,374 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

I used to have a Compact style Kenmore washer in a Townhome-It used a straight blade agitator-put a modified Dual action in it-worked even better-was also belt drive.It would hold about half what a full size washer would hold.Worked well though.The dryer was on a rack that was over the washer.Ran off 220V.

Post# 160549 , Reply# 13   10/16/2006 at 00:50 (6,373 days old) by irishwashguy (Salem,Oregon.............A Capital City)        
I would have to say.........

irishwashguy's profile picture
There are many factors that could come in to play, any rust, how are the belts and the bearings, pump, have you taken the machine for a spin? I bought mine from a thrift stare and payed 175 for it. When I moved back to the NW, I put it in the back of my Honda Civic hatchback, took it to Salt Lake City and sold it for 50, that was a good deal. Perhaps 50-75 would be fair. 100 I think would be pushing it, 175, and yes I payed it, is way too much, in my opinoin. They do have alot of advantages that the big machines have in that they do spin good. It only took two quarters to dry clothes, and they did not use as much soap as the big machines. That is my two cents. :)

Post# 160557 , Reply# 14   10/16/2006 at 03:04 (6,373 days old) by washertalk ()        

The baby KM (and whirlpools) whether from the 70s or into the 90's they are adorable and spin faster than the standard washers. I believe it was in 1986 that the portables were swithced to direct drive like all of the washers made by Whirlpool. The portables after that have several advantages over the previous models although they are roughly the same exterior dimensions. Perhaps someone who knows more can correct me. I believe the tub is a little bit larger, there is no recirculating lint filter, it has a double action agitator, the cabinet sides are all removable (previously you had to take off the top and then lift off entire one piece body) and finally all models made after 1986 had built in temp controls and the hose connections on the back were standard connections(before there were numerous variations, especially in the 1970's and there was no guarantee you could even get auto matic fill much less be able to choose temp on a switch)
You probly have a much better chance (due to age) of even finding a newer model.
They are a prize which ever way you go. And if you are real lucky you'll get one of both genre'. Perhaps one in toast and one in harvest gold. Luckier you would be to find the matching dryer.
Some pics of my portable KM washer. I am guessing this is from 1988 or so.


Post# 160558 , Reply# 15   10/16/2006 at 03:05 (6,373 days old) by washertalk ()        
the agitator

.

Post# 160559 , Reply# 16   10/16/2006 at 03:05 (6,373 days old) by washertalk ()        
side seems where panels connect

.

Post# 160560 , Reply# 17   10/16/2006 at 03:06 (6,373 days old) by washertalk ()        
rear with standard hose connections

.

Post# 160561 , Reply# 18   10/16/2006 at 03:07 (6,373 days old) by washertalk ()        
outside

.

Post# 160562 , Reply# 19   10/16/2006 at 03:08 (6,373 days old) by washertalk ()        
and finally, it washes

.

Post# 160565 , Reply# 20   10/16/2006 at 04:13 (6,372 days old) by brettsomers ()        

well, i let this one slip thru my hands. is it easy to find these? guess its kinds pricey with shipping, huh? i was willing to pay... is this direct drive?

CLICK HERE TO GO TO brettsomers's LINK on eBay


Post# 160566 , Reply# 21   10/16/2006 at 04:18 (6,372 days old) by brettsomers ()        

then i was gonna get this one, but the seller says his listing is an error. thanks for the input, they sound appealing.

Post# 160569 , Reply# 22   10/16/2006 at 04:50 (6,372 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

The machines shown in the pictures were similar to the one I used to have.They were common in the areas where there were townhomes.I haven't seen a any of these in the Greenville area.It seems here that apartments,trailers,etc are made to accomidate full sized machines.


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