Thread Number: 87207  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Whirlpool Transmissions Oil Question
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Post# 1117852   5/20/2021 at 21:33 (1,043 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

maytag85's profile picture
Currently in the process of putting the original transmission back together out of my 1963 RCA Whirlpool Imperial Mark XII washer. My question is will Valvoline 50 racing oil work? Reason why I am asking is Gordon (kenmoreguy64) mentioned somewhere in a thread in the archives that he would try using Valvoline 50 weight racing oil since it’s light on detergent and is more easily available but I just want to double check since it’s been a number of years since there was a thread about transmission oil in Whirlpool belt drive washers.




Post# 1117914 , Reply# 1   5/21/2021 at 18:19 (1,042 days old) by felix (São Paulo - Brazil)        
oil

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Here in Brazil, we use the 90 or 140 weight oil to compensate for the wear of the gears

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Post# 1117916 , Reply# 2   5/21/2021 at 18:25 (1,042 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

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Maybe I might use gear oil but I think it might drag on the gears putting strain on the belt and motor. The original gears out of the transmission to my 1963 Whirlpool don’t have much wear on them at all.

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Post# 1117922 , Reply# 3   5/21/2021 at 19:32 (1,042 days old) by rickr (.)        

rickr's profile picture
I have always used 90 weight gear oil, and have never had any problems. My basement gets down to 50 degrees in the winter, no sluggishness, no problem. Machines were rebuilt over 15 years ago, and still no leaks, no problems.

Post# 1117923 , Reply# 4   5/21/2021 at 19:41 (1,042 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA)        
Hear oil

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I used gear oil in one of my GE transmissions and it’s super smooth and quiet now for two years.

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Post# 1117943 , Reply# 5   5/22/2021 at 03:33 (1,041 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

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Royal Purple Synthetic.....



one of the best superior replacements in lubrication....


highly recommended by our own Jon/Jetcone....


not someone, or something I would have to second guess.....







CLICK HERE TO GO TO Yogitunes's LINK


Post# 1117951 , Reply# 6   5/22/2021 at 08:16 (1,041 days old) by Jben (AL)        

I finally ended up selecting the GL-4 Hypoid Gear Oil by Quicksilver 858064Q01 High Performance SAE 90 Gear Lube for Mercury Outboards.

I thought it might have some benefit or protection in case of water intrusion since it was formulated for outboard motor use.



Post# 1118105 , Reply# 7   5/24/2021 at 01:57 (1,040 days old) by Stan (Napa CA)        
You probably

stan's profile picture
made a good choice
As you noticed the “gears on the 64 had little ware”
The reason..may have been that they’d been in gear oil.


Post# 1118107 , Reply# 8   5/24/2021 at 02:38 (1,040 days old) by qsd-dan (West)        

qsd-dan's profile picture

I'd use whatever Whirlpool originally called for or a substitute that's close.


Post# 1118147 , Reply# 9   5/24/2021 at 11:26 (1,039 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Oil For WP BD Washer Transmissions

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I would not use anything lighter than 70 weigh gear oil, but you could easily use 90-120 weight, it is not critical in a WP washer,

 

Even in cold environments WP washers like all other washers ever built will not have trouble agitating like Maytags with the silly slipping belt drive when you are trying to wash clothes.

 

John L.


Post# 1118177 , Reply# 10   5/24/2021 at 15:37 (1,039 days old) by kenwashesmonday (Carlstadt, NJ)        

Combo 52 wrote:

"Even in cold environments WP washers like all other washers ever built will not have trouble agitating like Maytags with the silly slipping belt drive when you are trying to wash clothes."

 

 

 

And in the freezing cold, with a Whirlpool transmission full of molasses, the motor strains to spin up that transmission to full speed with no slippage, and the bearings and the seals are bound to suffer undue wear.

 

That "silly" slipping belt drive is just one of the reasons why heavily used Maytag machines outlived the others.


Post# 1118190 , Reply# 11   5/24/2021 at 16:58 (1,039 days old) by qsd-dan (West)        

qsd-dan's profile picture

Even in cold environments WP washers like all other washers ever built will not have trouble agitating like Maytags with the silly slipping belt drive when you are trying to wash clothes.

 

If a Maytag belt was adjusted as tight as a BD WP/KM, it wouldn't slip in cold temperatures either.

 

When I restored my 906 washer, I installed a new upper shaft and bearings in the upper transmission housing (the shaft was perfect and bearings were fine but I had them on hand, so why not?). I also wanted to experiment with 75/90 Royal Purple synthetic gear oil to see if it was a suitable replacement for the original Maytag oil since I was curious how it performed, knowing it was a matter of time before Whirlpool obsoleted it. During the winter as a torture test, I filled the washer full with water and let sit overnight in the garage to cold soak. Temperature of garage and machine were at 41F the following morning and the transmission banged right up to speed with no drag. When these machines are set up properly with the correct oil, one can have their cake and eat it too.

 


Post# 1118217 , Reply# 12   5/24/2021 at 20:49 (1,039 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

maytag85's profile picture
Another thing too is oil tends to thicken at time goes on. I put some Royal Purple gear oil in and it seems similar to motor oil but is more sticky than oily. I’ll see how it goes when I get the transmission installed but that won’t happen until later this week or next since I am waiting on the new spin clutch to arrive since the original clutch grabs a little too much when it engages into the spin and is abrupt at times but that should all be fixed when I get the new clutch installed.

Post# 1118218 , Reply# 13   5/24/2021 at 21:09 (1,039 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
BD Washer Clutch

combo52's profile picture

Hi Sean, which style clutch are you going to use ?

 

John


Post# 1118239 , Reply# 14   5/25/2021 at 01:31 (1,039 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

maytag85's profile picture
Hi John, I am getting the 3 pad clutch you mentioned in the original thread about my 1963 Whirlpool Imperial Mark XII set since it allows everything to continue running at full speed when the spin engages without dragging or bogging anything down when the spin engages.

Post# 1118247 , Reply# 15   5/25/2021 at 06:19 (1,038 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
BD Washer Clutch

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Are you getting a fast brake clutch and brake assembly or the regular clutch and brake ?

 

The FB is a little over 3" in diameter the regular clutch is over 4" in diameter, if you are converting to FB you need to change the spin cam-bar and use a hardened pin in the control-magnet plunger for the spin side.

 

Keep up the good work.

 

John 


Post# 1118342 , Reply# 16   5/25/2021 at 21:14 (1,038 days old) by felix (São Paulo - Brazil)        
clutch model

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what is the spin clutch model of your washers? here in Brazil, Brastemp had a single model since 1959

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Post# 1118351 , Reply# 17   5/25/2021 at 22:16 (1,038 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

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Hi John, I’ll have to see when the clutch arrives later this week. The clutch I ordered is the correct clutch and I don’t plan and changing any pulleys and I’ll take pictures of when I get the clutch installed on the spin tube and brake assembly.

Post# 1118415 , Reply# 18   5/26/2021 at 18:52 (1,037 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

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Some photos of the new clutch. This should definitely work better than the older style of Whirlpool clutch from 1947 to 1967.

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Post# 1118417 , Reply# 19   5/26/2021 at 18:56 (1,037 days old) by felix (São Paulo - Brazil)        
3 pads?

felix's profile picture
wow 3 pad only? why did they change the cluth for this model?

Post# 1118418 , Reply# 20   5/26/2021 at 19:06 (1,037 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        
Reply #19

maytag85's profile picture
They switched to the 3 pad design since it allowed everything to continue running at full speed when the spin engaged and the older style of clutch tends to grab a little and bogs everything down when it engages into the spin which can cause a suds lock and the newer style of clutch can still suds lock but not as badly with the older style of Whirlpool clutch before 1968.

Post# 1118420 , Reply# 21   5/26/2021 at 19:31 (1,037 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Three Pad Clutch

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Hi Sean, That The Clutch you need that I was talking about, this larger clutch does not require the new cam bar etc and will give you great smooth spin starts.

 

John L.


Post# 1118494 , Reply# 22   5/27/2021 at 15:12 (1,036 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

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Got the new clutch installed and installed the external parts on the transmission. Only thing I have left to do is install it back in the machine and see how it works with the new clutch.

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Post# 1118542 , Reply# 23   5/28/2021 at 01:53 (1,036 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

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Here’s a video I made explaining how the spin works (requested by a viewer) and made videos showing my progress of getting it all back together. Everything seems to be working as it should and definitely works better with the new clutch and I had to adjust the clutch so it would engage properly.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO Maytag85's LINK


Post# 1118691 , Reply# 24   5/29/2021 at 11:21 (1,034 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

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Now here’s one observation I’ve noticed is you know how a Maytag helical transmission sounds when in operation? The transmission now makes a somewhat similar sound but that’s probably the gear oil doing it’s job by lubricating and sticking to the gears in operation.

So far I’ve ran 4 loads of laundry through it and definitely seems to be running smoother with the gear oil in it.


Post# 1153635 , Reply# 25   7/7/2022 at 23:14 (630 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA)        
whirlpool gear oil same as GE filter-flo

I thought the whirlpool direct drives use the same gear oil as the GE filter-flo as they smell the same.

Post# 1153636 , Reply# 26   7/7/2022 at 23:51 (630 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        
Reply #25

maytag85's profile picture
Why are you replying to a thread from last year? And keep replying to threads from years ago and asking the same question over and over again? I know you are anxious for answers but it will take patience and persistence to answer all the questions you have about gearnouls and how a Whirlpool direct drive transmission works.

Post# 1153674 , Reply# 27   7/8/2022 at 11:21 (629 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA)        
gear oil reasons

The reasons why I'm stuck asking the question whether the GE filter-flo and the whirlpool direct drives use the same oil is because they smell the same. So it makes me wonder if they both use the same oil. It's a pressing question that nags me. When I sit in front of a whirlpool direct drive, I am immediately reminded of my GE filter-flo when I smell the gear oil while it's running.

Post# 1153678 , Reply# 28   7/8/2022 at 12:24 (629 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
Can someone with access to them please contact Jerome for a delivery address and send samples of Whirlpool direct-drive and GE FilterFlo transmission oils to him to settle his question?  :-)


Post# 1153680 , Reply# 29   7/8/2022 at 12:38 (629 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

maytag85's profile picture
Here’s a video of someone doing a oil change to a GE Filter Flo washer and doing other various repairs to it. It appears that STP oil is being used to replace whatever oil was in this transmission originally.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO Maytag85's LINK


Post# 1153685 , Reply# 30   7/8/2022 at 14:16 (629 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA)        
GE transmission

I'ts interesting to see how much more oil the GE transmission holds compared to the Whirlpool transmission until their new style GE's in 1995.

Post# 1159639 , Reply# 31   9/16/2022 at 09:07 (559 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA)        
350572

I actually purchased the OEM gear oil and this stuff is thick. I'm just curious is to just how thick though. It does smell like 90w gear oil to me. Is this stuff synthetic? Just curious.

Post# 1159645 , Reply# 32   9/16/2022 at 10:56 (559 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas)        

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Whirlpool always used SAE 60 weight non detergent oil for their gearcases and that is what you purchased NOS. That is not what was used in the final years of the DD machines or the replacement gearcases today. I do not know what they switched to but I’m sure it’s not petroleum based and is definitely thinner.

Post# 1159654 , Reply# 33   9/16/2022 at 15:49 (559 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA)        
smell

it does smell like 90w gear oil.

Post# 1159657 , Reply# 34   9/16/2022 at 16:56 (559 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA)        
whirlpool and GE gear oil

I tend to believe that whirlpool and GE gear oils smell the same. And after reading a review of the whirlpool 350572, I agree because I smelled it.

Post# 1159666 , Reply# 35   9/16/2022 at 19:00 (559 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Washer Transmission Oil

combo52's profile picture

I think the only way to really tell is by tasting it, LOL


Post# 1159669 , Reply# 36   9/16/2022 at 19:59 (559 days old) by qsd-dan (West)        

qsd-dan's profile picture
Gear oil and automotive oil have different viscosity ratings. Here's a couple of charts that show the difference.

From my own experience, 75/140 synthetic gear oil is slightly thinner than conventional 80/90. 85/140 synthetic is thicker than 80/90.

Viscosity choice should be chosen on several different parameters such as operation temperatures, internal/excessive wear, operational noise, and known issues. One could probably use 85/140 in a belt drive Whirlpool/Kenmore with no problems while that would probably be too thick in the DD. DD's are known to have issues with neutral draining when the oil is cold. It would probably be best to use a 75/140 oil in that case.

I used a 75/140 in my 906 when I rebuilt it. With the lid down, the noise level is identical to Maytag transmission oil or conventional 80/90. With the lid up, one could juuuuuust barely hear the gears (sector gear/pinion gear) meshing. It's extremely faint, but there. This is not the case with 80/90 gear oil or Maytag transmission oil. However, I can cold soak that machine down to 38F (maybe even lower) with a tub full of 38F water and it'll bang right up to speed with zero sluggishness. That's not happening with the other 2 oils. Since I don't run my machines at those temps on a regular basis, a 75/140 oil really isn't necessary but I used it for experimental purposes.

I have 85/140 in the transmission of my A902 washer. When I finally get done slapping it together, I'll try running it at different temperatures this winter and see what it can handle. It's won't really be an apples to apples comparison since those early transmissions hold less oil and less water/clothes in the smaller tub. The thicker 85/140 oil is closer to the viscosity of what Maytag used back then.


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Post# 1159676 , Reply# 37   9/16/2022 at 23:00 (559 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA)        
whirlpool 350572 reviews

I'll post the link to the whirlpool gear oil reviews. One user said it smelled like 90w gear oil.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO GELaundry4ever's LINK


Post# 1159700 , Reply# 38   9/17/2022 at 08:26 (558 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA)        
petroleum based

I suspect this gear oil is petroleum based so I assume that's how maytag was able to claim that their centennial lineup had synthetic oil in their transmissions.


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