Vintage Kenmore 80 series

Hello David and everyone!

I am happy to see others excited with these final generation belt-drives. I recall not too long ago that my enthusiasm for them was only luke-warmly received because of other more vintage belt-drives, etc.

David, the machine you have is a rather rare one from the 1983 line up, which was the last full line of belt drives. There were 10 models in the large capacity configuration that year. One 60 series, four 70 series, four 80 series, and one 90, the Lady K. In some of the models, the only difference between was a couple of water levels, or auto temps.

Three of the 70s were immensely popular, as was the entry 80, and the Lady K, but the 60, one of the 70s, and three of the 80s were not common to rare, including the one you have here. It differed from the entry 80 only by having the double coat white basket from the Lady K. I have come across many dozens of the entry 80, which had a blue/gray speckled basket, but only one or two of these. Note that when I say “rare” or “not common”, that is relative to Kenmore’s output vs. other truly rare or uncommon manurfacturers.

You mention the timer getting stuck in the final spin. My first thought is that your machine has its original 376011 Mallory timer, which is developing dead spots from wear. That will only get worse. Giggling the timer knob is a dead give-away of this, pardon the pun. When I come across this, I like to replace the 376011 with a CCA/Singer 376008 if one can be found, or a 378133, which is Whirlpool’s replacement and has been for several decades. The 378133 requires a jumper wire added to the timer wiring harness to retain spray rinses. I installed 378133 in my Mom’s 1982 Kenmore back in the mid 90s and I am sure the replacement did more loads of laundry than the original, which I used for parts to “make” a timer for my 1985 entry 80 that I like to refer to as ‘Robo-washer’ because of how much of it has been rebuilt or replaced.

Again, it’s nice to see enthusiasm going toward these machines! I bought one of these new in 1986, an entry 70, as a college kid, and I still have it. It’s where my enjoyment of this line of models started. If I can answer any questions, I’m happy to.

Enjoy!

Gordon


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Post# 1121519 6/27/2021 at 12:03 (1,026 days old) by Dogluvr (Atlanta )
Checkrate/Likes 1 Hello everyone, new member here. I’d love help with my latest acquisition. I picked up this washer from FB Marketplace for 50 bucks. I’d love to know all that I can about it. It’s history And date of manufacture, etc. thanks for any and all help. It washed its first load perfectly today and brought back some memories!! Photos... < > Photo 1 of 6 View Full Size

Post# 1121521 , Reply# 1 6/27/2021 at 12:14 (1,026 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas)
Checkrate/Likes 2 Congratulations! Your washer was built the 32nd week of 1985 and this design of machine was discontinued in 1986.

Post# 1121524 , Reply# 2 6/27/2021 at 13:18 (1,026 days old) by agiflow ()
Checkrate/Likes 2 These were excellent machines and this design has aged very well.

Post# 1121526 , Reply# 3 6/27/2021 at 13:38 (1,026 days old) by laundryboy (Orlando Florida & Moravia NY. )
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Beautiful* Congrats on the find She's beautiful,

Post# 1121528 , Reply# 4 6/27/2021 at 13:46 (1,026 days old) by lakewebsterkid (Dayton, Ohio)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Nice!* Not sure I recall seeing an infinite water level selector on these machines. Enjoy!

Post# 1121534 , Reply# 5 6/27/2021 at 15:32 (1,026 days old) by drummerboy928 (Illinois)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Looks familiar.....* Congrats on the find! My 1986 70 Series looks just like that, minus the white tub and infinite water level. I’ve modified mine quite a bit in the five years i’ve owned it but it started out almost identical. Photos... < > Photo 1 of 3 View Full Size

Post# 1121538 , Reply# 6 6/27/2021 at 16:47 (1,026 days old) by appnut (TX)
Checkrate/Likes 1 David, I'm assuming your washer also has a bleach & fabric softener dispenser to the left side of the tub/door opening. If so, this would make this the most featured 80 series model.

Post# 1121582 , Reply# 7 6/28/2021 at 02:13 (1,026 days old) by toploadloyalist (San Luis Obispo, CA)
Checkrate/Likes 1 What agitation speed were the Pre-Soak and Pre-Wash cycles from that era?

Post# 1121592 , Reply# 8 6/28/2021 at 08:57 (1,025 days old) by drummerboy928 (Illinois)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Speeds* On these machines, Fast agitation was used for the Cotton/Sturdy and Permanent Press cycles. Low speed agitation was used on the Knits/Delicate and Pre-Wash cycles. The fast spin speed was used on the Pre-wash and Cotton/Sturdy cycle and low speed was used on the other two cycles

Post# 1121631 , Reply# 10 6/28/2021 at 16:40 (1,025 days old) by Dogluvr (Atlanta )
Checkrate/Likes 1 Oh wow! Thanks for all the replies! Yes I’m really excited to have found it. It seems to work great so far. Today it seems to have gotten a little “stuck” in the spin cycle right before off and stopped spinning. I lightly touched the center knob and it came right back on and finished its cycle. Maybe the knob is a little touchy. I guess after 36 years!! I look forward to restoring it back to its former glory as much as I can. Any help with parts, websites, manuals, etc would be great.

Post# 1121662 , Reply# 15 6/28/2021 at 22:01 (1,025 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Yes, I would start with eBay, I have lost track of what may still be available from Whirlpool but at one time not that long ago the 378133 timer was still in stock there. Are you looking for anything specifically yet? If you are looking for something in particular, save your search on eBay, and they will notify you each time a new matching listing is added. Also try Sears Parts Direct, I have heard this site has changed over the years, but originally it had full scans of the parts diagrams for every model. It is or was a resource to get part numbers, from there I check eBay, etc. Gordon

Post# 1121663 , Reply# 16 6/28/2021 at 22:07 (1,025 days old) by qsd-dan (West)
Checkrate/Likes How does the "Automatic" water temperature selection work?

Post# 1121670 , Reply# 17 6/28/2021 at 23:23 (1,025 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes 2 Dan, in the Normal aka Cotton/Sturdy and Perm Press cycles, this timer is capable of preset temps based on agitate time selected during fill. Hot for the longest wash period and warm for rest. In many models that used this timer, the temp selector switch always overrides the presets. In models equipped with the flexible switch, the presets are either allowed to be active (automatic) or overridden on the manual selections. I believe the timer defaults to warm wash on the knit delicate cycle, and rinse temps, whatever they may be, on the pre soak and pre wash. Gordon

Post# 1121596 , Reply# 9 6/28/2021 at 09:20 (1,025 days old) by littlegreeny (Milwaukee, WI)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Lovely Washer!* The Kenmore we had when I grew up was very similar but ours had 5 water levels instead of the infinite selection. It's an excellent machine. Enjoy!

Post# 1121650 , Reply# 11 6/28/2021 at 19:25 (1,025 days old) by toploadloyalist (San Luis Obispo, CA)
Checkrate/Likes *Pre-Wash agitation speed* On models with Pre-Wash, but not Pre-Soak, the agitation speed was high.

Post# 1121651 , Reply# 12 6/28/2021 at 19:30 (1,025 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Seems reasonable that prewash and soak agitation would be low speed to facilitate using them for delicate items.

Post# 1121659 , Reply# 13 6/28/2021 at 21:37 (1,025 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes 3 *Final 1983 line of KM belt drives* Hello David and everyone! I am happy to see others excited with these final generation belt-drives. I recall not too long ago that my enthusiasm for them was only luke-warmly received because of other more vintage belt-drives, etc. David, the machine you have is a rather rare one from the 1983 line up, which was the last full line of belt drives. There were 10 models in the large capacity configuration that year. One 60 series, four 70 series, four 80 series, and one 90, the Lady K. In some of the models, the only difference between was a couple of water levels, or auto temps. Three of the 70s were immensely popular, as was the entry 80, and the Lady K, but the 60, one of the 70s, and three of the 80s were not common to rare, including the one you have here. It differed from the entry 80 only by having the double coat white basket from the Lady K. I have come across many dozens of the entry 80, which had a blue/gray speckled basket, but only one or two of these. Note that when I say “rare” or “not common”, that is relative to Kenmore’s output vs. other truly rare or uncommon manurfacturers. You mention the timer getting stuck in the final spin. My first thought is that your machine has its original 376011 Mallory timer, which is developing dead spots from wear. That will only get worse. Giggling the timer knob is a dead give-away of this, pardon the pun. When I come across this, I like to replace the 376011 with a CCA/Singer 376008 if one can be found, or a 378133, which is Whirlpool’s replacement and has been for several decades. The 378133 requires a jumper wire added to the timer wiring harness to retain spray rinses. I installed 378133 in my Mom’s 1982 Kenmore back in the mid 90s and I am sure the replacement did more loads of laundry than the original, which I used for parts to “make” a timer for my 1985 entry 80 that I like to refer to as ‘Robo-washer’ because of how much of it has been rebuilt or replaced. Again, it’s nice to see enthusiasm going toward these machines! I bought one of these new in 1986, an entry 70, as a college kid, and I still have it. It’s where my enjoyment of this line of models started. If I can answer any questions, I’m happy to. Enjoy! Gordon

Post# 1121661 , Reply# 14 6/28/2021 at 21:50 (1,025 days old) by Dogluvr (Atlanta )
Checkrate/Likes Thank you Gordon! What’s the best resource for those parts? eBay? Any good sites? Of course I’ll be searching myself as well. I was only 2 years old when this washer was built LOL and here I am excited to get one that’s almost as old as me! I showed my mom what I bought and she loved it. I love fixing things so this machine and I will get along great And yes it does have the bleach dispenser View Full Size

Post# 1121679 , Reply# 18 6/29/2021 at 00:23 (1,025 days old) by qsd-dan (West)
Checkrate/Likes Interesting, thanks Gordon.

Post# 1121781 , Reply# 19 6/29/2021 at 16:38 (1,024 days old) by Dogluvr (Atlanta )
Checkrate/Likes Thanks Gordon! After reading the lid on the machine this morning, I think what happened the other day may have had something to do with the out of balance buzzer feature. Because I think it was trying to make a buzzing sound but it’s very tired LOL I could hear a noise and it sounded like a buzzer for a split second. That’s when the spinning stopped and I touched the knob again and it started going again and finished the cycle. I’ll be buying any parts I can find really. I plan on keeping this baby going for a good long while! I bought a backup Whirlpool Gold Ultimate Care II yesterday to have as a backup. Another older used unit but works well. Now I don’t have to worry about being stuck without a washer. Two string machines for $200 total. Forget those insane prices at the stores on these new machines that wash your clothes in 12 ounces of water! Thanks again. I’m glad I found this site!!

Post# 1121782 , Reply# 20 6/29/2021 at 16:49 (1,024 days old) by Dogluvr (Atlanta )
Checkrate/Likes This look right Gordon? View Full Size