RCA Whirlpool Wringer

Was reading through archive posts last night and came across your name in an old thread and thought "WEHT..?", now up you come. *LOL*

Good to see you posting and hope you and the family are biding well.

Other than mistreating machine there isn't much you can otherwise do to "keep pump operational". That is simply use machine as normal and take proper care.

At end of wash day before putting machine away rinse down tub with clear water and let it drain out. This will clear out traces of remaining detergent, soap and other much to prevent hard residue from forming clogs.

Not sure if applies to your RCA/Whirlpool wringer but many others drained by gravity with or without pump. If this is true after proceeding as above (cleaning out tub and etc....), lower drain hose into a buck or floor drain and let remaining water drain out of sump. This again will prevent things from getting fouled or mucked up, especially if washer isn't used frequently.

Above advice shouldn't fall under "don't suggest not using pump" as it was commonly given advice for Maytag and other wringer washers with pumps. As with any other clothes washer pump doesn't totally drain sump area, there is always going to be some water remaining. Problem is depending upon quality of said water, detergent or soap used, lint, etc... if left long enough things harden or build up.

Service guide for later models of Whirlpool wringers can be found in AW's library for downloading. Have a copy and it does cover installing, troubleshooting and repairing of pump for those machines. Not sure how much if any of it applies to your machine.

WP stopped making wringer washers in early 1970's (1971 or 1972, cannot recall). But unlike Maytag who revved up production and laid in horde of spares before pulling plug on their wringer washers a decade later, WP did no such thing. As such yes, NOS parts for WP wringer washers are scarce.

Happily Sears/Kenmore sold tons of wringer washers (made by Whirlpool) so there's another source to look for spares. Whirlpool bought RCA in 1955 and began using "RCA-Whirlpool" which lasted until 1966. Under the bonnet Sears/Kenmore wringer washers from that period and perhaps later likely shared same parts as RCA-Whirlpool.

In various incarnations (RCA-Whirlpool, Whirlpool, Lady Kenmore, Kenmore..) Whirlpool made some great wringer washers. They kept innovating and adding features such as lint filters, timers, open top wringer (Visi-Matic) right up to the end.


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Post# 1185893 7/26/2023 at 10:59 (282 days old) by HobartHero (New York)
Checkrate/Likes 2 I’m finding it hard to post much here or enjoy my hobby the last couple years with the little ones but I have a quick question for some of my friends here. I have this I’m guessing 50’s-60’s era whirlpool wringer and it works flawlessly. Clearly was well taken care of etc. The drain pump even works which I know is extremely uncommon. Does anyone have any tips or advice to keep the pump operational as that is normally the failure point on these machines. I have yet to find any replacement parts for these pumps so I would like to preserve what I have here. Please don’t suggest not using the pump lol. I enjoy using these as they were intended to be used and I would like to keep doing so in the future. Thanks, Shannon View Full Size

Post# 1185898 , Reply# 1 7/26/2023 at 12:19 (282 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)
Checkrate/Likes *Well butter my behind and call me a biscut!* Was reading through archive posts last night and came across your name in an old thread and thought "WEHT..?", now up you come. LOL Good to see you posting and hope you and the family are biding well. Other than mistreating machine there isn't much you can otherwise do to "keep pump operational". That is simply use machine as normal and take proper care. At end of wash day before putting machine away rinse down tub with clear water and let it drain out. This will clear out traces of remaining detergent, soap and other much to prevent hard residue from forming clogs. Not sure if applies to your RCA/Whirlpool wringer but many others drained by gravity with or without pump. If this is true after proceeding as above (cleaning out tub and etc....), lower drain hose into a buck or floor drain and let remaining water drain out of sump. This again will prevent things from getting fouled or mucked up, especially if washer isn't used frequently. Above advice shouldn't fall under "don't suggest not using pump" as it was commonly given advice for Maytag and other wringer washers with pumps. As with any other clothes washer pump doesn't totally drain sump area, there is always going to be some water remaining. Problem is depending upon quality of said water, detergent or soap used, lint, etc... if left long enough things harden or build up. Service guide for later models of Whirlpool wringers can be found in AW's library for downloading. Have a copy and it does cover installing, troubleshooting and repairing of pump for those machines. Not sure how much if any of it applies to your machine. WP stopped making wringer washers in early 1970's (1971 or 1972, cannot recall). But unlike Maytag who revved up production and laid in horde of spares before pulling plug on their wringer washers a decade later, WP did no such thing. As such yes, NOS parts for WP wringer washers are scarce. Happily Sears/Kenmore sold tons of wringer washers (made by Whirlpool) so there's another source to look for spares. Whirlpool bought RCA in 1955 and began using "RCA-Whirlpool" which lasted until 1966. Under the bonnet Sears/Kenmore wringer washers from that period and perhaps later likely shared same parts as RCA-Whirlpool. In various incarnations (RCA-Whirlpool, Whirlpool, Lady Kenmore, Kenmore..) Whirlpool made some great wringer washers. They kept innovating and adding features such as lint filters, timers, open top wringer (Visi-Matic) right up to the end.

Post# 1185901 , Reply# 2 7/26/2023 at 12:31 (282 days old) by HobartHero (New York)
Checkrate/Likes *Pump build quality* I have a Lady Kenmore machine with an identical pump setup but it is non operational as is the norm, but otherwise a very clean working machine extremely similar to my Whirlpool model here. Usually these either seize up or the impeller inside the pump breaks apart/breaks off the shaft. Simply having replacement pump part’s would ease my mind. Is there any lubricant that should be used on the pump bearing where the pump impeller shaft exits the pump housing? I also would love the lint filter that my unit is missing (mounting location and tub photos below) if anyone has any leads. Always great to interact with all of you here! -Shannon Photos... < > Photo 1 of 2 View Full Size

Post# 1185906 , Reply# 3 7/26/2023 at 13:01 (282 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)
Checkrate/Likes According to my copy of WP wringer washer service manual (downloaded from AW) only mention of any sort of lubricant for pump is "soak felt wick with turbine oil..." when reassembling after repair. Didn't see anything about lubrication impeller, pump housing, etc... Doesn't mean it wasn't there or perhaps may apply to your machine. Am sure someone with more knowledge than one will pop up.