Parting out too old automatic washers

Hi John, everyone! Happy New Year!

That is an interesting Kenmore, from a time period of some apparent uncertainty or experimentation in Sears’ line up/offerings.

The machine is a 1982 60 series model, and yes I noticed the suds feature, which is uncommon for these machines, at least around here. As many have surely noticed, the machine was built the fifth week of 1983, which is likely one of the last weeks that this model was made.

What did I mean about Sears line up at the time? Well, the black panel models, as loved and unloved at the same time as they are here at AW, were fairly consistent in features each of their first model years, from 1976 thru 1980. When the 1981 models were introduced, they brought the print and font revisions with them on the panels, they discontinued the 29 inch standard capacity washer for domestic Kenmore, and they re-thought feature levels for the 60, 70 and 80 series.

The 1981s had only one 60 series machine, which was somewhat similar, but it had a fabric softener extension on the agitator with a softener dispenser, and the fourth water level. No pre-wash. The first two seventy series models were basically similar, but with and without Pre-Wash. They were crazy unusual though that they offered a Dual Action agitator but also a manual waterfall filter. Sales must have been dismal, likely because of the filter, because these machines also included a higher price. These models also included a painted top and only a porcelain lid.

I don’t think these models were available more than a few months before four new 1982 models came out, including this one, and two revised 70 series models with self cleaning filters in place of the original manual waterfall. Someone at Sears should have said a loud “duh!”

The 1982 models were available, along with a couple of the more successful 81 models, until the very early spring of 1983 when the all new 83 lineup came out which lasted in production into the early fall of 1986.

The 1983 models seem a bit more uniformly thought out, and were enormous sellers during the economic recovery of the mid-1980s.

Another a little interesting tidbit is that during the 1982/1983 models, the DynaGuard finish was introduced, which is just powder coating versus the old enamel painted tops and lids. The powder coating on the 1982 models came out with the – 10 model revisions. This is one of those machines.

John, does this machine have a plastic lid hinges? I suspect it does as I think the mid-level 70 series was the first one to use the old metal hinges, until the plastic hinges were abandoned around 1984.

Neat machine John, it’s too bad about the center post. Thanks a lot for sharing this with us.

Gordon


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Post# 1196672 1/7/2024 at 16:43 by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes 3 We still see quite a few dependable Care May tags whirlpools Kenmore’s and Ge Filter Flow washers. Last week we removed a 1983 super capacity Kenmore belt Drive washer from service and we also removed a 1991 Maytag 712. Both of these machines were in similar sized homes in the same ZIP Code in Northwest Washington we serviced, both of them over the years, I believe they saw a similar amount of use, although kenmore was eight years older. The Maytag died of a bad damper, the black death, the Kenmore the center post rusted completely through apparently the customer like to soak things in it a lot overnight. The Maytag had more repairs over the years both of the machines had new inlet valves. The whirlpool had a new water pump once and the Maytag had a transmission conversion to orbital with the improved agitator and a center seal kit in 2006. Interestingly, the wash basket and outer tub and under the tub cover were much dirtier in the Maytag with the spin drain compared to the Kenmore with the neutral drain system. I saved the transmission from the Maytag, and the transmission from the Kenmore was an excellent shape both are ready to go into another washing machine Pictures follow. John Photos... < > Photo 1 of 18 View Full Size

Post# 1196678 , Reply# 1 1/7/2024 at 17:37 by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas)
Checkrate/Likes The outer tub in the kenmore looked pretty good for its age.

Post# 1196686 , Reply# 2 1/7/2024 at 19:37 by RP2813 (Sannazay)
Checkrate/Likes 1 I'm surprised that by 1983 Sears/WP still hadn't come up with a Spray 'n' Wash-resistant console panel.

Post# 1196692 , Reply# 3 1/7/2024 at 22:12 by drummerboy928 (Illinois)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Both of those machines looks like they had a fairly hard, and long life. Would definitely be interested in trying to find a way to get that agitator cap from the Kenmore. I have the pentavane agitator in my 70 series, but no cap to cover the bolt.

Post# 1196704 , Reply# 4 1/8/2024 at 02:39 by aircub (Huntington, AR)
Checkrate/Likes *KM agitator* I would love to have penta vane agitator! they look like they do a good job at moving the clothes! Darren

Post# 1196714 , Reply# 5 1/8/2024 at 09:03 by Mel (Knoxville)
Checkrate/Likes *Bleach Inlet Deflector* I could use the bleach inlet deflector spout (2-14434) from the Maytag outer tub. Melissa

Post# 1196717 , Reply# 6 1/8/2024 at 11:41 by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Partying out old machines* Hi Ralph, I don’t think anybody ever came up with a spray and wash resistant control panel, fortunately spray and wash is now less aggressive and I’m not really sure what ruined that panel on the Kenmore. I think I’m gonna keep the cap with with the agitator, Hi Melissa, I’ll see if I can grab that plastic piece out of the outer tub. I was going to recycle the outer tub since it was pretty rusty. I’ll let you know. John

Post# 1196726 , Reply# 7 1/8/2024 at 14:30 by Good-Shepherd (New Jersey)
Checkrate/Likes 2 *we also removed a 1991 Maytag 712.* That A712 died way too young. With better care and some simple maintenance that machine could've run another 10 years. Whats with all that tan crud on the mounting stem and the outer tub, hard water area or cold washes with not enough detergent?

Post# 1196732 , Reply# 8 1/8/2024 at 16:05 by dominic20 (Souix falls)
Checkrate/Likes 2 *kenmore fan* the kenmore looks cool i am not shure what that agitator is called.

Post# 1196734 , Reply# 9 1/8/2024 at 16:35 by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)
Checkrate/Likes 1 The Kenmore's agitator is a Penta-Vane. It's the lower-end version of the Penta-Swirl. Both were used on only on super-size 18-lb capacity models at the time.

Post# 1196738 , Reply# 10 1/8/2024 at 17:27 by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Can't save them all....

Post# 1196741 , Reply# 11 1/8/2024 at 18:07 by qsd-dan (West)
Checkrate/Likes 5 The 12 series machines never made it into the 90's, you should know that by now. TP= Aug 1987 Trying to prove cleanliness of 2 different machines owned by 2 different owners is scientifically hilarious. Everybody has their own laundering techniques and those will show widely different results even with identical washers in the same exact location. Hell, the choice of detergent alone (along with dosage) will make a huge difference and we haven't even got into water temps. I'm sure if I pulled the inner tub of my daily driver, it would be near spotless. Mechanically softened water with quality detergent and water temps never going below 85F (and as high as 160F) will keep things clean. I'll actually be doing that in the very near future as I don't put trust in the lip seal design of the stem seal Maytag implemented in the mid 90's and it's already 15 years old now. Stay tuned. "We serviced, both of them over the years..." So, during all of this "servicing" you never once recommended lubing the damper pads? The first thing a tech should do while servicing/repairing any helical washer for any reason is to rock the tub. It only takes literally a couple of seconds.

Post# 1196747 , Reply# 12 1/8/2024 at 20:32 by chetlaham (United States)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Freudian Slip* "too old" Hmmmm, a washer can never get to old. Not when both are timeless classics. I hope both of those washers were replaced with Speed Queens.

Post# 1196749 , Reply# 13 1/8/2024 at 21:15 by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Parting out to washers* Hi Dan, I kind of thought that Maytag was older than 91 I was going by the date on the motor so I guess it had a new motor when it was just four years old as well. I did lubricate the damper pads when I put the new transmission in in 2006. Whenever I work on a dependable care Maytag, I check and see if the damper is still moving smoothly and if so I lubricate it but once it’s in the state of this one it shot, Maytag never recommended periodic lubrication for this crummy design, maybe they should’ve had the housewife doing so lol And I’m not letting whirlpool off the hook either the center post design was terrible should’ve been more durable but they weren’t designing washing machines last forever. Did anybody notice the Kenmore was a saver model? Even with reusing the dirty wash water. The machine was still cleaner than the Maytag but of course individual consumers do things that are bad for their washers, but I do know the owner of the Maytag personally and they were pretty damn fastidious. Laundry was always great, they even hire a woman to iron every week. The Maytag was replaced with a full size GE front loader, they have a 10 year old GE dryer. The Kenmore was replaced with a 24 inch GE front load washer because we couldn’t get a full size washer into the house. The doorways were too narrow. We had to disassemble the Old Belt Dr., Kenmore to get it out of the house but Kenmores were fairly shallow front to back. The Kenmore washers matching electric electric dryer is still going strong. I know that it had a new bleach dispenser hose new set of belts, new inlet valve Transmission and center seal of course and apparently a new motor turned out to be a fairly expensive washer although it is nice that it lasted longer than I thought and it certainly lasted much longer because of our great service. The average Maytag like this only lasts around 20 -22 years before it’s junked . Water rates are very expensive in DC. Both homes will see significant savings in water cost to say nothing of energy savings and hot water energy use with the electric dryers and cleaner clothes that will last longer as well. John

Post# 1196759 , Reply# 14 1/8/2024 at 23:32 by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes 5 *Interesting Kenmore* Hi John, everyone! Happy New Year! That is an interesting Kenmore, from a time period of some apparent uncertainty or experimentation in Sears’ line up/offerings. The machine is a 1982 60 series model, and yes I noticed the suds feature, which is uncommon for these machines, at least around here. As many have surely noticed, the machine was built the fifth week of 1983, which is likely one of the last weeks that this model was made. What did I mean about Sears line up at the time? Well, the black panel models, as loved and unloved at the same time as they are here at AW, were fairly consistent in features each of their first model years, from 1976 thru 1980. When the 1981 models were introduced, they brought the print and font revisions with them on the panels, they discontinued the 29 inch standard capacity washer for domestic Kenmore, and they re-thought feature levels for the 60, 70 and 80 series. The 1981s had only one 60 series machine, which was somewhat similar, but it had a fabric softener extension on the agitator with a softener dispenser, and the fourth water level. No pre-wash. The first two seventy series models were basically similar, but with and without Pre-Wash. They were crazy unusual though that they offered a Dual Action agitator but also a manual waterfall filter. Sales must have been dismal, likely because of the filter, because these machines also included a higher price. These models also included a painted top and only a porcelain lid. I don’t think these models were available more than a few months before four new 1982 models came out, including this one, and two revised 70 series models with self cleaning filters in place of the original manual waterfall. Someone at Sears should have said a loud “duh!” The 1982 models were available, along with a couple of the more successful 81 models, until the very early spring of 1983 when the all new 83 lineup came out which lasted in production into the early fall of 1986. The 1983 models seem a bit more uniformly thought out, and were enormous sellers during the economic recovery of the mid-1980s. Another a little interesting tidbit is that during the 1982/1983 models, the DynaGuard finish was introduced, which is just powder coating versus the old enamel painted tops and lids. The powder coating on the 1982 models came out with the – 10 model revisions. This is one of those machines. John, does this machine have a plastic lid hinges? I suspect it does as I think the mid-level 70 series was the first one to use the old metal hinges, until the plastic hinges were abandoned around 1984. Neat machine John, it’s too bad about the center post. Thanks a lot for sharing this with us. Gordon

Post# 1196788 , Reply# 15 1/9/2024 at 08:57 by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes Hi Gordon, and happy New Year’s to you as well As usual, your information is right on the money, this machine did have a porcelain lid and plastic hinges. Both were in perfect shape and I save them. The top had a little bit of rust around the edges. I have spare base plates for this I could’ve easily restored it the cabinet had a little rust near the bottom as well, the control panel was the worst thing. But the inner and outer tub are good enough to save another machine with so I did save those as well as the transmission, which is near perfect condition, much more durable than a Maytag transmission where the shaft is exposed to water all the time Never made any sense for them to have a post drive. John