Thread Number: 9768
Pushbutton Lady Kenmore |
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Post# 180536   1/3/2007 at 19:23 (6,293 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 180541 , Reply# 2   1/3/2007 at 19:58 (6,293 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 180545 , Reply# 5   1/3/2007 at 20:18 (6,293 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
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Post# 180575 , Reply# 6   1/3/2007 at 22:11 (6,293 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E)   |   | |
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YES! Lady Kenmores were not only Sears' TOL, they were the most full-featured washers anywhere. If you had a pair of LKs, you were doing better than all right. They were expensive at the time, but they were built well. I had a late-'60s LK washer for a time in the early '80s; wish I still had it. And a matching dryer, too. I don't really need all those cycles, but there's something about keyboard LKs that is irresistible. |
Post# 180580 , Reply# 7   1/3/2007 at 22:33 (6,293 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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No matching dryer for this LK, Dane. That would be nice, though. Apparently one advantage of the flip up door to access the cycle buttons is that it helps to keep them clean and unaffected by ambient (visible and UV) light. Speaking of light, apparently the console light is still working after all these years. I think I'm looking forward to this addition to the growing collection. I think I may have to get rid of a car or two :-) |
Post# 180589 , Reply# 8   1/3/2007 at 22:50 (6,293 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E)   |   | |
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I have to admit I'm partial to the keyboard LK's like the one I had, that didn't have the flip-up door. It was cool to see that huge, impressive array of cycle buttons out in the open like that. I also like the pot-metal dispenser cover on those models- if memory serves, Sears later went to plastic matching the washer colour. The pot-metal dispenser was a very expensive-looking brushed finish. Using a keyboard LK was something like driving a Lincoln Continental of the same period; everything felt solid and expensive, and the technology behind it was reliable and did its job without complaint. It was more than a washing machine- it was a statement that you cared enough to have the very best. The ONLY washer I ever saw that could compete with the keyboard LK on its own terms was the Maytag 906 like Greg has (post pics sometime, willya, Greg?). That was also a beautiful, sleek machine. Frigidaire made some extremely nice machines, but the LKs and the 906 were the nicest-looking on the market, for my taste.
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Post# 180602 , Reply# 9   1/3/2007 at 23:15 (6,293 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Well, I wonder if I could make a plexiglass door and replace the stock door with that, so the buttons would be viewable but protected at all times... lol... I also would like to see a photo of Greg's 906. I didn't even know there was something above an 806... From what I've seen so far, though, the build quality and materials on the 06 Maytags, even the lower models, is much nicer than that on the middling Whirlpools. |
Post# 180603 , Reply# 10   1/3/2007 at 23:26 (6,293 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E)   |   | |
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I found that Greg has a Yahoo! album showing off his lovelies; the 906's are to be seen at: new.photos.yahoo.com/gansky1/albu... Now if I can only keep from drooling all over the keyboard... |
Post# 180607 , Reply# 12   1/4/2007 at 00:20 (6,293 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E)   |   | |
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Just wanted to mention: There was a real difference in philosophy between the keyboard LKs and the Maytag 906s. The Kenmore invited creativity- "What will I get if I combine THIS key with THAT dial setting?" You could potchke with the settings all day long. The Maytag did it all for you at the push of one understated button; it was for people who wanted convenience, not emotional investment. The only thing I didn't like about the 906s was that Maytag used the same el cheapo pull on the dryer door that all Maytags got. A dryer with a control panel that elegant should have gotten something more refined. |
Post# 180610 , Reply# 13   1/4/2007 at 00:31 (6,293 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 180809 , Reply# 14   1/4/2007 at 19:58 (6,292 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
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Post# 180814 , Reply# 15   1/4/2007 at 20:45 (6,292 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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You can select all or none of the following: pre-wash, soak, cold rinse, extra rinse, spin only or cancel in addition to all the regular cycles The cooldown is a double one with AGITATION and fill simultaneously The soak is 30 min. with inter. agitatation, and leads automatically to wash Watching the dispenser flush is a first-rate treat. esp watching it negotiate the soak and wash soaps The variflex agi ,open to full flex, gives you the ride of your life; only the KA is more powerful The push buttons are huge, like small Hershey bars and the "smart" cycle dial stops sharp and hard automatically depending on which buttons you have pressed. I had one in a house I cared for, for 3 years, and I may someday get the machine Of all the automatics I've been lucky enough to experience, it is hands down the coolest machine I know. It never stops pleasing or amazing. It is a very powerful, sturdy and beautiful piece of work--could convert a Maytag Man licketysplit or in a heartbeat! Thanks for the memory which I hope one day will become a reality. |
Post# 180861 , Reply# 16   1/5/2007 at 00:17 (6,292 days old) by powerfin64 (Yakima, Washington)   |   | |
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Post# 180870 , Reply# 17   1/5/2007 at 01:14 (6,292 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 183379 , Reply# 18   1/15/2007 at 18:37 (6,281 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 183380 , Reply# 19   1/15/2007 at 18:39 (6,281 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 183381 , Reply# 20   1/15/2007 at 18:40 (6,281 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 183383 , Reply# 21   1/15/2007 at 18:41 (6,281 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 183384 , Reply# 22   1/15/2007 at 18:42 (6,281 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 183385 , Reply# 23   1/15/2007 at 18:43 (6,281 days old) by exploder3211 ()   |   | |
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Great Washer.. Love all the buttons or "keys" |
Post# 183386 , Reply# 24   1/15/2007 at 18:44 (6,281 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 183394 , Reply# 25   1/15/2007 at 19:02 (6,281 days old) by scott55405 ()   |   | |
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You plugged it in on the truck! I can see the light! Very nice machine. I wonder what "custom care" is. I don't think I've seen a white Vari-Flex before. |
Post# 183399 , Reply# 26   1/15/2007 at 19:19 (6,281 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Actually it was just off the truck when I plugged it in. I usually back the truck up to the driveway ramp to unload major appliances - makes the tailgate lower to the ground. Then I roll the appliance into the "holding and testing area", lol. I'm told this one leaks a little so I suspect it will require a major tear-down like the '65 RCA. Further diagnosis will have to wait until the weekend when I can do a test run and look underneath for signs of obvious leakage. The leak is coming from the left rear so it might just be a loose hose connection at the self-cleaning filter, or the filter leaking itself. |
Post# 183415 , Reply# 27   1/15/2007 at 19:50 (6,281 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
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Scott, the "custom care" button is most likely the 3rd speed selection. This only affected agitation speed, spin speeds remained normal or slow, depending on cycle. Agitation on PP & Normal is regular. When the button is pushed, agitation becomes gentle. On the knitsdelicates cycle, the regular gentle speed became the 3rd ex-lo speed agitation. Incidentally, this was the only model in the line with a 10 minute knits/delicate max cycle time. The 10 minutes was for knits, I do believe the 8 minute mark on the timer was a 2 minute pause/soak. 6 minutes was for delicates & washable woolens.
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Post# 183417 , Reply# 29   1/15/2007 at 19:51 (6,281 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
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Post# 183426 , Reply# 30   1/15/2007 at 20:17 (6,281 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Until I get a chance to test her, what is the interaction between the dial timer and the keyboard? Can one simply ignore the dial timer (except for in/out on/off operation) and use the keyboard to set everything? Will the dial timer advance to correct setting according to keyboard selections? Or must one set both timer and keyboard at the same time?
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Post# 183428 , Reply# 31   1/15/2007 at 20:20 (6,281 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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This one has the plastic detergent dispenser (chrome plated plastic, that is), but there is no tray inside for different additions. Is there supposed to be one? The owner indicated something was missing, but she couldn't remember what. On the left front side of the basket opening there is a cut-out in the top ring, but there is no fitting for it. I wonder what that was for. It doesn't seem to have any water inlet so I don't think it's a dispenser. I will contact the owner to see if she can find the missing three-compartment dispenser insert, if that is what is missing. |
Post# 183429 , Reply# 32   1/15/2007 at 20:24 (6,281 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
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Rich, on the left where that opening is is where the fabric softener & bleach dispensers were. Since that's missing, as well as the plastic detergent tray, I venture to say the lady that owned it wasn't the original (because the dispensers are usually removed when a machine is refurbed to be resold) or the devices wore themselves out and were removed long ago due to calcium, lime, rust issues.
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Post# 183431 , Reply# 33   1/15/2007 at 20:27 (6,281 days old) by powerfin64 (Yakima, Washington)   |   | |
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thats 70-71 Lady K. Mine is a 72. only differances are: yours keypads are color coded( mine aren't)yours has a soap dipenser where mine is a triple. Vari-Flex agitator is white, like mine. Doing laundry won't be the same as it was with your new Lady K now! ENJOY!! Rich P.S. I know where I can get you a better Timer dial, if you want one. Email me at my profile address. |
Post# 183432 , Reply# 34   1/15/2007 at 20:28 (6,281 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
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As far as the interaction between the timer knob and the buttons, the buttons select the wash & rinse temps. It's been a whiloe since I saw the lid instructions, but if the wash time for cottons white & cottons colors are both 14 minutes, then that was set up so the detergent dispenser could be used. If it's 12 for colored, then the dispenser flushes for a total of up to 4 minutes. With the cycle button depressed, when you pull the knob out to "stop" washer aned rotate knob around, it will stop on the base cycle selected for the fabric (I think caused by some sort of cam). Then you push the timer knob in to start the machine. At that point, you may move the timer to a different wash time within that cycle if you so choose. If that is done, I doubt the detergent dispenser works. Have I confused you or answered the question?
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Post# 183437 , Reply# 35   1/15/2007 at 20:41 (6,281 days old) by powerfin64 (Yakima, Washington)   |   | |
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Post# 183466 , Reply# 36   1/15/2007 at 22:29 (6,281 days old) by scott55405 ()   |   | |
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thanks for the custom care description, Bob and Cehelstead! |
Post# 183471 , Reply# 37   1/15/2007 at 23:27 (6,281 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E)   |   | |
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It almost makes me sad to see this Lady K, because I remember when these machines were new. In those days, the machines got a little nicer each year, with a couple of new features. We thought that was going to go on forever. By the 21st Century (then so far off you couldn't imagine it was ever going to get here) washing machines were going to be absolutely fantastic. Maybe ultrasonic, maybe something else- but they were going to be GREAT. What happened? Everything's plastic now, everything is goofy electronics with suicidal control boards, and most of the brands that were around in the early '70s are gone now. I'm glad you saved this machine, as a reminder of a time when some American corporations still knew what they were doing. |
Post# 183475 , Reply# 38   1/16/2007 at 00:10 (6,281 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 183476 , Reply# 39   1/16/2007 at 00:13 (6,281 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 183478 , Reply# 40   1/16/2007 at 00:17 (6,281 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
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Post# 184710 , Reply# 41   1/21/2007 at 01:56 (6,276 days old) by powerfin64 (Yakima, Washington)   |   | |
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Post# 184712 , Reply# 42   1/21/2007 at 02:28 (6,276 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 184769 , Reply# 44   1/21/2007 at 13:01 (6,275 days old) by powerfin64 (Yakima, Washington)   |   | |
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Post# 184776 , Reply# 45   1/21/2007 at 13:57 (6,275 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 184790 , Reply# 46   1/21/2007 at 16:57 (6,275 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Post# 184797 , Reply# 47   1/21/2007 at 17:46 (6,275 days old) by gefliterflo ()   |   | |
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How does the Vari-Flex work with the control being on the top of the agitator and not on the control panel? |
Post# 184800 , Reply# 48   1/21/2007 at 18:00 (6,275 days old) by powerfin64 (Yakima, Washington)   |   | |
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Post# 184805 , Reply# 49   1/21/2007 at 18:14 (6,275 days old) by gefliterflo ()   |   | |
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Thanks, thats genious too. |
Post# 184806 , Reply# 50   1/21/2007 at 18:37 (6,275 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
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Post# 184841 , Reply# 53   1/21/2007 at 20:51 (6,275 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Well, I was going to test the LK this afternoon, but had to run an errand instead. Maybe next weekend. I'll also see about lifting the lid and exposing the off-balance trip mechanism. I was able to ajuste the Variflex, but it was a bit stiff. Perhaps it needs some warm water and suds to help lubricate it. |
Post# 185030 , Reply# 54   1/22/2007 at 16:00 (6,274 days old) by gefliterflo ()   |   | |
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Ahh thee roto-swirl, awesome agitator. Great shot, I wish I had something similar to that. |
Post# 185175 , Reply# 55   1/22/2007 at 22:30 (6,274 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 185358 , Reply# 56   1/23/2007 at 23:36 (6,273 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 185367 , Reply# 57   1/24/2007 at 00:58 (6,273 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)   |   | |
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Post# 185377 , Reply# 58   1/24/2007 at 02:05 (6,273 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 187203 , Reply# 60   1/29/2007 at 20:38 (6,267 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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Post# 187500 , Reply# 61   1/30/2007 at 20:00 (6,266 days old) by powerfin64 (Yakima, Washington)   |   | |
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