Washing Machine

[CADplans]

I have seen a comment that all washers are alike,, ours is different.

We have a Fisher-Paykel top loader. it must be about 15-20 years old.

The washer has NO TRANSMISSION!

That alone must make it different,,

The drum is are directly connected to an inverter controlled motor,, all speed and direction changes are handled electronically.
Even the back and forth agitation is simply the motor reversing,, there is nothing mechanical, other than the motor.

I have seen YouTube videos where people pull the motor out of these washers, and make a water powered generator out of the motor.

The main reason we bought this one is the crazy high final spin speed, the clothes come out virtually dry.
The inverter controlled motor has no problem going the high speed to super dry the clothes. Again, no gear box to worry about.
I think the washer has paid for itself in reduced drying time, compared to the Maytag, that had a final spin speed of about half the RPM of this one.
15 years of the dryer running about half as much adds up to a LOT of electricity,,

The dryer can now finish drying the clothes long before the next load of wash is finished,, it is amazing.


Also, we are on a well, so there is zero concern about the volume of water used, as far as acquiring water.

 

[5030]

Actually, none of the 'new' washers have transmissions. The motors are ALL direct connected the the agitator or wash plate spindle. One it's cheap to manufacture and two when it fails, you get a new one because the coat to repair is more than it's worth.

 

[5030]

What are you doing to trash washing machines? I don't think I've ever gotten less than 10 years out of one.
As far as your comment about "all the new ones are junk"...well, they said that 40 years ago too.



Who is hating on them? I've only ever had one...a Kenmore that my wife had when we met. Trouble is the tub bearings go after a while, and are expensive to replace. Not hard to imagine why...all that weight only supported on one end.
Other than that it was very good, used very little water and spun it out very well.

Some of the newer "water saver" units go a bit too far in conserving water...sister had one and sometimes not everything in a load even got wet, let alone clean.

Two words, well water.

 

[Alien]

The LG has no gearbox and operates like the Fisher and Paykel. As do plenty of others now but F&P was the pioneer of transmission-less tubs from my memory. I had 2 of them over the years.
Our well water has a PPM of 6 -10 TDS. Can't get much better than that. It will not harm anything. Even dries on the car without leaving a mark. Local city had a TDS of 640 PPM last time I checked it.

 

[5030]

Ours is off the scale and makes scale, literally. We can go through a washer machine in a couple years max. If they built a washer like my ancient Maytag wringer, where the spindle driveshaft was dry with a seal on top and the drive on top of that, they would run forever. it's the water on the seal that destroys them for us. No issue though. Like I said, my wife has the extended warranty thing down. The warranty always covers a new one plus a small service charge.

 

[5030]

Something about a oil filled transmission with real gears inside spells durable to me, versus the flat motor, no trans plastic crap they pawn off today for a washer.

 

[Alien]

I bought a Simpson Delta 10 once because a buddy reackoned they were the ducks nuts. (in the '80s) It lasted 1 year and the bearings whirred so loud it was frightening. I junked it.

 

[Fuddy1952]

We're on a well and our 20+ yo Maytag has been working flawlessly (I'm knocking on wood) all these years. It's needed nothing.
When I bought the house 40 years ago there was an old Maytag in the house (early 60s I'm guessing) that I've replaced drive belts...otherwise it still works (shop rags).
I had to admit my wife is correct about not using cheap detergent.

 

[5030]

Old washing machines are good for processing chickens been told. Removes the feathers nicely...

 

[Oaktree]

Two words, well water.

What's in your water that causes this? Maybe we're lucky here, I have a well, and I don't have those kinds of problems, a little bit of sediment that a filter takes care of but that's it.