Thread

1. Liftyee · 1790008940 · focus · HN ↗

   It surprises me how the US loves their top-loading washers. Here in the UK, there isn't the complex (though interesting) "transmission": the drum has fins to act as both agitator and spin-dryer. This means it's just a boring belt drive between motor and drum (or direct drive, for newer machines.)

   1. chiffre01 · 1790010205 · focus · HN ↗

      It's my understanding that top loaders are less prone to breakdowns.

      1. hedgehog · 1790013938 · focus · HN ↗

         The primary failure I've observed in washing machines that get a lot of use is the drain pumps which are probably similarly (un)reliable across designs (we only have front loaders so not sure).

         1. wpm · 1790018354 · focus · HN ↗

            Clutches can wear out too, everything will still work but the washer won't really agitate well.

            1. hedgehog · 1790181809 · focus · HN ↗

               Probably true, I don't think any of our machines have clutch.
         2. electroweak · 1790706214 · focus · HN ↗

            I've had to replace the pump on a cheap amana NFW7200TW. Being a cheaper model it does not have a coin trap and the thin plastic vanes shattered (the coin rested fully intact). The pump had two part numbers, one a Samsung and another a Whirlpool (?). The point that may be interesting here is that when I asked at the part store for the whirlpool p/n they brought me the box at one price, and when I asked for the Samsung one they brought me the exact same box at a price almost $30 less. I didnt know they did SKUs like that, nor do I know how they account for it.

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