While looking for information on how to repair washers It is sometimes hard to find because there aren't many books published on the subject. But for anyone looking for cheap and easy ways to repair their washer, the book Washer Repair: Cheap and Easy by Douglas Emley offers some good information.
The first chapter, titled "Washer Identification Tools and Safety Tips and Tricks," emphasizes the importance of brand identification.
From Ch1
"Appliance companies, like most other major industries, have their share of takeovers, buyouts, and cross-brand agreements. In some cases, the same machine design is marketed under several different brand names or model names. Other manufacturers merged or bought other companies and put out several different designs under the same brand name. The different designs are differentiated by being a different "model" or "series."
Confusing the issue even more, some manufacturers "private label" their machines for large department stores, such as Sears, Kenmore, and Montgomery Ward's Signature machines. Check the following list to determine if you have one of these "cross-branded" machines. If so, your repair info will be in the chapter for that design.
Whirlpool From the 50s into the early 80s, Whirlpool used essentially the same old dependable, bulletproof design. They are known in the parts houses as Whirlpool Belt Drive Models. In the early 80s, Whirlpool began manufacturing their design 2000 washers. These are known in the parts houses as Whirlpool direct Drive models. Both are covered in this book in chapters 3 and 4. In the 90s, Whirlpool purchased KitchenAid. KitchenAid and Roper machines are direct drive. Kenmore washers are and always have been private-labeled Whirlpool Washers, both belt drive and direct drive.
GENERAL ELECTRIC
Until 1995, GE had made the same old, fairly reliable design for 30 years. These machines were sold as GE, Hotpoint, and private-labeled as JCPenney and Penncrest Brands. In 1995, GE started making a new front access washing machine. Unlike the old model, there is no rear access panel on these machines. All the machines internals are accessed through the front. These machines were sold as GE, Hotpoint, and RCA machines. Both the old style and the newer Front Access GE machine designs are covered in this manual in chapters 5:00 and 6:00.
FRIGIDAIRE
In the 70s and 80s, Westinghouse became White Consolidated Industries and started buying up a whole bunch of different brands, including Frigidaire, Gibson, Kelvinator, and others. WCI's machines were sold under these original brand names, as well as Westinghouse and White Westinghouse brands. Frankly, these washers were pretty poorly designed, displaying major oil and water leakage within five years. In the 90s, WCI was bought by the Swedish Giant Electrolux, who changed the company name back to the Frigidaire home products company. They appear to have redesigned virtually the entire lineup, and in my humble opinion, the new designs are one heck of a lot better than the old designs. They are still marketing products under Frigidaire and Gibson. If you look at the model number, it will start with AG or an F. However, the design is the same. Some Montgomery Ward signature machines were manufactured by WCI, some by Norge.
AMANA
Same company as Speed Queen for a while. Maytag has recently purchased Amana, but as of this writing, it has not shown up as different in their product line.
MAYTAG
Maytag currently has different top-loading washers wearing the Maytag brand name."
"Appliance companies, like most other major industries, have their share of takeovers, buyouts, and cross-brand agreements. In some cases, the same machine design is marketed under several different brand names or model names. Other manufacturers merged or bought other companies and put out several different designs under the same brand name. The different designs are differentiated by being a different "model" or "series."
Confusing the issue even more, some manufacturers "private label" their machines for large department stores, such as Sears, Kenmore, and Montgomery Ward's Signature machines. Check the following list to determine if you have one of these "cross-branded" machines. If so, your repair info will be in the chapter for that design.
- ADMIRAL: Maytag Herrin
- CROSLEY: Maytag Herrin
- GIBSON: Frigidaire
- HOTPOINT: General Electric
- INGLIS: Whirlpool
- JCPenney: General Electric
- KELVINATOR: Frigidaire
- KENMORE: Whirlpool
- KITCHENAID: Whirlpool
- MAGIC CHEF: Maytag Herrin
- MONTGOMERY WARD: Maytag or Frigidaire
- PENNCREST: General Electric
- RCA: General Electric
- ROPER: Whirlpool
- SIGNATURE: Maytag or Frigidaire
- SPEED QUEEN: Amana
- WHITE WESTINGHOUSE: Frigidaire
Whirlpool From the 50s into the early 80s, Whirlpool used essentially the same old dependable, bulletproof design. They are known in the parts houses as Whirlpool Belt Drive Models. In the early 80s, Whirlpool began manufacturing their design 2000 washers. These are known in the parts houses as Whirlpool direct Drive models. Both are covered in this book in chapters 3 and 4. In the 90s, Whirlpool purchased KitchenAid. KitchenAid and Roper machines are direct drive. Kenmore washers are and always have been private-labeled Whirlpool Washers, both belt drive and direct drive.
GENERAL ELECTRIC
Until 1995, GE had made the same old, fairly reliable design for 30 years. These machines were sold as GE, Hotpoint, and private-labeled as JCPenney and Penncrest Brands. In 1995, GE started making a new front access washing machine. Unlike the old model, there is no rear access panel on these machines. All the machines internals are accessed through the front. These machines were sold as GE, Hotpoint, and RCA machines. Both the old style and the newer Front Access GE machine designs are covered in this manual in chapters 5:00 and 6:00.
FRIGIDAIRE
In the 70s and 80s, Westinghouse became White Consolidated Industries and started buying up a whole bunch of different brands, including Frigidaire, Gibson, Kelvinator, and others. WCI's machines were sold under these original brand names, as well as Westinghouse and White Westinghouse brands. Frankly, these washers were pretty poorly designed, displaying major oil and water leakage within five years. In the 90s, WCI was bought by the Swedish Giant Electrolux, who changed the company name back to the Frigidaire home products company. They appear to have redesigned virtually the entire lineup, and in my humble opinion, the new designs are one heck of a lot better than the old designs. They are still marketing products under Frigidaire and Gibson. If you look at the model number, it will start with AG or an F. However, the design is the same. Some Montgomery Ward signature machines were manufactured by WCI, some by Norge.
AMANA
Same company as Speed Queen for a while. Maytag has recently purchased Amana, but as of this writing, it has not shown up as different in their product line.
MAYTAG
Maytag currently has different top-loading washers wearing the Maytag brand name."