Before the direct-drive design took over in the early 1980s, Kenmore’s top-load washers ran the tub and transmission off a belt-and-pulley system — a genuinely different drivetrain from the coupler-based direct-drive platform that replaced it, with its own distinct wear pattern centered on the belt and its pulleys rather than a drive coupler.
Key Features
- Belt-and-pulley drivetrain rather than a direct-drive motor
- Mechanical timer-dial cycle control
- Porcelain wash basket
- No digital display
Most Common Issues on This Model
01
Drive belt slipping or squealing under load
02
Washer not agitating or spinning due to a worn belt
03
Timer dial no longer advancing through the cycle