A:Answer Hello there BobAC12186,
Thanks so much for reaching out. GE and Hotpoint washers will have a Direct Drive System or a Belt Driven System.
Belt driven - One belt runs from the motor for both agitating and spinning the tub.
Direct driven - No belt. Motor turns the tub.
The below is a general guide for determining if a washer has a direct drive vs a drive with belt & pulley system. The product specifications for the model will typically indicate which type of controls the model has.
Front Load Washers:
27” and 28" - Belt and pulley driven system with no transmission.
Exception: The GFW480 and GFW490 are direct drive units.
24" - Direct drive system.
Top Load washers - Electronic Controls and Electronic Controls with Selector Knob.
All pushbutton control (example: Harmony; WPGT9150; etc.) - Direct drive system.
Electronic controls w/Cycle Selector Knob (Touch control for options and selector knob for Cycles) which includes models GTW845, GTW840, GTW725 & GTW720 - Direct drive system.
Exception: Models GTW755, GTW750, GTW685 and below - Belt and pulley driven system.
Top Load washers - Electro-Mechanical / Rotary-Electrical Controls (all knobs)*.
1947 to 2012 - Belt and pulley driven system with transmission.
2012 to present - Belt and pulley driven system with no transmission.
*"All Knobs" does not include the Start or Deep Fill button. "All knobs" refers to the Options, Cycles, Load Size, etc. knobs.
Unitized Laundry Centers - Belt and pulley driven system.
Compact (Spacemaker) - Direct drive system. We hope this information is helpful. Mike@GEA