Thread Number: 18504
UK Boyz - Let's talk Front-Loaders |
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Post# 300316 , Reply# 3   8/30/2008 at 20:51 (5,718 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)   |   | |
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nearing 10 years and running great. Most FL failures I have seen have been due to A) badly aligned seals installed at the factory and B) Some corrosive element in a local water supply that gets behind the seal. In both cases it all has to do with moisture (not necessarily water) getting into the bearings. C) A bearing that was defective from the bearing manufacturer that had either no lubricant installed or rough balls in the races. (Those wear out real fast). My 50+ year old Combos are still tumbling strong on their original bearings and seals. A good seal is the key. |
Post# 300566 , Reply# 5   9/1/2008 at 07:20 (5,716 days old) by robm (Buxted)   |   | |
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Hi Jed I can certainly see your point about the very heavy loads these machines have to take. In the UK the standard size is about 13-14 pounds, although they come bigger and smaller. They used to be only about 9-10 pounds (dry load). How the bearings will fair today, is a guess, the sometimes over sensitive out of balance spin sensors seem to help. I think at the end of the 80s early 90s when machines had got cheaper but out of balance sensors were not used or were basic, the machines would really take a bashing. But then some machines have lasted many years. I think they will always last an average of 7 years (for an average family) as they manufacturors want us to keep replacing them. Rob |
Post# 300939 , Reply# 6   9/2/2008 at 19:36 (5,715 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)   |   | |
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My FriGEMore is now over 10 years old and never had a problem. ALTHOUGH, I think the cleaning ability is a bit lame. If I were to buy an new American model it would be a SQ. 3 yrs. warranty Made in America Steel parts Water temp. Boost. |
Post# 300960 , Reply# 7   9/2/2008 at 20:51 (5,715 days old) by tuthill ()   |   | |
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Interesting about your FriGEmore, ours only lasted 5 years. And I feel that the same fate awaits the Duet that replaced it. Granted with a collection expansive as yours, I doubt it sees much duty!! |
Post# 301106 , Reply# 9   9/3/2008 at 12:46 (5,714 days old) by tuthill ()   |   | |
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Thanks for your input. I find european front loaders to be fascinating, just cuz they are so DIFFERENT. I plan on having a whole bunch of them in my collection eventually. |
Post# 301108 , Reply# 10   9/3/2008 at 13:00 (5,714 days old) by robm (Buxted)   |   | |
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Post# 301137 , Reply# 11   9/3/2008 at 14:09 (5,714 days old) by pulsator (Saint Joseph, MI)   |   | |
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Post# 301904 , Reply# 12   9/6/2008 at 20:51 (5,711 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia)   |   | |
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On the note of reliability.... My mother had a Simpson 'Fluid drive' top loader from 1968 to 1989. This was replaced with an Asea Cylinda 12000 (same look but better than Asko today) in May 1989. The Asea has subsequently been replaced 3 weeks ago with a Fisher & Paykel front loader that they buy in from Beko Turkey. Beko also own Blomberg Germany and the quality is showing in their machines. So in 40 years, she has had to replace 2 manchines. Not bad given my father is a builder (imagine the gunk that has gone through those machines!) |