Thread Number: 3400
My GE Mini washer and dryer
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Post# 84576   9/22/2005 at 20:35 (6,761 days old) by southernmdgeguy ()        

In lovely green!




Post# 84577 , Reply# 1   9/22/2005 at 20:37 (6,761 days old) by southernmdgeguy ()        
Interior shot!

Amazing how much that impeller can move

Post# 84578 , Reply# 2   9/22/2005 at 20:38 (6,761 days old) by southernmdgeguy ()        
Instructions

I have it hooked up in the garage, portable mode. I think this is a base model

Post# 84579 , Reply# 3   9/22/2005 at 20:40 (6,761 days old) by southernmdgeguy ()        
Loaded and ready to go

Hot wash with bleach and Gain.

Post# 84580 , Reply# 4   9/22/2005 at 20:41 (6,761 days old) by southernmdgeguy ()        
Washing

I have a short no sound video of the wash action, but don't know how to post it.

Post# 84581 , Reply# 5   9/22/2005 at 20:43 (6,761 days old) by southernmdgeguy ()        
Matching dryer

I don't have a rack, so it sits under my old computer in the garage. It is not vented to the outdoors, so it turns the garage into a large steamroom.

Post# 84582 , Reply# 6   9/22/2005 at 20:44 (6,761 days old) by southernmdgeguy ()        
and lastly, the interior shot

Looks like galvanized steel.. works well for 110 dryer.

Post# 84590 , Reply# 7   9/22/2005 at 21:20 (6,761 days old) by filterflo (Chicago Area)        

Very nice pics,interesting how the console design was patterned after the full size washers. Thanks for posting the pictures! Neat set!

Post# 84604 , Reply# 8   9/22/2005 at 21:39 (6,761 days old) by shanonabc ()        

can you please send the video to shanonabc@hotmail.com

Post# 84611 , Reply# 9   9/22/2005 at 21:45 (6,761 days old) by mayken4now (Panama City, Florida)        

mayken4now's profile picture
Very nice pics, but does this thing really work? Is the dryer 110V or 220. I surmise it takes hours to complete?

Interested,

Steve


Post# 84623 , Reply# 10   9/22/2005 at 22:01 (6,761 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Wow Scott, very cool set, especially the Avocado!! That's the same set that appears in the POD occasionally, except yours has a temperature control...nice feature! I love these machines...fun to watch, not bad in cleaning ability or water extraction, and dead reliable!!

I have the later version of this machine, in white, with noticeable differences. It was made by Hitachi...check the cord or plug on yours and it will tell you. Instead of a steady, slightly angled stream like yours, mine has a "shower-spray" fill, the tub assembly is a little different (it still has the "vortex ridges" like yours), and it has a blue 4-vane impeller. And of course the appearance of the control panel and timer are different. I'll post more pictures in a different thread.

Does yours have neutral drains via a separate electric pump, no first spin, and the "clanking" tub brake? If the mechanism on yours is the same as mine (which it probably is), it's interesting to see with the back panel off. The impeller/tub are belt driven, and a solenoid pulls the "rocker arm" out of the brake assembly for spin. There's no reduction gearing so the tub spins at the same speed as the impeller does while washing...in other words, FAST. I'm thinking it's around 800 RPM, but I'm not positive.

--Austin


Post# 84657 , Reply# 11   9/23/2005 at 06:28 (6,761 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

toggleswitch's profile picture
Nice set.
Thanks for sharing


Post# 84662 , Reply# 12   9/23/2005 at 07:14 (6,761 days old) by tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

If only these impeller machines had a center post to keep the whole load from balling up in the middle. These older GEs were especially bad with the long run time in each direction. Newer machines have a very short twirl time in each direction, but still would benefit from a center post. One of the neatest things the machine like Austin's does is shut off the drain pump when it spray rinses. It very effectively deals with suds lock and really pumps the water out when it restarts. Unlike the GE, the Haier spins between water changes. I have never tried it with anything larger than t-shirts, but I don't think it is as efficient as a tumbler. If you had one of these along with one of the older, poor spinning combos and were willing to do a lot of manual intervention, you could have a pretty efficient laundry setup.

Post# 84667 , Reply# 13   9/23/2005 at 07:51 (6,761 days old) by geoffdelp (SAUK RAPIDS)        

Hi Scott ... thanks for sharing!! That's a nice set you have and I'm sure lots of fun to use. :-)

How many gallons of water is used for a full load?


Post# 84670 , Reply# 14   9/23/2005 at 08:01 (6,761 days old) by southernmdgeguy ()        
Answers,

Mayken4now,
Itis 110, takes a long time but works great, it really pulls out the lint, you have to clean out the filter at least once during the run time, esp. with my all cotton car drying towels. Like I said, it turns the garage into a steam room however :-) I just leave the doors open in the warm weather to vent it.

Austin,
I learned something, went and pulled the plug, Hitachi! Here I thought genuine GE with those temp control knobs. I have had this set since 1980, I used them some, lent them to my friend Rob who used them for almost 10 years. I have had to replace the belt and a couple hoses, but that is it. It does neutral drain the wash water, then rinses without spin, then a second rinse with spin at the end. It does spin fast, almost dry!

Tom,
It does not work like a TL or FL unit, but does a good enough job, if things are not too dirty. It does have the long run time in each direction. It has a neat little button trap/lint trap you empty every so often too. I use it for my car wash stuff, and small loads when I can, figure it should be kept working, not just sitting.

Scott



Post# 84671 , Reply# 15   9/23/2005 at 08:04 (6,761 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

toggleswitch's profile picture
BTW thanks for posting the obligatory underwear shot. LOL

Post# 84673 , Reply# 16   9/23/2005 at 08:18 (6,761 days old) by southernmdgeguy ()        

Jeff,
I was not sure, so I just checked the water meter and filled it, 13.5 gallons for a full load, x 3 fills = 40.5 gallons!


Post# 84681 , Reply# 17   9/23/2005 at 08:45 (6,761 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        
Porcelain Balance Ring!

unimatic1140's profile picture
Scott that machine is very cool. Its a early version of the portable GE because it has a porcelain balance rim at the top of the wash tub. They were plastic for many years after that. Last month Gary and I were driving to an esate sale when I saw one of these in an alley, we stopped as I wanted to see if it had a procelain rim, if it did I was going to take it home, but was a JC Penney later version with a plastic rim.

Post# 84684 , Reply# 18   9/23/2005 at 08:48 (6,761 days old) by veg-o-matic (Baltimore, Hon!)        
I see London...

veg-o-matic's profile picture
I see France
I see southernmdgeguy's underpants!

Nice pair.

The washer and dryer, I mean.

veg


Post# 84706 , Reply# 19   9/23/2005 at 09:38 (6,761 days old) by southernmdgeguy ()        

LOL

I see I made a typo, I got them in 1990, not 1980...


Post# 84864 , Reply# 20   9/23/2005 at 22:02 (6,760 days old) by westytoploader ()        
More info on my GE

Of course mine has the plastic-covered balance ring since it's the later model...but it's not a "cheap" machine by any means! I'll have to count how many seconds the impeller runs in each direction...thought it was 15 if I remember correctly. It does like to tangle on some loads...but that's just the nature of an impeller machine (regardless of whether the impeller's on the side or bottom) so I'm used to it.

During the spin spray rinses on my machine, the drain pump does shut off and kick back on again...and it's pretty effective too. It also does no first spin. I heard the Asians liked suds, and they used massive amounts of detergent per load. Since it's an Asian design, that makes sense, as a first spin causes EXTREME suds-lock under those conditions...I tried it once!

--Austin


Post# 84871 , Reply# 21   9/23/2005 at 22:43 (6,760 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

toggleswitch's profile picture
That might explain 2 deep rinses "standard" even our "American" water hogs don't do that usually!

Post# 84876 , Reply# 22   9/23/2005 at 23:00 (6,760 days old) by westytoploader ()        

2 deep rinses? Not on my machine...

Post# 84893 , Reply# 23   9/24/2005 at 00:16 (6,760 days old) by westytoploader ()        
Later model...

Here's my GE, full view. Tom, do you know the approximate year of this style? The control panel had become a little more "GE-esque" by this time...especially the timer knob and markings!

Post# 84894 , Reply# 24   9/24/2005 at 00:18 (6,760 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Here's the interior...notice the blue 4-vane impeller, plastic balance ring and different-shape tub ring. Still has the porcelain tub though!

Post# 84896 , Reply# 25   9/24/2005 at 00:20 (6,760 days old) by westytoploader ()        

And a timer close-up. 8 cycles if you count the wash times and the Soak. Permanent Press adds a "Cool Down" phase with neutral spray rinses. The Gentle cycle reverses the impeller more frequently so the clothes don't get thrashed around as much. All cycles spin at the same speed though.

Post# 84897 , Reply# 26   9/24/2005 at 00:22 (6,760 days old) by westytoploader ()        

And the funky "shower-spray" fill...partial sheet/pillowcase load with 1 Persil Liquigel added.

Post# 84900 , Reply# 27   9/24/2005 at 00:27 (6,760 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Washing away! The impeller spins quite fast, creating a vortex action..."blending" the clothes! Although based on experience, it's not that much of a "rough" machine.

Scott, how's the action on yours with the 5-vane impeller? The vanes appear larger in the picture, so I'm thinking it's quite a bit stronger than mine.


Post# 84906 , Reply# 28   9/24/2005 at 00:54 (6,760 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
What is the washing action like on lower water levels?

Speed Queen also had a "Contempo-Mate" compact set, also Asian made. Theirs had a center shaft on the impeller, but otherwise a similar design to the GE.


Post# 84947 , Reply# 29   9/24/2005 at 08:50 (6,760 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

toggleswitch's profile picture
OOOPPPS Austin I was thinking of a double rinse "nornmal" cycle on a SANYO, not the HitaGE.

Post# 84948 , Reply# 30   9/24/2005 at 08:54 (6,760 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

toggleswitch's profile picture
I think these machines are really great for super limited space and to take to summer "resort" rentals...

Can you picture me with one strapped on my back on the ferry to Fire Island?

Their vibration is minimal IMHO... what say you?


Post# 84976 , Reply# 31   9/24/2005 at 13:43 (6,760 days old) by westytoploader ()        

The GE's washing action on low water level (fills to the 5th row of holes from the top on mine) is much more violent if you're not using the "Gentle" cycle...LOL! So violent the now-exposed impeller whips up a good amount of suds when the water vortexes around the tub! I usually do "medium-sized" loads, and find it too low...the clothes are generally flung around the sides and don't get "pulled down" to the center for effective washing, even when it reverses. If it's not overloaded and filled properly (you really can't "underload" this machine, IMHO), the action will be similar to the GE Harmony. Here's a shot of low water action...notice the suds!

I remember seeing a Contempo Mate on eBay with the "Pulgitator"...and service manuals as well. I wonder how the washing action would be with that? It certainly wouldn't be spinning as fast as the impeller during agitation!


Post# 84977 , Reply# 32   9/24/2005 at 13:47 (6,760 days old) by westytoploader ()        
Oops...almost forgot

Toggly: The suspension is very soft on this machine to eliminate the shaking and shimmying you'd normally see, so it does vibrate a little. The tub assembly hardly moves once it hits 800 RPM though regardless of the load...it's probably the most well-balanced machine I've used!

Post# 85034 , Reply# 33   9/24/2005 at 21:10 (6,759 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        
Now if only I could get well balanced PEOPLE into my life

toggleswitch's profile picture
I thought so, thanks Austin.

It IS the ideal candidate to sneak into a rental apt where washers are prohibited. PITA downstairs neightbors cant complain if the vibration is minimal.


Buy in late Novemeber, early December and wrap in Christmas paper. Does wonders to keep the neightbors and mgt off your tail. (Or any time of year with Juvenile Btirthday paper.)



Post# 85057 , Reply# 34   9/24/2005 at 22:37 (6,759 days old) by southernmdgeguy ()        

Austin,
Thanks for posting those, as you see, yours is both newer and more "deluxe" with multi cycle options, bleach dispenser, and three water levels vs my two. On the low water setting mine does really spin the water, but I always use the high setting.
It works better than I ever thought it could, gets good turn over as it changes directions. Mine does rinse twice, then spin, interesting to learn that is to avoid a suds lock~ I love how much I learn here every day.


Post# 85058 , Reply# 35   9/24/2005 at 22:39 (6,759 days old) by southernmdgeguy ()        

Toggle,
My machine is quiet and smooth, can barely hear it run, same with the dryer. Like Austin said, it seems to be well balanced.

Scott


Post# 85059 , Reply# 36   9/24/2005 at 22:50 (6,759 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Hi Scott, the bleach dispenser is molded into the top and drains into a provision on the tub ring. I also forgot to mention that the tub sinks downward during fill due to the weight of the water, rises back up during spin, and the motor slows down considerably at the end of the spin cycle, before it brakes.

The timer cams clinking into position is really interesting to hear, I can always tell when the drain pump is going to come on, when it's going to spin, when the spin is nearly over, and when it's going to brake, the split-second before it happens! The timer motor is audible as well, unlike many other "silent" timer designs. Of course this excludes the "snappy" vintage timers!

As much as I like my machine, I would take yours any day because of the styling, color, and differences between designs!

--Austin


Post# 85085 , Reply# 37   9/25/2005 at 07:03 (6,759 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

toggleswitch's profile picture
I'm thinking a "must-have" for my collection.

Post# 85156 , Reply# 38   9/25/2005 at 16:47 (6,759 days old) by launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Aren't 110 Portable Dryers

launderess's profile picture
Rather puny in terms of heating power? IIRC the Maytag "Porta-Dryer", comes in at only 1375 watts of power. Have hair dryers that produce more heat.

Launderess


Post# 85210 , Reply# 39   9/25/2005 at 23:35 (6,758 days old) by brisnat81 (Brisbane Australia)        

Hi Guys,

Over here 99% of all dryers are unvented and "Compact" by american standards.

Its unusual if you have a dryer in a garage for instance to end up with a steam room? If you had a bathroom with no windows, then its a distinct possibility, but usually only in winter.

We have a double garage with the dryer in there, and we run it with the doors shut. At worst the room warms up, but I'd never say that it gets humid or damp in there.

How well sealed are your garages etc? We seem to have enough ventilation in ours that the moisture vents?

I'm just curious to see whether they're more airtight than those in Australia.

Regards

Nathan


Post# 85251 , Reply# 40   9/26/2005 at 08:01 (6,758 days old) by designgeek ()        


Okay, so if I understand correctly, the cycle is: fill, wash, drain, fill, 1st rinse, drain, fill, 2nd rinse, and then drain/spin?

Were any of these types of machines made, that would do an intermediate spin after the wash and before rinse? Or an extract/spin similar to some of the larger TLs, where water is sprayed into the tub during spin? The idea being, designed for a market where detergent was used more sparingly, so suds-lock during an initial spin wouldn't be an issue.

Dumb Question #2 in case I missed the answer above: how many pounds of mixed pants & shirts make up one load, and how many pounds of underpants & undershirts make up one load?



Post# 85255 , Reply# 41   9/26/2005 at 08:17 (6,758 days old) by southernmdgeguy ()        

Nathan,

I know most people think of a garage as storage or just where to put the car, however, I use mine to work on my other hobby, which are cars, so mine is built into the house, and the doors are sealed on all four sides to keep the hot/cold, in/out dependent on the season. When I dry my car wash towels out there, if it is cold outside, it sweats up all the windows, and even the inside of the doors at times, so I guess that is what you were asking. I have an additional garage separate from the house, that has more ventilation through the attic vents.

And yes Laundress, it is not a really hot dryer, so it works great for things you don't want to shrink. For some reason it also does a great job of pulling out the lint... don't know why other than the longer run times..

Scott



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