Thread Number: 48902
New Washer Installed: Speed Queen AWN542 |
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Post# 708216   10/9/2013 at 18:11 (3,823 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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The Speed Queen dealer called me at work and said "I can install it at 4:00 if you're around." I assured him I would make that happen.
He raised the water level to the top of the tub; I--quite masterfully, it should be noted--defeated the lid switch by means of a wooden clothespin, and the 542 filled the gaping hole left by the departure of the Frigidaire Immersion Care. My joy has been only slightly dampened by the following: 1) The dreaded greasy polishing compound (see photo of white towel below) 2) The drain hose had a device on the end of it which effectively made the standpipe airtight (to prevent backups, I presume). Unfortunately, that made the sudsy wash water fly out of the 2nd standpipe (behind the front-loader) like a freakin' geyser. Decided I should pull the SQ's drain hose out and remove said device. You know what happened, right? The hose pulled out of the device, leaving it wedged tightly down the standpipe. There is a cupboard right above the standpipe, so I can't peer in to see how far down it's wedged in. Tried fishing it out with a long screwdriver, but to no avail. Will probably have to call the plumber and have him remove the standpipe, pull out the damn thing, and reinstall the pipe. Otherwise, all works as advertised. So nice to have a traditional, spin-drain washer. Dealer said he was told at sales meeting SQ would probably stop producing this version of the machine in late 2014, in favor of a more HE-friendly model. We all know what that means, eh? |
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Post# 708217 , Reply# 1   10/9/2013 at 18:12 (3,823 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Post# 708219 , Reply# 2   10/9/2013 at 18:18 (3,823 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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This is what the polishing compound looks like on a white towel. Were I not tipsy with giddy over getting a new machine, I'd be pretty pissed off. I'll give the tub a scrub down with Goo-Gone or something and hopefully that will take care of the matter.
Fortunately, I've been saving up laundry, so I can try different sized loads and cycles, etc. You know where to find me for the rest of the evening, LOL. Thanks to all who campaigned/filibustered nonstop for SQ; you're responsible for another sale! Two weeks ago I had no idea I was about to get a new washer. |
Post# 708226 , Reply# 3   10/9/2013 at 18:32 (3,823 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Post# 708228 , Reply# 4   10/9/2013 at 18:34 (3,823 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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THAT clothespin can be a brain teaser to figure out....lol...
someones a happy camper.....grinning from ear to ear.....and we are more than happy for you.....enjoy and congrats! possible to bend a coat hanger into a hook and slide that down the pipe and fish this piece out?...even spray some WD40 or softner down the pipe to help it slide.... we should have a party at Eugenes laundry room..... |
Post# 708231 , Reply# 5   10/9/2013 at 18:42 (3,823 days old) by logixx (Germany)   |   | |
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Post# 708233 , Reply# 6   10/9/2013 at 18:47 (3,823 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)   |   | |
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Post# 708244 , Reply# 7   10/9/2013 at 19:52 (3,823 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN)   |   | |
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Eugene, congratulations on the new toy! Look forward to hearing more about it as you learn the ins and outs.
I'm especially thankful you posted the photo of the towel after wiping the tub. We have heard a lot of this problem but never seen any visual example of the magnitude of it. I have to wonder if this is indicative of what others saw in their machines. The degree of the problem in your machine is far less then what I was envisioning. Short of passivating every wash basket, I'm not sure that can't be considered to be "normal", I have a feeling Alliance just feels that is acceptable. How easily was the residue removed with detergent? Finally the drain tube boot. Any chance you can make a tool with a hook on the end and pull it out? You have clearance issues with the cabinet but I bet it could be retrieved somehow if you can get through it and hook it to give it a good pull. |
Post# 708247 , Reply# 8   10/9/2013 at 20:12 (3,823 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Martin-- Your clothespin method couldn't have been easier. It took about 1 second to clip it to the lever. I'll give the bent wire hanger a try for that other issue. The worst that can happen is I'll push it even further down the standpipe. Was going to have to call the plumber, anyway.
Alex--Will definitely do a load of uber-stained kitchen whites this weekend. I have my doubts, with only 15 minutes of agitation...but I guess we'll find out. SQ doesn't spin as fast as the Frigidaire Immersion Care, and heavy items like towels feel more wet than when spun in the 10-minute-long IC final spin. And heavy items from the IC were noticeably more damp than when spun in the front-loader. Leon-- My utilities (electricity, water, and natural gas-heated water) are all ridiculously inexpensive, so using the SQ won't hit me in the wallet too hard. If I lived in an area with higher rates, I'd definitely opt for the front-loader. Once the novelty of the SQ wears off, I'll be doing most loads in the front-loader once again. Observations: 1. Tub is indexing counterclockwise slightly with each clockwise stroke of the agitator. I've read here that this will eventually cease. No matter, I've always loved indexing tubs. 2. Found the "sweet spot" in the first spin which provides an extended spin-spray. Nearly 2 minutes long! 3. Capacity is greater than I expected, due to the increased water level. I'm washing a load of 4 large, heavy bath towels, 7 large hand towels, and a half-dozen large wash cloths. Tub was very full, but now that agitation has begun, I can see a few more hand towels and wash cloths would be easily accommodated. 4. Great to see "classic" clothes rollover. The 2006 Frigidaire top-loader (with wildly indexing tub) had an odd rollover, and the Immersion Care had blooms-from-the-center reverse turnover. 5. Spin-drain is fun to watch. Loads have been very well balanced. Machine is relatively quiet during spin. 6. Very few drain holes in bottom of tub, and they're tiny. This means detergent poured in before loading clothes doesn't run down into sump of outer tub. Nice! 7. Laundry room has that new washer smell! This post was last edited 10/09/2013 at 21:47 |
Post# 708250 , Reply# 9   10/9/2013 at 20:21 (3,823 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)   |   | |
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Post# 708252 , Reply# 10   10/9/2013 at 20:24 (3,823 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Best of all, perhaps: Dealer said he can hook me up with a Bosch dishwasher!! He sells LG, Whirlpool, and GE. I love my LG, but the new, redesigned models have not scored well at Consumer Reports. Not interested in GE or Whirlpool. Ditto Maytag and Frigidaire sold by the other local. I'm saving dimes and pennies as we speak. I've wanted a super-quiet high-end Bosch for ages.
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Post# 708261 , Reply# 12   10/9/2013 at 21:03 (3,823 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Phil-- The greasy marks were on a couple of towels; I just showed one. I don't care what Alliance thinks, I think a customer shouldn't have to deal with it. If this was Whirlpool or LG or Frigidaire, we'd all be screaming bloody murder about it. We tend to cut SQ a lot of slack due to its being the last of the traditional washers. That and the build quality.
I rewashed the towel load after spraying Goo-Gone on tub and rubbing with bar mops, all of which were filthy with the stuff. Will see if marks were removed by a second run-through when they emerge from the dryer. There are so many things to love about the SQ, it's a shame something like this is allowed to mar the initial experience. This post was last edited 10/09/2013 at 21:49 |
Post# 708272 , Reply# 14   10/9/2013 at 23:45 (3,823 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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Post# 708273 , Reply# 15   10/10/2013 at 00:25 (3,823 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN)   |   | |
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I don't think I'd feel any differently if it were a Whirlpool or other maker having this quality issue (LG maybe...). While I do like SQ I'm not an apologist for the company in any way. Personally I have no interest in ever buying a new Top Load washer again anyhow.
I have always said that it is a horrible black eye for a American company that makes claims for their high quality. And I have to admit I am very surprised that it is still continuing to be an issue. This is why I postulated that perhaps Alliance considers it acceptable, I do think that is a mistake if true. I agree that it would bother me a bit to get a washer with a dirty basket, but I'd clean it and move on. The talk I saw of people returning washers over such a simple problem made me cringe. Perhaps I look at it a bit differently working in the metals industry where we deal with oils and grime like this every day. I have some detergent at work called Whammex that would make that tub look like new in seconds, perhaps I should send a jug to Ripon! ;) |
Post# 708274 , Reply# 16   10/10/2013 at 00:26 (3,823 days old) by MattL (Flushing, MI)   |   | |
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Nice machine!
Odds are you could solve the drain issue for $5 if you have a hacksaw. Just cut it off down a bit, glue on a coupler and a short piece of PVC. A lot cheaper than a plumber. |
Post# 708296 , Reply# 17   10/10/2013 at 05:45 (3,823 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Washer111-- I ran a full cycle using hot water and a lot of detergent before washing any clothes in it.
mickeyd-- My nephews only wanted me to throw this thing called a "football" at them, LOL. Just couldn't seem to get them excited about/interested in washing machines. In this matter I was an abject failure as an uncle. Matt-- I think the drain problem (water backing up out of standpipe) is more serious than that. While the PVC pipes leading to the house's plumbing in the floor are 2", it's only 1-1/2" once it hits the floor. The SQ pumps out water much faster than any washer I've owned. I'm guessing that's why they put the little device on the end of the drain hose to make the standpipe airtight: to prevent water backing up out of it if a house's plumbing can't handle the volume/speed of pump-out. Have never seen one on the drain hose of any other washer. I would have not noticed the issue if the 2nd standpipe wasn't there. Considered removing one of the standpipes, and just switching out drain hoses depending on which machine is being used, but the SQ's drain hose would be stuck in there due to that "sealing device". I couldn't just pull it out and put it back again (which is why the little device is currently lodged in a standpipe). As is, water is backing up out of the other standpipe during spin-drain. Tried stuffing a bar mop into the opening of the other standpipe which helps, but that isn't a good permanent solution. If the rag should be pushed out of the end of the pipe, gallons of water would flood the laundry room floor. Suppose I should have plumber snake-out the plumbing to make sure there isn't a partial obstruction...but I don't think that's the problem. The device on the end of the SQ's drain hose leads me to believe they know the machine pumps water out too quickly for 1-1/2" plumbing to handle. All of this, of course, is not the machine's fault. If I had only one washer and one standpipe, I'd probably be blissfully unaware of the issue. |
Post# 708309 , Reply# 18   10/10/2013 at 08:27 (3,822 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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The SQ pumps out water much faster than any washer I've owned. I'm guessing that's why they put the little device on the end of the drain hose to make the standpipe airtight: to prevent water backing up out of it if a house's plumbing can't handle the volume/speed of pump-out. Have never seen one on the drain hose of any other washer. I would have not noticed the issue if the 2nd standpipe wasn't there.The NorgeTag I have has the same stopper on its drain hose ... and it also has an alarmingly-high pump-out rate. |
Post# 708320 , Reply# 19   10/10/2013 at 09:00 (3,822 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Congratulations on your new washer Eugene, I suspect that you will like it and keep it a long time even if it is the 2nd most used washer at your house.
The rubber thing on the end of the drain hose is designed to help hold the hose in the standpipe, it does not make either an airtight or watertight seal in anyway, if it did it would violate plumbing codes and cause siphoning problems.
You can remove it from your standpipe with a strong bent piece of wire and some lube as Martin suggested. When ever we install one of these washers we usally cut the white plastic end off drain outlet to reduce splashing if it goes directly into a sink, we often also disgaurd the rubber piece if it is not needed for a particlaur installiation.
The dreaded stuff on the new washers SS tub. To me as a dealer that has sold more than 150 of these washers this is the biggest NON-ISSUE ever, we have yet to have a complaint or see a problem caused by this. Yes if you go looking by rubbing white towels on the inside of a new washer you might find something. { I installed a new Frigidaire FL machine last week and noticed when I ran my hand on the inside id the cylinder that it came out oily, BIG DEAL, it is not going to stain a load of laundry. I always suggest to a customer that they wash a load of jeans or cleaning clothes in a new washer anyway, running a machine empty is not only a waste of water and detergent, but it does not clean out the machine nearly as actually washing clothing.
On this washer [ like most older design machines with main motor driven water pumps ] you do not have to worry about the detergent running into the outer tub and not getting into the washer during wash. On this machine even if all the detergent ended up in the hose leading to the water pump as soon as the motor starts for agitation the detergent will be BLASTED back into the wash water, just like an old MT, WP DD or BD, Norge, GE or HP FF, etc.
These SQ TL washers are going to be changed to make them more energy efficient around the end of 2014 or there abouts, buy one NOW if you want one. I like my brothers and many others do not want one of these current machines, they are too crude and wasteful to use unless you can a least figure out a way to reuse the wash water a few times. It is really too bad that WP has tied up several good ideas with patents that could be used to really improve these SQ TL washers. If they could build a Resource-Saver style machine out of a SQ TLer I might buy one for my personal home laundry. |
Post# 708343 , Reply# 21   10/10/2013 at 10:26 (3,822 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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John-- Thanks for the clarification about the device on the end of the drain hose. I thought the geyser coming from the other standpipe was caused by the SQ's standpipe being air or water-tight.
I sprayed the tub with Goo-Gone, let it sit for a few minutes, then scrubbed it out with bar mops. That seems to have taken care of the polishing compound issue. Now I have to figure out what, if anything, can be done about the water backing up out of the standpipe. I suppose I should hope it's a partial blockage that can be snaked out by the plumber. If not, the only solution I've been able to come up with is to get a laundry tub for the washer to drain into. The laundry tub would then have to be hard-plumbed into the system. Seems like a lot of fuss over a top-loader that will not be the daily driver. Have to say I do like the SQ. It has all the familiarities of top-loaders produced before my hairline began to recede. It definitely uses a lot of water, particularly hot water. I washed three loads of whites last night (one of them being a rewash of the first load) and my water heater was in continuous fire-up mode trying to keep up. It doesn't extract as much water from a load, which means more time in the dryer. The rational side of me realizes that a load can be washed in hot water in the front-loader using half the water the SQ does, with equally good results. And it spins faster to reduce drying time for loads of towels, kitchen & personal whites, and bed linens. I can add the (faux) steam option to provide an extended hot 1st rinse and a warm final rinse using a fraction of the hot water needed by the SQ for a hot wash/cold rinse (albeit with double the cycle time). I'm used to the Frigidaire taking 38-50 minutes for a normal load, 60 minutes with steam option, 72 minutes with allergy option (wash temp boost to 131 degrees) and 1 hour 36 minutes for a profile wash using the Sanitize cycle (gradual wash temp boost to 150 degrees). The longer cycle times don't bother me. A cycle time of 40 minutes (10 minutes longer than SQ) is made up by time saved in the dryer. A very large load that would have to be split into 2 loads for the SQ would probably come out in favor of the front-loader, as well, considering there would have to be two wash and two dry cycles with the top-loader. In all other scenarios, the SQ definitely wins in the time-saving department. I'm going to run a few side-by-side comparison loads with the front-loader. The front-loader will probably take the checkered flag on a number of points, but I don't want to assume too much. Were I to have only one washer--and if it had to be a top-loader-- SQ would be the machine of choice. Now, if I can just keep it from flooding my laundry room, LOL! This post was last edited 10/10/2013 at 12:27 |
Post# 708361 , Reply# 24   10/10/2013 at 11:53 (3,822 days old) by JeffG ()   |   | |
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"Now ironing is another issue altogether!" I've found many more fans of slower washer spin speeds among ironers. :) |
Post# 708368 , Reply# 25   10/10/2013 at 12:42 (3,822 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)   |   | |
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Post# 708374 , Reply# 26   10/10/2013 at 13:14 (3,822 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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somewhere along the drain line is a small jagged edge, which probably caught a small thread, and started building up from there....thats all it takes....it can happen with any pipe, I find it more with a plastic pipe, from not properly filing the ends before glueing....
problem is locating exactly where this clog is at....if you have the knowledge, you could save a lot of money doing it yourself.....wether you or a plumber...consider maybe adding a cleanout for future snake use! I had one major hairball clog once, about a foot long...once you get past the God Almighty swearing....you soon have cleanouts all over the pipe line... good luck and keep us posted |
Post# 708375 , Reply# 27   10/10/2013 at 13:19 (3,822 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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JeffG-- I use a very slow spin speed (I think it's around 400 rpm) for dress shirts, etc., that I don't want to iron. On the other hand, I use 1300 rpm for towels, sheets, kitchen whites, etc. Makes for a brief stay in the dryer. I think tumbling in the heat of a dryer is harder on fabrics than a brief, super-fast spin. I used to iron every dress shirt when I was younger....now I only iron a shirt the first time I wash it to get rid of those stubborn manufacturing wrinkles. If you're careful about spin speeds, not overcrowding the dryer ---and in my case, adding steam to the dry cycle--shirts emerge ready-to-wear without ironing.
Having said that, no shirt looks as crisp as when it's been sprayed with a bit of starched and carefully ironed. But after a couple of hours on the job, it's hard to tell the difference between a shirt that's been starched and ironed, and one that has simply had careful handling in the laundering process. So I quit starching and ironing, LOL! I've never understood the issue with stinky towels, etc., and front-loaders. I've washed in a front-loader since 1988 and have never, ever had a problem---even with the new ultra-low water use Frigidaire. Nor have I ever had a mold/mildew issue inside a front-loader. I use liquid chlorine bleach in several loads a week. That may make a difference. I also get clothes out of the washer and into the dryer (or onto the clothesline) soon after a cycle ends. I know some people who put a load in before they leave for work and take it out when they get home from work. That's another nice thing about electronic controls on front-loaders. You can set the machine to run a cycle at 5:00 p.m. and the load finishes up just about the time you get home. Malcolm & Martin-- I'll give the sewer line clean-out a try. But my gut tells me the problem is due to the 1-1/2" plumbing. On the other hand, I haven't had the sewer line snaked out since 2002 (shortly after moving in), so there may be some blockages. This post was last edited 10/10/2013 at 14:09 |
Post# 708458 , Reply# 30   10/10/2013 at 18:20 (3,822 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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not sure how your drains are hooked up, or others things attached to that line....
but I have done this in two ways....shoved the drain hose down the pipe, and tape/sealed it in place, and did a spindrain to try and force that clog on thru... and used a wet/dry vacuum in the opposite direction to suck the clog out...(which also works great on kitchen and bathtub drains) if it was a total blocked clog, compressed air works wonders most times this worked, and a few times it did not.....worth a try.. |
Post# 708489 , Reply# 33   10/10/2013 at 20:40 (3,822 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)   |   | |
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Post# 708491 , Reply# 34   10/10/2013 at 20:52 (3,822 days old) by Washman (o)   |   | |
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Just curious if it has a name? The since retired GE profile I had call their tranny "Steel Drive". Kind of ironic whan the inner and outer tubs were both plastic. CLICK HERE TO GO TO Washman's LINK |
Post# 708493 , Reply# 35   10/10/2013 at 21:01 (3,822 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)   |   | |
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For as long as that Speed Queen design has been on sale in Australia, from my recollection, it was only ever referred to as an 'All Metal Gearbox', but with no 'name' as such.
When Speed Queen was branded 'Kleenmaid' for many years here in Oz and sold through their own stores, they would have an open SQ tranny alongside a GE and the Orbital 'Dependable Drive' Maytag tranny to show the differences between them....the fact the GE and Maytag had plastic parts in them. Cheers Leon |
Post# 708517 , Reply# 36   10/10/2013 at 23:03 (3,822 days old) by LLMaytag (Southern California)   |   | |
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Wow, I've been away from the site for a while and it's interesting to read this thread. As I posted on a previous thread, I'm soon to be moving to a new home and intend to get a new SQ 432 or 542. What I may not have mentioned in that thread is that the new home already has an LG built Kenmore front load pair. My first thought was to simply replace the pair altogether with a new SQ pair...but now I'm thinking of getting the stacking option for the dryer, and putting a SQ 432 or 542 next to it. However, reading all this I'm concerned about the plumbing and perhaps it would be much easier to replace them altogether.
In my current home I have the 432 paired with a nearly 20 year old Maytag Dependable Care dryer, (gosh I wish the Maytag Dependable Care washers were still in production!). The distributor I purchased from did the installation and I noticed how far down the drain hose goes into the pipe, and like the Maytag before it, it pumps the water out of the tub really quickly. The new house I'm moving to is really old compared to where I am now...so I'm a bit concerned about draining on the SQ, especially since for this one I intend to do whatever I have to do to raise the water level and defeat the lid switch. I'm curious...when I got my 432 new, ran a complete cycle at max water level (the unadjusted max) and a lot of soap, and I never noticed grease on any clothes I washed. I imagine that this "grease" issue is on any SQ top loader, not just the 542, right? I did notice during the first few weeks a "metal" sort of scent when I'd use the machine, but it went away. When the machine was installed, the installers started a fill then advanced to spin and warned me of a "clicking" sound for the first spin which I think is from the belt which may develop an indentation from the drive pulley as it is stored, but smoothes out as it's used. I imagine the same clicking could occur with agitation or spin, whichever is first. |
Post# 708522 , Reply# 37   10/10/2013 at 23:30 (3,822 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)   |   | |
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You'll hear that same clicking sound when the belt starts going bad.
Our Raytheon Amana had one of those fittings on the end of its drain hose. It was a non-issue because it drained into a utility sink. I prefer draining into a sink because it allows me to attach a mesh lint catcher to the end of the drain hose. I replace it every month or two when it gets full. It's a relief to know all of that lint isn't accumulating in the sewage line. |
Post# 708543 , Reply# 38   10/11/2013 at 05:37 (3,822 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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John-- Polishing compound: Call Speed Queen's customer service about this non-issue and they tell you exactly what it is, their recommendation for getting rid of it, and how to remove it from items that have been stained. Sounds like a company dealing with an issue to me.
But this is why it does annoy me: Speed Queen is basically saying, "Hey, we want to you pay premium-level bucks for a washer that is virtually indistinguishable from one produced in 1970. Oh, and by the way, we expect you to scrub the greasy schmutz out of the tub because we decided that's not our job. Have a nice day!" This post was last edited 10/11/2013 at 07:04 |
Post# 708552 , Reply# 39   10/11/2013 at 08:01 (3,822 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Hi Eugene, yes I have heard of this issue, however after selling over 150 of these washers I have yet to see one that required ANY cleaning or generated any complaints from a new customer, I installed 2 new AWN412s yesterday and noticed no problem with either.
The clicking noise that new SQ TL washers can make when put into the spin cycle has generated a lot of complaints also, but it also goes away as soon as the machine is run through a cycle and the belt gets warm and the flat spots in the belt go away.
I would not classify the SQ laundry appliances as premium priced appliances, we are selling the AWN412 for $739 including everything except any local tax. This is less than the average person spends on a new washer at Sears, Lows, Home Depot Etc. SQs dryers are even less than that, where as most companies are now charging as much for the dryer the matches a particular washer as for the washer itself. We are selling SQ electric dryers for as little as $569 including installation.
Even SQs FL washer is one of the bargains of all time in laundry appliances when you consider that it could last up to 50 years in normal home use. The FL SQs are the perfect machine for someone that likes fixing things, as even doing a bearing and seal change on one is easy, far easier in fact that doing a center seal or transmission on their TL washers. |
Post# 708559 , Reply# 40   10/11/2013 at 08:49 (3,821 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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John, having lived with the SQ for a couple of days, I can certainly see why you're selling so many of them. Customers desiring a "classic" top-loader need look no further. I'd bet if SQ expanded its base of dealerships they'd become as ubiquitous as Kenmores were back in the day. And frankly, I'd like to see them in "big box" stores. People are used to seeing washer prices ranging from $700-$1600, so the SQ's price shouldn't raise too many eyebrows.
Haven't noticed a clicking noise when the washer goes into spin. The machine runs like a top and purrs like a kitten. The cabinet exhibits no vibration during spin, even if the load is rather unbalanced. (Full disclosure: Had to create an imbalance manually, as the machine balances loads very nicely during agitation.) Washed a load consisting of two queen-sized sheets and six pillowcases. Loaded them all in one lump just to see what would happen. Checked back a few minutes into agitation and everything had self-balanced and was rolling over very peacefully. Sheets washed in the 2006 Frigidaire top-loader, with its wildly indexing tub, tended to tangle, bunch-up, or even get wrapped around the agitator. I'm enjoying the SQ's Surgilator-like curvy agitator blades. It's been a long time since I had a top-loader without a dual-action agitator (both the '89 KA and '06 Frigidaire had one). Nice to see blades going to the top of the agitator, rather than just having fins at the bottom. |
Post# 708566 , Reply# 41   10/11/2013 at 09:23 (3,821 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)   |   | |
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Post# 708573 , Reply# 43   10/11/2013 at 10:15 (3,821 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Ben-- I don't get to Lowe's/Home Depot/Best Buy-type places often, nor do I check out the appliances when I'm there, since I have no intention of buying one anywhere other than my little town's locally-owned dealerships. The nearest big box is 65 miles from me. They don't provide delivery/install this far away, and I'm not one to pick up, haul and install one myself. At any rate, I can't comment on the prices of the big box retailers. Are there many washers priced under $700 at those places?
I don't find SQ's prices out-of-line, and I would suspect that customers who don't want a front-loader or an HE top-loader would snap up a Speed Queen in a heartbeat. Maybe big box isn't the answer for SQ, but I'd sure like to see them have a much larger presence in the home laundry market. SQ actually seems to have more of a presence in little towns like mine than they do in larger urban areas. Maybe that's because small towns have no big boxes, only indie dealerships. Big boxes seem to have all but taken over urban areas. This post was last edited 10/11/2013 at 12:01 |
Post# 708743 , Reply# 46   10/12/2013 at 06:56 (3,821 days old) by volsboy1 (East Tenn Smoky mountains )   |   | |
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When I was in lowes the other day buying my water heater there was this couple who was fixing to buy a new L.G. front loader.I was looking at the other washers.I over heard they have never had a front-loader and this one was 1300 bucks or so.I told them that they do not use enough water and have exploded on spin cycles before.The salesman said that was not true till I pulled my phone out and showed them pics after pics and you-tube videos.I told them to buy a Speedqueen and save themselves half the cash by the time they buy a stand and all.I really pissed off the salesman bad really bad but they kept asking ?? so I told them and they left after asking me where they could find a Speedqueen they did not know they were made anymore but, they liked the picture with the metal gears and the lack of electronic dials and the fact they have four boys but what really got them was the amount of water these front-loaders do not use and the price difference. |
Post# 708747 , Reply# 47   10/12/2013 at 07:28 (3,821 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Gotta say....liking the Speed Queen. If it had a suds-saver and a 1000-rpm spin, I could maybe, possibly even consider it as a daily driver. It uses so much hot water (and water in general), and I'm equally startled by both the brevity of the wash cycle (about 30 minutes) and the increased length of drying time; even longer than for clothes spun in the Frigidaire Immersion Care...which was, in turn, longer than loads spun at 1300 rpm in the Frigidaire front-loader. And there's more lint in the dryer filter on loads washed in the SQ, so it is obviously not as gentle to fabrics as the front-loader.
But it is fun having a "vintage" spin-drain washer in the house. I believe the SQ will have a permanent place in the laundry room.
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Post# 708757 , Reply# 48   10/12/2013 at 09:26 (3,820 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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can't help you with the spin speed, although 700rpm is pretty good for a standard TLer......
but you can manually suds save if you have a wringer machine...and then pump the water back into the SQ as needed...... sometimes I save the suds from all the Neptunes to wash the dogs blankets and shop rags....I don't transfer back, I just use the wringer from there on... but anything is possible... I do this too with the filterflos lined up, pumping from one machine to the next...sometimes reusing the wash water 3 or 4 times......I learned this from JohnL...easy and brilliant... |
Post# 708764 , Reply# 49   10/12/2013 at 10:14 (3,820 days old) by golittlesport (California)   |   | |
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Post# 708765 , Reply# 50   10/12/2013 at 10:42 (3,820 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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you can always stack the Flers and add another machine to the fleet.....
Eugene....one thing concerns me.....the "Y" adapters for the faucets.....please tell me they are brass and not plastic I have had the cast metals ones corrode from the inside out and burst open on me while the machine was in use, especially the HOT side.....normally kept them shut off when not in use, but that still did not matter..... since then I use all brass ones.... you don't need another flood! |
Post# 708767 , Reply# 51   10/12/2013 at 10:56 (3,820 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Martin-- When I lived in the warehouse-style apartment downtown, I found a 1959 Lady Kenmore--never used--and had it set up as my 2nd washer for about a year. It had a suds-saver, so I purchased a rectangular, heavy duty garbage can and used that as my suds tub. If I move my three machines a few inches to the right, there will be enough room next to the SQ for a similar garbage can. Is there a submersible pump of some kind that can handle hot water/detergent/bleach that I could use to pump water back into the SQ? I just wish SQ made a suds-saver model!
In the thread about the new Simpson-clone / agitator-based Frigidaire top-loader, there was a link to the Australian Simpson site. I found the manual for their top-loader, and it is available with a suds saver that lets you choose whether you want to save the wash or rinse water. How cool would that be? As for the spin speed, 710 rpm is certainly much faster than the 525 speed of the 1960 Kenmore I grew up with, but once you're accustomed to clothes spun in a modern front-loader, the amount of water left behind by the SQ is very obvious. I suppose I could use the front-loader as an extractor for SQ-washed loads...but that seems like a lot of fuss when I could just wash them in the FL'er to begin with. Y-Adaptors: They are plastic, Martin, which I thought was odd, too. Back in 2006, when the Frigidaire top-loader was installed, the dealer used metal Y-adaptors. In 2010, when I gave away that TL'er and brought in the new FL pair, no Y's were needed. In January, 2013, when the Immersion Care was installed, the dealer put in these plastic Y's. I always, always, always turn off the water faucets after my last load of the day. Do you think they should be replaced with brass Y's? Rich-- Thanks! My poor water heater is working overtime, but it's been a fun machine to play with. As the novelty wears off, I'll return to the front-loader as my daily driver---just as a wayward husband returns home after an affair, LOL. This post was last edited 10/12/2013 at 11:44 |
Post# 708820 , Reply# 52   10/12/2013 at 15:44 (3,820 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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It's too bad you don't have a sink there to experiment, but fall back on your garbage can method. I mention this because, if you had a sink, you could experiment right now:
1. Have the largest can/bucket available, full of water, leaving room for about another gallon of water. 2. Arrange the drain hose in the receptacle so that the hole in the hose is at the bottom of the bucket. 3. Fill about a gallon of water or less in the machine. 4. Start the spin drain, till the water starts to gush, then immediately stop the pump. Make sure you have not pumped all the water out. 5. See if you have created a siphon. Some machines will; others won't. 6. If so, you're good to go. And you know the rest. Stand pipe in the drain if you get a sink to drain the rinse water, etc. A Little hose-switching work, but nothing you can't handle during your brief "affair" with a Speed Queen Top. ;-D ALSO: PLEASE TELL ME how to find the "water re-use" literature for that new Frigidaire. I asked in the thread and worked the link, but could not find any info on this fascinating new feature that could solve all the federal water restriction problems, when and if other manufactures follow suit, and end this water nazi feces, pardon my French, lol. |
Post# 708828 , Reply# 53   10/12/2013 at 16:25 (3,820 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)   |   | |
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Hi Michael
Here's the page for the Simpson with the 'water reuse' feature. Down the page, go to 'Support Centre' and download the 'User Manual', the instructions to re-use the water are on Page 15. But, I remember my parents very old Hoover automatic which had 'manual' suds saving which meant saving water in the trough, then setting the machine to 'spin' for about 3 minutes and the water was manually siphoned back into the machine. I'm actually thinking of trying that with one of my Maytags and see if it works. Cheers Leon CLICK HERE TO GO TO mayfan69's LINK |
Post# 708848 , Reply# 54   10/12/2013 at 18:25 (3,820 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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yes....thats a great idea to use a large trash can and a small sumbersible pump to fulfil your needs.......
your just going to keep in mind of a platform or a brick or two for the pump to set on, to keep it off of the bottom where all the heavy stuff will settle, you don't want to pump that part back into the machine for your next load.....you may want a lint trap either on the machines hose, or the return line to filter any lint as well I know several members who use this method as a simple mock up of a laundry tub, that needs pumped to another location as a regular drain... |
Post# 708853 , Reply# 55   10/12/2013 at 18:48 (3,820 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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Suds saving made easy......now have to wonder where to find one of these in the states.....
pretty cool and self contained.... CLICK HERE TO GO TO Yogitunes's LINK |
Post# 708857 , Reply# 56   10/12/2013 at 18:52 (3,820 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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not that I would want this sitting on top of my machine.....a unique idea......maybe wall mounted?
no pump needed.....and no switching hoses around...a simple valve manually operated.. CLICK HERE TO GO TO Yogitunes's LINK |
Post# 708858 , Reply# 57   10/12/2013 at 18:59 (3,820 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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One thing I often do when I use my Calypso or SQ FL washer is to put the discharge from one of these washers into the 1-18 and save the wash and maybe one or two of the rinses. The 1-18 already has a dirty load of jeans waiting in it, that way they get a good presoak. Then I start the 1-18 allowing it to add some water if necessary. This is about the only way I ever use a regular TL washer any longer at my house.
To make up for the less than great water extraction of the 1-18 I take the jeans out to the screened porch where one of my three gas dryers are installed and let the jeans dry for at least half a day draped over the chair backs out there. Then I come back and put the jeans in the dryer when they are nearly dry for finishing and de-wrinkling. |
Post# 708866 , Reply# 58   10/12/2013 at 19:35 (3,820 days old) by logixx (Germany)   |   | |
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Electrolux used to have a FL that would reuse the rinse water to wash. Fagor has a top loader with the same technology. Miele has suds-savers - but only for their Professional models.
www.mieleprofessional.co.uk/gb/pr... |
Post# 708907 , Reply# 59   10/12/2013 at 22:46 (3,820 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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Leon, thank you.
It works sort of like the vintage systems, although computer driven, except that you can save the rinse water. My land lady way back in the day, Gordon Gray, would be so happy. How she lamented pumping away the clean rinse water. Odd thing in the text is that it can take 10 minutes to return the water which led me to wonder if it is a separate pump, that and the fact of water valving in to prime it. |
Post# 708910 , Reply# 60   10/12/2013 at 22:58 (3,820 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)   |   | |
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Post# 708932 , Reply# 61   10/13/2013 at 01:32 (3,820 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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I would just go brass for durability and safer in the first place.....
the plastic ones are good for outside garden hoses, but what really concerns me is the HOT side, they weren't designed to handle that high of a temp.... mine also have seperate valves for each side.....I think they ran 6.00 each at Lowes... I also know it seems redundant to re-spin in the FLer, but this allows you to play with the SQ, and yet still be efficient for the dryer, without buying a seperate spinner, you already have one!.....I like re-spinning in the twintub, for only 5 minutes, just to see how much more water I can get out before the dryer...for towels, usually about 6 cups, thats a lot for the dryer to remove if you think about it.....if you can, take a load from the SQ and spin it in the FLer, and put your drain hose in a bucket, just out of curiosity to see how much more water you get out of it!..... |