Thread Number: 6601
Did I do the right thing? 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 132578   6/2/2006 at 01:26 (6,532 days old) by tumbler ()        

I've been a lifelong fan of front-load washers-probably a childhood thing acquired from watching a front load Philco-Bendix (I think it was a Duo-Matic) like it was a tv set at the age of about six. Plus, I could never get my mom to buy one (still can't). However, I've had bad luck with the quality of more recent ones. I bought a "Westinghouse" (WCI) in '90, the first one with reversing action; the tub rusted out in 2 years, the warranty replacement lasted another year or so. In '97 I bought a Kenmore (Frigidaire/WCI) model w/stainless tub; the tub bearing went about a month ago. I just replaced it with a Maytag Neptune (Samsung?), which seems to be a really nice machine. I also bought a Neptune gas dryer to go with it. Anyone out there have any feedback on the quality of these machines? Did I do the right thing?




Post# 132587 , Reply# 1   6/2/2006 at 03:39 (6,532 days old) by sactoteddybear ()        
Re: Front Load Washer Info:

 Hi! John "tumbler" welcome to the Appliance Club Site. I'm sorry to see about your bad luck with some of the Front Loaders, besides not being able to get your Mother to look into them as well.

I know of another Club Member, that I've written to and asked them if they would either write you on an E-Mail or a Thread Posting. They just recently bought one of the Maytag Neptune "Samsung" Washers and I thought that he wouldn't mind writing to you, or commenting through the Club Postings.

I've experienced having several Front-Load Washers through the years of different Brands and I do like them, but I still tend to like Top-Load Washers over the Front-Load Washers.

I would still look into a Front-Load Washer, but I'm not to sure which Brand I would look into getting, although I do tend to like the WP/Kenmore Brands, actually for both Top-Load and Front-Load Washers.

I wish you good luck with your new Maytag Neptune "Samsung" Washer, please keep us informed as to how it is doing. Maybe after you've had it for a while, you can convence your Mother into thinking about getting one as well. "BTW" what Brand, Year and Model of Washer and Dryer does your Mother have?

Peace and Fun Front-Load Laundry Times, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...

Post# 132599 , Reply# 2   6/2/2006 at 06:41 (6,532 days old) by jasonl (Cookeville, TN)        

From what I can tell, Samsung is a good brand. Best Buy sells the hell out of Samsung appliances and electronics. Samsung tv's have beautiful pictures. As far as reliability, too early to tell.

Post# 133493 , Reply# 3   6/5/2006 at 20:45 (6,528 days old) by bendix5 (Central Point, Oregon)        

bendix5's profile picture
Hi John, I think you made a wise decision. Last October we bought the Maytag MAH8700. We have had no second thoughts on this machine at all. it is fun watching it go thru its cycles. The control panel is convient. The only thing I don't like is the on/of button is right near the top and can be accidentally hit and shuts down the cycle in progress which makes it so we have to start over. Cleaning is not a problem either. We use regular Gain and Tide with bleach without much sudsing. I did have to re-level the machine after about 6 weeks. One day it just wasn't level anymore and I could not figure out why but no problems since. I hope you enjoy your new machines. Like you I grew up around Bendix washers and dryers and Duomatics. My uncle was a Bendix salesman/installer/educator. I loved going out with him on calls or deliveries. Most of my Aunts had Bendix washers or the Duomatic. If produced today they would be a top seller. The pic is a small load of whites getting ready to spin
Enjoy!!
Dano
Bendix5

Post# 133500 , Reply# 4   6/5/2006 at 21:42 (6,528 days old) by frontloadfan (Wellfleet, Ma.)        
Good Luck With Samsung

 Hi Tumbler!

I too use to have the Frigidaire front loader. I bought it in 1998 and I really enjoyed the machine until last year until the bearings went out (or were at least in the process of going out). It was a great little machine. I use to enjoy watching it run. Did yours have a electronic hum as it would run? What I always got a kick out of was when it would kick in the final fast spin. It sounded like a little mini jet engine.

I purchased the Maytag Neptune (samsung) as the replacement. No reflection on the brand, but this individual machine was really hellish. I had three service calls in as many weeks and no fixes seemed to work. Initial problem was a rattling plate that rattled like hell whenever the water pump was activated. Last problem was a door that wouldn't stay tight.

Maytag was willing to keep sending out their not-so-lonely repairman to fix the machine. After the third fix (and then the door starting to rattle again right after the repairman left), I really wanted a fresh start! I had purchased the machine from Lowes and they were great about allowing me to return the washer and swap it for another machine (Kitchenaid).

Having said all of this, I don't want to scare you regarding this machine. I don't buy the theory that just because you get hold of one lemon, they are all lemons.

The one negative that I find about this machine is that the Maytag does not offer a soak option. I really love being able to do an autosoak option prior to the starting of the main cycle. You get that with Duet and associated clones, but not the Maytag Neptune.

Then again, no machine is perfect (I hate that my Kitchenaid doesn't offer time delay wash). I think you will find that on a scale of sophistication of 1 to 10, with the Frigidaire being a 4, the Maytag is at least a 8. In addition, the capacity of the Neptune is really remarkable. Once you have put your machines through the paces, please report back and let us know how long the dryer takes to dry a full load from the washer.

I still have the mate to my Frigidaire as my dryer. I don't even attempt to do a "full" load in the Kitchenaid unless I am able to hang the clothes outside.

Post# 133593 , Reply# 5   6/6/2006 at 03:44 (6,528 days old) by tumbler ()        
Frigidaire & Maytag (Samsung)

 My Kenmore/Frigidaire also made the "jet engine" sound. That was because it had a d.c. series-wound motor with carbon brushes; later models used an inverter-drive 3-phase motor like the Neptune and most others, which have no brushes and therefore run quieter (and last much longer). I'll be getting the "lonely" Maytag man out to the house to deal with 1) spin speed not up to advertised specs (960 r.p.m. actual, 1,000 r.p.m. advertised) and a noisy drain pump. I have the MAH6700, which has 3.3 cu. ft. instead of 3.8 like the 8700, and a couple less features. I might just trade it for a 8700, if Home Depot will let me, especially if I have service problems. So far, though, other than the r.p.m. issue and the pump, it has worked fine the couple of times I've used it. Haven't used the 9700 dryer yet-my 94 y.o. dad broke his hip and I had to drop everything and head to Cape Cod to help out...

Post# 139407 , Reply# 6   7/2/2006 at 09:41 (6,502 days old) by lemueltay ()        
Bendix? Not the same anymore in Australia

 Hi there, I'm only a visitor from Australia so please be kind! Have to throw in my two cents' worth though, please cherish the memories you have of the Bendix Duomatic machines of your childhood, they were made to last. Those machines were pioneers in many ways, changing the way we thought about wash-day and leisure.

However, I acquired a WDB1074T washer-dryer, also called Bendix (Philco), but these were made in Italy with supposed German made components. Well, the quality has certainly gone downhill, everything is so much flimsier and plasticky.

After moderate use for around nine years, it would seem it is only fit for junk - everything seems to have gone wrong with it: raspy noise from the drum bearings, cold water inlet valve filling extremely slowly, door catch knob broken, machine not spinning and drying cycle not working properly. Faced with a prospect of expensive repairs, I'm replacing this with a hideously expensive Miele washer-dryer.

Compare this with my mum's Philips machine, which lasted over 27 years, doing all our laundry.

It is a far cry from the sturdy Bendix machines that used to wash for twenty or more years with little problems; make no mistake, it ain't the same build quality no more! The last straw for me was being told that the company distributing Bendix in Australia has gone belly-up too. With spare parts becoming more expensive and rare, time to call it a day!

Comments, feedback or disagreements, let me know: lemueltay@optushome.com.au

Post# 139434 , Reply# 7   7/2/2006 at 10:47 (6,502 days old) by vivalalavatrice ()        
Front Loading better...

 Many people here have the right experiece to say you whether a washing machine you bought can last/or not, can be reliable/or not, and many other things about it, of course before few years last when you will know if that machine is good or not.So listen to them if you want...

Me, I can say you that if you grew up with a FL like I did, surely you'll miss that "show" if you had a TL... I realize that some years ago when my mom diceded to choose a TL instead of a FL because of the smaller dimension and the ease of loading.
Lucky we still have the old one so when I want to have the "show" I only have to do the laundry in her and it's done! :-))

The washer has got a soul... if you can see it it's better!

GoodBye
Diomede

PS: I remeber of some ad of the 60s showing the Philco, the best gift for a wedding couple in those years! If I remeber right there were only Philco washers, none combo here...I can't say how long did it last that brand... now there's not again.

Post# 139799 , Reply# 8   7/3/2006 at 14:51 (6,500 days old) by tumbler ()        
No more Maytag (Maysung)!

 Update-after hearing some horror stories about the new Neptune front-loaders, and putting them together w/Consumer Reports frequency-of-repair ratings (Neptunes have the worst record of all), I've put the Neptune 6700 up for sale, and purchased a Duet HT (w/the bells & whistles). Much better machine in all respects. I had also bought a Neptune 9700 dryer-what a piece of junk! The stainless steel drum has a designed-in defect, a wrinkle in the metal at the butt joint, right where it travels over the support rollers at the back of the machine. The "lonely" Maytag man told me that they're all made that way, there's no fix! I told the Home Depot salesman that the only things I expect to spend $1000 on and hear all over the house are either a stereo system or one of my trombones! HD took the machine back, and I bought a Duet dryer-again, a much better machine. Lemueltay, you're quite right about the old Bendix machines; I would that today's front loaders, great performers that some of them are, were built with the integrity of the old Bendixes! (The first machine I owned was a Bendix I found on the street!). The only drawbacks to the old machines were a) they tumbled continuously in one direction, which sometimes knotted up clothes pretty badly and b) a desperately slow spin speed, about 300 r.p.m. or so.

Post# 139810 , Reply# 9   7/3/2006 at 15:35 (6,500 days old) by insulinpumpuser ()        
Neptune dryer

 Hi, Tumbler. I bought the MT Samsung Neptune dryer with the window last Nov. Mine has the SS tub also. I totally LOVE it!!! It says it even has an alarm that will go off if your dryer's vent tubing is getting clogged. I don't know anything about the new Neptune washers though, I bought the Duet....Bill in Az.....


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