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Post# 506245   3/23/2011 at 20:24 (4,632 days old) by mixfinder ()        

I don't have the model number in front of me but I have a question regarding Peter's Neptune washer.  It is 12 or 13 years old and it's only repair has been a factory replacement of the wax motor when it was still under the recall.  It gets fairly hard use from other family members yet it has been very reliable.  It will go through a cycle but it won't spin at any point. It tumbles and drains at the right interval but no makes no attempt to accelerate.  Anyone have any quick diagnosis.  Should we call a repairman or consider it not worth an effort?
Post# 506257 , Reply# 1   3/23/2011 at 20:37 (4,632 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture

Sounds like it COULD be a controller board issue. 
Post# 506265 , Reply# 2   3/23/2011 at 20:41 (4,632 days old) by mixfinder ()        

That was just the answer I didn't want to hear.  What ever replaces it will be a front loader.  His sister has an LG which she packs a weeks worth of laundry in a load.  Sometimes the middle of the load isn't even wet.  It has run for two years without a repair.
Post# 506272 , Reply# 3   3/23/2011 at 20:46 (4,632 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

"His sister has an LG which she packs a weeks worth of laundry in a load. Sometimes the middle of the load isn't even wet."


...


Did she realize her machine is overloaded?

Post# 506290 , Reply# 4   3/23/2011 at 21:21 (4,632 days old) by mixfinder ()        
It's Done

Like so many 40 years old and younger it doesn't matter.  In, out, done. Guess what?  My advice is not appreciated.
Post# 506304 , Reply# 5   3/23/2011 at 21:51 (4,632 days old) by cfz2882 (Belle Fourche,SD)        
neptune

 does the"door locked"light come on?-IIRC when my '99 mah 3000 neptune had the
classic wax motor/damaged control board problem it would fill and tumble but
would not spin...
I bought my neptune for $25,repaired the wax motors and control board,and it
has been great ever since. Whole cause of the neptune"wax motor"mess was
the heater pellet clipped to the side of the wax motor was not insulated at
the edge with the conductive faces about 1/16" apart-with the door lock
assembly right above the door opening,the wax motor can get damp and the
resistor pellet"flashes over"between the conductive faces-blowing up the
tiny triac that drives the wax motor and burning out a resistor on the
control board...The fix is very easy if you are used to electronics repairs
I carefully took apart and insulated the original wax motors to avoid a
repeat incident-3 wax motors in the mah3000,one for the door and two more
for the dispenser.
I really like my neptune,it has become my favorite"daily driver"machine.


Post# 506308 , Reply# 6   3/23/2011 at 22:00 (4,632 days old) by laundromat (Hilo, Hawaii)        
Disney World Complex

 laundromat's profile picture
I call this the "Disney World Complex". People who are not of "our world" see so many "magical" and "spiritual" things happen so fast with no explanation why.So, they assume everything will happen magically.You open the door,pack the washer,dishwasher,clothes dryer full of clothes and/or dishes slam the door shut, pour lots of detergent,half a box or bottle if need be,smack the control board and just walk away.Magically,in 30 minutes to an hour and a half,everything's done. all you do then is remove the clothes and pack the dryer full including the loose change and other lost pieces in unchecked pockets,set the dryer timer for two or three hours on high,instead of using its auto-dry settings and/or wait until the next day to remove them so they stink from souring.Then, slam the washer door shut so it will get mildew all inside and around the rubber boot.That way,in one or two years,they can get a newer model to abuse and destroy.

The Miele I found at Smith's is a perfect example of this. A 4 year old EXPENSIVE clothes washer AND matching electric dryer (yea,I bought it.. Couldn't resist.Charley let me have it for $150 instead of $400) going to the dump. Even if I had to PAY to get the washer repaired or just buy the part and install it myself,I would have taken them.Anyone stupid enough to buy something that expensive and just toss it out replacing it with a used cheap Roper washer and dryer, and has this Disney disorder, doesn't deserve a laundry pair as nice as these.I am sure everyone here who knows me or knows of me,is aware that these beauties did find a great home and a fabulous new "Daddy" who will take great care of them and keep them in perfect health.

Post# 506320 , Reply# 7   3/23/2011 at 22:19 (4,632 days old) by mixfinder ()        
Door Locked Light

Peter is an electrical engineer and directs a group that designs and tests electrical changes to the 737 for special orders.  I have never seen him do anything electrical but perhaps he can.  We'll check the door locked light as that should reveal the integrity of the wax motor.
Post# 506384 , Reply# 8   3/24/2011 at 07:20 (4,632 days old) by yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
Neptunes.......despite some issues they may have, one needed a motor board, 2 needed bearings, and one gas valve, other than that no major issues, I rather have these than some of the new junk thats out there........I have 3 sets so far, working on the 4th

Post# 506408 , Reply# 9   3/24/2011 at 09:54 (4,632 days old) by mixfinder ()        
Door Locked Light

I am headed over tomorrow armed with the advice of you all and the great pictured thread of Ben's Neptune rebuild.  Neither Peter nor I have any desire to replace this machine if it is a reasonable repair.  His family thinks he's crazy to even bother with it and in these instances he gets lectures about letting an outsider influence his thoughts.
Post# 507107 , Reply# 10   3/26/2011 at 22:20 (4,629 days old) by mixfinder ()        
For you, no spin!

We took the front assembly off the washer and the wax motor is indeed activating the spin switch.  Opened the console and the control board looks fine.  The schematic says to check P3-7 if there is no spin.  The remaining culprit appears to be the controller motor.  We decided to opt for a new machine before beginning the process of keeping this one running.  After checking Consumer Reports we stopped at Lowes for the price on a Whirpool Duet WFW94HEX.  Their price is $1,097 with an energy rebate of $100.00.  No washer in stock, they're on back order without a for sure ship date.  A stop at a local upscale retailer, Albert Lee had the Duet on Sale for $899.00 with the Puget Sound Energy rebate of $100.00.  They have 7 on back order with the shipment scheduled for April 7.  The Duet is purchased and in que for delivery.  The Neptune is in flawless cosmetic shape and looks good inside the cabinet as well.  It does hot water washes with bleach on a fairly regular basis.  It has the brush comb coin guard which is clean and there is no evidence of mold.  Liquid Tide has been it's drink of choice for most of it's life. It functions as designed on all points but the spin.  If any one in the Puget Sound area wants a free Neptine let me know.
Post# 507122 , Reply# 11   3/26/2011 at 23:37 (4,629 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

Martin

I don't know exactly why I'm starting to think you like the neptunes... LOL

Lovely picture.

Post# 507215 , Reply# 12   3/27/2011 at 09:03 (4,629 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
NEW FL WASHER

 combo52's profile picture

Get a SQ FL washer there is no other washer made for home use that is even 1/2 as good in terms of construction quality. A SQ FLer is designed to last 25,000 loads and in a home doing 10 loads per week thats about 48 years. These machines have the best warranty in the industry with everything being covered for 3 years P&L and other major parts covered for 5 years.
Post# 507224 , Reply# 13   3/27/2011 at 09:54 (4,629 days old) by yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
Neptunes

probably because they are becomming so abundant in my area, I have dug in and tore them down to about nothing and put them back to gether, and with the help of guys here at AW, have replaced bearrings 2 times, they wash and rinse well, use enough water.....I would have preferred front controls for a counter top, but these will do....

the first set I bought brand new in 2001......all the others I got off CL for 100.00 for the sets.......the last one I got was still in shipping straps, was only used for display staging, never plugged in...working on a fourth set....and maybe one for a backup or parts....

Post# 507272 , Reply# 14   3/27/2011 at 13:45 (4,629 days old) by mixfinder ()        
Not a Speed Queen

Guess you could say we like to take our time.  We had a new Speed Queen front loader in the apartment I lived in Seattle.  I was not impressed with washability, rinsing or extraction.  I realize it was a commercial machine so it was starved for time and water but even dumping more water in the soap dispenser didn't seem to make a difference.  I am not impressed with any machine for sale today so we tried to choose the leasest of all the evils and hedge our bet.
Post# 507351 , Reply# 15   3/27/2011 at 17:57 (4,628 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

@Kelly

I know exactly what you mean, but things get better... Give them a chance.

Using american HE detergents any modern machine will get a decent rinse, unless you repeat the cycle.

People are saying wonders about the new generation of detergents. I think you should try them.

I have an american HE FL and I see no reason to use more water. The results are always impressive when I use Euro detergents. But every time I use an american detergent, I need to repeat the cycle to get a decent rinse and the cleaning is good but isn't as good as the euro ones.

Post# 507415 , Reply# 16   3/27/2011 at 20:15 (4,628 days old) by mixfinder ()        
As the Quakers say, "I hear you"

John, you were just a day late with the brand advice.  Peter's family thinks I have too much influence on him and were nagging him to give up on the Neptune and just buy a machine.  The choice was made soley from Consumer Reports, a choice defendable to his family as I had nothing to say about it.

 

Thomas, I don't think it can worse than it has been for laundry equipment in the US these past 3 or 4 years so I listen to your cause for hope.  I thought of picking up a box of Persil at the appliance store to see if it made a difference.  It humors me that I use Ariel in my Maytag top loader and you speak of using detergents of our brands.  I love to watch your facebook threrad even if I have no clue what's said.

 

In the meantime the laundry is being taken next door to his sister's LG which she told Peter he was dumb for not buying.  I wish her or the LG no ill will but I can't wait for the first service call.
Post# 507440 , Reply# 17   3/27/2011 at 21:32 (4,628 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
SQ FL WASHER

 combo52's profile picture

Kelly which SQ FL washer did you have? the current big door models have gone to a 24 minute wash period, and if thats not enough get the model with the heater which can boost the wash time to well over 35 minutes depending on water temp and load size. You can even set the machine to fill on cold and then switch to boosted hot and get an hour long wash cycle, I can't imagine how any modern machine can work any better, and believe me I have used hundreds of washers in my own home.
Post# 507461 , Reply# 18   3/27/2011 at 21:49 (4,628 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

Kelly, we should never miss our hope.

The fact is. suddently the american government said "guys, you have to be energy efficient or we won't allow you to sell washers anymore" then all the american manufacturers did panic. they almost had to reinvent the wheel. I remember clearly those days. I was almost retiring at Elux Brazil and my american colleagues were desperate. The machines had meet standards much harder than ordinary european front loaders at that time. Europeans had front loaders. (much more efficient than standard american top loaders, but a water hog if compared to the american standards) The solution was making them huge (and use almost the same amount of water).

later, the european machines also changed and became even more efficient. But as the manufacturers are widely used to front loaders, it wasn't difficult to adapt themselves to the new standards.

How to do laundry using 2 drops of water? Well, on the beginning it was difficult but as everybody could whitness, after some years they researched a lot and the new generation of front loader machines arrived. Today almost nobody complain about cleaning, but still complain about rinsing.

The same happened to detergents. I'm going to take Tide as an example because I have it here.
It was an excellent detergent before people start this HE talk. Suddenly the washer manufacturers started to cry at P&G door asking for a detergent that wouldn't fill the homes up to the roof with suds. 1st thing to think as an emergency solution was "well, let's toss a lot of foam supressor in our formula" voilá there's the first Tide HE.
It's not foamy, but it also can't clean as well as the older Tide... and then, ban the phosfates! What could be worse?

Almost 10 years have passed and both washers and detergents manufacturers had time to think (lots of brainstorms and brainfarts), develop, calculate, test, recalculate, test again, listen to the consumer, etc, etc, etc.
Of course every manufacturer wants his machine or his detergent to clean better than the competitor's.

Use the first american front loader from electrolux (Frigidaire gallery "radio" dial) even the door hinges are a disaster in that machine. now compare it with the brand new electrolux wavetouch steam washer. Can you see the HUGE difference?
Same happened with Whirlpool. first duet and the duets you have now. Of course the newer are much better (and of course i'm not talking about dependability) They clean more, rinse better and use less or the same energy and water.


I strongly believe the same is going to happen with detergents. This new Tide Compact powder can be an example. Maybe it isn't the perfect detergent yet and we must be careful to separate real facts from marketing tricks every manufacturer use, but I'm 99,99999% sure that P&G did their best to make it clean more and rinse better than the previous version. Maybe they finally decided to get the european formulas or developed a complete new formula... Who knows?

I noticed that because i have a huge jug of Tide HE, two boxes of Tide (regular and with bleach) and a small bottle of tide with bleach HE. Used in a top loader, Tide regular or Tide with bleach are great. I would never put a regular detergent in a front loader because we all know the results. Tide HE works even better than the regular in my top loaders, it cleans the same but rinses better.
If I use Tide HE in my american HE front loader. It cleans OK (not excellent) but even being HE it doesn't rinse well. And european detergents are simply perfect to my Affinity washer.(I use Skip or Ala, that i can easily buy in Argentina).

P&G recently launched Ariel liquid with a touch of softener here in Brazil.
Believe it or not, it performs almost like any european detergent and it's phosfate free. It cleans like no other. Even nasty white clothes come out of my Affinity like new.
I can see it makes a little bit more suds than Skip (Skip is 100% no foam) but it doesn't affect the rinses.
The rinses are so perfect that with Ariel I can stop using the extra rinse option.

With Tide HE I have to repeat the cycle and always keep the extra rinse selected.

I'm looking forward to try this new compact Tide. As I said above, I'm almost sure this new detergent will make people love their HEFL machines.

And the next generation of machines and detergents might be even better. Maybe they discover a way to use less water, reduce the lenght of the cycle, reduce the temperature and get better results.

Nobody here is stupid enough to spend more water and more electricity if there's an option to get better results using less resources, right?

After I try the new compact Tide, i'll be able to form an official opinion but i think the first REAL HE detergent was launched only a few weeks ago in the U.S.


And before I forget, guys, NEVER believe what manufactuers say about capacity. It's all marketing! ;) Results are going to be better and the machines will last longer.

I've designed machines for years (cosmetic design) and on meetings the engineers x design department x marketing executives were always saying the same thing: our side saying "It's impossible!" and the executive side saying "We don't care, people must always believe they can wash more in one load"
And I'm sure this Tom & Jerry discussion happens since the first automatic washer ever made. factories are not charity centers... everything spins around profit, profit and more profit.
When the "programmed obsolescence" talk started, i decided it was time to jump off the boat.



Post# 508649 , Reply# 19   4/1/2011 at 18:37 (4,623 days old) by mixfinder ()        
Sir, You've Been Upgraded

Albert Lee called today and said the 94 series is so far into back order because of the Consumer Reports article Whirlpool is offering the 95 series at no extra charge.  It will be delivered tomorrow.
Post# 509092 , Reply# 20   4/3/2011 at 21:58 (4,621 days old) by mixfinder ()        
Beauty and the Beast

The new washer is in place and does a very nice job of washing and spinning the clothes dry.  It has myriad options and we have settled on the Bulky cycle because it uses the most water.  The washer lights up, beeps and talks to you before the cycle begins.  It is more conversational in cycle than the old Neptune which was very quiet.  This machine is louder and will take a little getting used to.  So far its entertainment tonight with a full window and lighted interior!
Post# 509125 , Reply# 21   4/4/2011 at 04:40 (4,621 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

Whaaaaaaat?
The machine talks to you?

I thought the "washy talky" was exclusive and patented by electrolux. LOL
By the way, that was the worst idea they had...


Hello! I'm Washy Talky, your talking washing machine

Would you like me to use the fuzzy logic cycle and select the best cycle for your load? press yes or no. (YES)

Put load in the drum, close lid and wait.

My sensors detected water level for this load should be medium. Open lid and add enough detergent for a medium water level. Add bleach and fabric softener if you prefer to.

Close lid and relax. (you're not crazy, you're just dumb enough to don't know how to use me and need me to teach you.)

the next day..

Hello! I'm Washy Talky, your talking washing machine.
Close lid and relax, but don't go away because i need to tell you something.

You know I hate gossip but I have something important to tell you. yesterday your husband used me. the tossed some underwear with tire marks inside me. That was horrible. how could you marry him? Oh, by the way, I noticed your lipstick is pink... his white shirt had a red lipstick stain and his underwear too! Can you believe that?

Worst of all, I had to teach him how to use me, can you believe he didn't know where to put the detergent and just sprinkled it on the load? I'm sorry but your husband is a looser.

3rd day

Hello! I'm Washy Talky, your ta... SHUT UP BITCH!

What are you doing with this hammer? And this gallon of gasoline? And this lighter?

Oh no, my warranty will be voided. stop stoooooooooooooop!

No, not the water hose... heeeeeelp somebody heeeeeeeeelp washing machine being abused.

dryeeeeer, please help me, call 911. He's throwing gasoline on me. heeeeeeeelp


Electrolux - Gossiping about you

LOL



Post# 509219 , Reply# 22   4/4/2011 at 13:49 (4,621 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

Did I write it last night?


OMG

What did I smoke? I thought it was an ordinary Malrboro cigarrette. LOL


Gossiping washing machine... Oh Lord....

Post# 509236 , Reply# 23   4/4/2011 at 14:25 (4,620 days old) by yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
Thomas........your funny!......but I could see that happening





FYI....got another Neptune 5500 washer yesterday at the flea market, 60.00....that makes 4 washers, and 3 dryers so far....


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