Is the low speed useful or needed with GE FF washers? I remember that low speed did not work on nearly every FF washers by the scrap pile with no one noticing it was gone.

The relatively slow RPM on high speed spins would not break threads in delicate fabrics, the ramp agitator was gentle enough when paired with the poly knit cycle, the mini basket covered handwash items and Hotpoint had a smooth fin agitator under the regular agitator to be used with handwash items.

I feel like GE would in advance cover for the disappearing low speed and that FFs could have all gotten away with being single speed right out of the box instead of GE messing around with two or multi speed clutches. I feel like low speed wash/spin with its two speed clutch was over-rated.

How do others feel?

@Appnut- Perhaps a ramp or slim vane agitator would have suited your needs better? I find that washers with strong agitation also tended to have very immodest agitators in them compounding the aggressive agitation. A slim vane agitator, like a Maytag DC agi might have been a better option. TL washers can get quite soft with the right agitator. I personally like gentle agitators with a long wash time. I think that provides the best wash performance. GE FFs gave a 20 minute wash time on heavy soil.

I think nearly all one speed washer models with exception of large fin agis did well in terms of clothing wear and clean-ability.  

...has always been SLOW agitation and NORMAL spin speed. I noticed that my Mother's Mother, who had a WA-730X (which was, essentially the same as our WA-750W minus a rinse temperature toggle) always kept the speed button on SLOW.

Filter-Flo machines do an excellent cleaning job on big loads and heavy fabrics, but it's a little intense for finer stuff and when using lower water levels. There's a lot of splashing on NORMAL as well.

I have found, unfortunately, with many of the Filter-Flo's I've used, the SLOW speed option disappears one way or another after many years of use.

I'm using a WA-950X that starts out with slow agitation, but always goes to fast no matter what speed I choose. On our WA-750 W the SLOW option disappeared after about 8 years and was hardly used at all; the machine started and ran on fast speed no matter what.

Is the Maytag 1970-1980 center dial agitator really that rough on clothes? I recall it being amongst the gentlest.  Not doubting, just wanting to learn more.

@Bajaespuma: Perhaps its a local thing, but I've noticed the same. Every single GE filter Flo and Hotpoint Rim flo that was older than 10 years was missing its low speed for some reason or another. Low speed simply did not remain for any length of time. Most common cause was the entire shifter armature was just missing in the scrap pile no where to be found. I feel like GE was aware of that and designed their machines with the ability to wash delicate, knit, PP and delicate items on high speed.

Eh- Maytag has often been rated one of the lowest cleaning washers. Based on the limited Maytags I've used, service manuals, observations and remarks on here Maytag was too gentle relative to other washers hence why Whirlpool and GE sold more washers. Based on what Maytag wrote, the 1970-1980 agi were meant to be gentle and washed/moved clothes by forcing water through them. Clothes would not stay around the lower fins for long, most of the time they were being turned over through the force of water.   

Thanks John, I'll look at the solenoid.

My understanding is that GE didn't use a 2 speed motor because it would slow down the Filtration system to a dribble and they already had had enough complaints about dribbling in the Solid Tub models from customers who used the WATER SAVER option on those machines (even though the lid instructions warned the user).

Personally, I agreed with CU when they wrote that Clothes Dryer lint filtration was more effective than in the washers. And I notice that almost no new washing machines seem to bother with them.

If everyone was like me, all washers would have water recirculation based lint filters. No matter what I think they help to a degree.

Wait K-Mart sold in house branded FF washers? Tell me more.

Thanks. Was the specific model for price match plus or was it like a Kenmore thing? I remember JCPenney washers were unique in their own way. 

I like the concept of mixing GE and Hotpoint parts. Perhaps these were surplus parts mixed together to create a more economic machine? I wish GE sold more FFs, I like what they had going.

Hi Bob, one of the best things you can do for a septic tank is let hair and lint get into it. 

Call me paranoid, but I put those tight mesh screens on every single drain I have. Kitchen sink/Kitchenette sinks/bathroom sinks, tub (it was a pop-up stopper, I removed it). It doesn't filter everything 100% but probably a good 90%. If I had room to install a utility laundry sink, I would install one and run the drain hose through a tight meshed screen as well. The vintage Maytags filter pretty well and most of my laundry is ancient and quit shedding years/decades ago so I'm not overly concerned. However, if anybody has ideas on how I can run the washer drain hose through an easily accessible filter via a standpipe, please let me know.