1994 Amana washer - is this basically a Speed Queen?

[revvinkevin]

 

Because it sure looks like a Speed Queen (made by the same company I'm sure).

 

I brought this home yesterday with a number of other machines (see my other thread in Imperial).   

 

So far it seems to work fine, though the timer "seems" a little slow, but not sure about that.

 

It sounds like it may need a belt.   How do you get inside the machine, only by lifting the top?

 

[revvinkevin]

Interesting water fill........

 

 

Very cool "water wall" effect.   But I assume this means no spray rinse.

 

Are there any problems with this design / machine I should be aware of?

 

Thanks much!

Kevin

 

 

[coldspot66]

Kevin,

There are 2 screws at the bottom left and right corners (like a Maytag washer). Remove those 5/16 hex screws and swing the bottom of the panel out to release the clips at the top. There are LONG spray rinses on the PP and Delicate 1st spin cycles, IIRC. I would also change the drive belt and/or pump belt, if there is one. This may have the direct drive pump that attaches directly to the motor shaft.
Hope this helps!

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

Thanks John!   When I looked at it it looked like it was a one piece cabinet ala-Whirlpool.   Maybe I was daydreaming when I was looking at it, LOL.  

 

With the way this thing fills, I don't see how it could have a spray rinse, or if it does, how it would do anything other than go straight to the outer tub and down the drain.   In other words, completely ineffective and a waist of water.

 

I'll play with it as I have time this week and see what I can find out.

 

Kevin

 

[yogitunes]

Kevin...this is the Raytheon built machine......commonly known as problem machines....usually pump issues and belt chewers...not to mention main seal failures....not all will do this, just a trademark of these styles....

can't really say to stay away from it, I have a matched set, needed a pump and belt, but otherwise runs well....it seems the main issue I see is the spray rinse slows the tub down, poor design of the drain port to pump, and this is causing the belts to wear out too soon...

that spray rinse is not all that effective on these, where as mine has the rimflo filtering, and of course the fill flume aims into the this filter rim, and is only thrown into the outter tub area....not the greatest....

a fun machine, but not one that can handle a load bigger than 2/3rds full....

open it up and see what you find....may prove to be a decent, although not the best daily driver....

good luck!

 

[bosch2460]

Amana

I am sure I will get hell for this. lol. But I did have an Amana washer and dryer in late 90's/very early 2000's. I had this washer for 5 years and it never missed a beat. The capacity was huge for the time, and the agitation was very much like a Maytag/Speed Queen, to me. I never had one issue with it, even washing up to 30 loads a week for extended periods of time. The only reason I gave it up was to go to a front loader. I sold it to a lady who I worked with and she used it for years with no issue. Others have said they were terrible machines, but that certainly was not my experience. This still goes as one of the best TL washers I have ever owned.

 

[alr2903]

Bosch2460, no you are not going to catch hell for stating your opinion. As Yogi pointed out with these Amana machines it was hit or miss. I am glad you got good service from yours. I had no complaints with the washability of mine. The lemon taste came at 7 years to the day when the center seal failed. If you have the mechanic talent not so bad. The labor quote was $350. to put in a $10 seal. Darn near had to take the whole thing apart. This all happened in post Katrina NOLA. Our patience was at its limit for anything that dripped, leaked or smelled of mold. We bought an el cheapo Frigidaire for much less than $350

 

[rp2813]

Our '97 Amana didn't spring any leaks in the nine years we had it.  It was on its third belt when we got rid of it though, and I felt it was lousy at rinsing.

 

I did appreciate the long agitation stroke.  The sound was reminiscent of its Maytag predecessor, but there was a tenuous aspect to it.  The cabinet was cheap and thin compared to the Maytag, so the machine was louder at doing everything.

 

[mgmachine04]

MyAmana model lw2402l

Had normal wear and tear issues with mine. Had to replace a pump due to water freezing up in it. Belts replaced, easy if done every 5 years. Pump and motor are direct drive and sometimes the shaft will not release from the pump. I do have a way to release it, however the pump will have to be replaced.

 

[gusherb]

I spent a good amount of time growing up with a 1998 Amana. It held up the best out of the washers my parents had. It was working fine when they replaced it after it was 8 years old. It was noisy and the transmission sounded "loose". It probably just needed a new belt most of the time we had it.
Later on after I had used a DD Kenmore for the first time I did learn that the Amana was the better machine for cleaning and being gentler on the clothes, and most importantly didn't go out of balance while the Kenmore was super easy to do that with.

I'd say, if it works, why not! The washing action should be pretty much identical to modern day Speed Queens.