2009 Speed Queen Washer ROUGH on clothes, operator error?

[oilpatch197]

I am a single male.

I typically have three loads a week. One load is darks(delicate cycle) the other load is towels(normal) and the last is denim, which I use the normal cycle as well.

I have done a few no,no's, overloaded the washer once, used chlorine bleach with colors, washed one pair of pants, didn't use enough water.

But I noticed lately that my washer is HARD on the denim and the towels(that are ran on normal cycle in normal range) For example it wants to pull out the sticthing in new towels and when I use a dryer(I typically drip dry) I do get much lint from the towels. I also noticed I am getting "fuzzies" in the stitching on my Levi jeans!!!

But I ALWAYS wash them inside out and buttoned up! with plenty of water, never more than three pairs a wash.

So What am I doing wrong here? Yeah I have made mistakes in the past, but I try to use more than ample water and shotening my washing cycle to "light". My agitator edges are rough(on the edge of the fins)but it is evenly rough on the entire vanes. Am I over washing my clothes?

 

[toggleswitch2]

One minute wash time per pound of time was the unwritten rule-of-thumb.

With today's detergents, and perhaps some good phosphates, half of that or say 7 minutes max should be MORE than sufficient (in a top-loader) to get the job done with less wear.

Also be wary of over-loading. top-loaders are less tolerant of that than front-loaders.

 

[danmantn]

I would imagine you might be overloading...if your clothes aren't turning over FREQUENTLY in the wash, then it's overloaded. Make sure the same clothes aren't always at the agitator. My SQ is very easy on clothes...even more so on the slow agitation cycles...never had a problem and I do 2-3 loads a week. You may want to check and see that they are getting enough water and may have to manually adjust.

Your clothes should be turning over like they are in my video link...

 

[danmantn]

Also check those towel instructions. Most need to be washed on cold, delicate, and even low dry! I was suprised as well.

 

[cleanteamofny]

Don't be surprised that it maybe your detergent causing the fuzzes.
As for the towels, it is normal for some strings to become detach from the loop because of the agitation, especially new towels.
I've seen it happened with my Kenmore DD. So you are not doing anything out of the ordinary.

If you have a pair of Mantyhose (Toggle's I wear mine in white with control panels) check the agitator blades for rough surfaces,
it should feel like 5:00 shadow if you know what I mean.... Then the agitator should be replaced!

 

[jeffg]

Aside from the possible issue of rough agitator fins, most towels today are terrible quality. Here in California, when Strouds went out of business, that was the last remaining brick+mortar retailer of quality linens and towels. Now we have a choice between BB&B, Sears/K-Mart, Target, Macy's etc, but it's all the same crap: towels made from cheap cotton that pills and sheds like crazy for months after purchase, regardless of how it's washed and dried.

Unfortunately the Fieldcrest/Cannon/Royal Velvet/etc days are over. These towels were made from quality, long-staple cotton that didn't shed and lasted forever. You can still find quality towels (e.g. Abyss) but they're ridiculously expensive.

 

[oilpatch197]

I can take my finder nail and run it down the edge of the fin up and down and it makes a "gruur" sound, is this normal wear? The flats of the fins are very smooth, no noise when I run my finger nail over it, but the edges I do get a sound if I run my fingers over it. I've had this washer for one year.

I may be just over washing everything.

 

[nmassman44]

There is something else that people dont realize...many dont close zippers on pants or anything else with a zipper. That will leave little nicks on the vanes. Over time it gets worse and then towels will get pulled not matter how much time you limit the wash cycle. And that nail thing said volumes to me. Those rough spots are from zippers rubbing on the vanes as they move and flex. If you dont prep your wash properly BEFORE you load and start a cycle then you get what you get.

 

[oilpatch197]

Okay great, so how hard is it to remove the Agitator? Does it just pop off unbolt or do I need to rig a puller, and can I possible sand it smooth, can you give me some Ideals, like 1000 grit, then wet sand with 1500?

 

[supremewhirlpol]

If this machine is like the older versions, the agitator should pull right up.

 

[nmassman44]

yeah it should pull up but its a bitch to get off. Sanding the vanes might help.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

"yeah it should pull up but its a bitch to get off. Sanding the vanes might help."

You are sooooooo right! I forgot about that little minor detail.

 

[oilpatch197]

Could I just sand it in the tub?

put in the minimum water with a very fine sand paper and polish it up?

What grit of sand paper do I need to use, like 1500 wet sanding?

 

[jaytag]

Speed Queen Video Question.....

2009 and does the tub really index? Is this a new SQ feature? Used to be if you had indexing it was a bad brake pad. Anyone?

 

[danmantn]

It stops after a while...barely nudges back and forth with agitation...brakes hold in place. I think there's some type of substance that comes on them when new that eventually wears off. Mine took over two months, but I only use it 2-3 times a week.

 

[oilpatch197]

Thanks everyone for your help.

I took some 600 grit, filled the tub 1/2 way with warm water, and was able to remove the rough edges with some "elbow grease".

Most of the roughness was on the "flex vanes" at the bottom, they were rough on the very edge and a little on the sides.

Got them fairly smooth, I did a while back wash a coat that the zipper was broken on, so the zipper tracks probably put some tear on the agitator! Thankfully it has a stainless steel tub!

Lessons of life.