A Front Loader That Can Actually Balance a Heavy Load?

[rinso]

Our Electrolux IQ is also very picky about balancing. But, as in a former post, I have watched it re-balance perfectly balanced loads that show no eccentric motion at all when sped up enough to adhere to the sides of the drum. Often it will slow down, rebalance, and accept a less-than-perfect distribution of clothes and then ramp up into a vibrating spin. Although this makes for a nice massage for me, I often have wondered why it couldn't detect the good distribution.

 

[jetcone]

The only load my Speed Queen will fail on

is the "Deadly Dr. Frigidaire Sweatshirt Load®".

 

I haven't yet found a machine top nor front that can pass that test.

 

A single XXL sweatshirt.

 

But saying that, that is the ONLY load my Speed Queen won't complete.

 

 

[tomturbomatic]

This is why a top loader or a spinner should be a part of a complete laundry equipment line up. I have had to resue a few hopeless loads from a front loader and plop them in one of the Maytags to give them a spin.

 

[rp2813]

The scenario EuGene described is another of the aggravating situations I have witnessed many times.  Makes absolutely no sense to me why the machine would want to re-balance a near-perfectly balanced load, only to mess it up and then go into spin with a the load not balanced as well as it was before the idiot machine felt the need to "correct" it.

 

I'm with Tom.  I'd like to have some kind of spinner option for occasions when the front loader exhibits its often spastic behavior.  I could cram one rug at a time into an Easy and spin the hell out of it.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Or even a Spinex.

 

[launderess]

The Miele Does This

there are three graduated/pulse spins before the final main spin for normal cycles, and I swear it drives me up the wall when a load that is balanced for say the first becomes a banging clanging mess at the second or third.

This is one reason one has grown to love the AEG. Since the thing is totally computer controlled it will vary the drum movements and such to get loads near perfectly balanced. Once it senses that has happened it will go right into spin. It is a marvel sometimes to watch the AEG slowly lift and drop a wash load in the drum in order to break up and "clumps".

 

[electronicontrl]

What size rugs?

You say 2 rubber backed bath rugs? What size? I assume there is still room left to spare?
My Neptune MAH4000 handles unbalanced quite well. I can wash 4 large kitchen cotton rugs and the machine performs marvelously. Also I remember at one time having a 3' x 5' cotton rug with a hard backing. It was pastel color and would show dirt easily. I would fold it up like an accordion and then shape it into a "Letter S" to cram it in the Neptune. It came out clean and damp dry. The Neptune has been a great performer.

 

[rp2813]

Two rugs, both around 36" x 24" or thereabouts.

 

[jerrod6]

Don't have too much trouble with my Miele 1986 with its computerized control of the spin(and I guess everything else). The only time I've seen a problem in the 11 years I have had it was one time after the wash with a bathroom rug. It failed to get the balance it wanted, so instead of continuing to try to spin it added an extra rinse instead. All the other spins after that first try were fine.

 

[haxisfan]

I would've thought heavy is fine...

I've never experienced any issues of the sort with my 6kg Hoover front loader, it usually mangages to balance any load reasonably, but if it can't, after several attempts, it reduces the speed of the spin cycle, yet yielding good results in wringing out the laundry, thanks to the long final spin sequence.

Having said that, ever since I welcomed an 8kg Hoover front load washer in my household, I learned that such issues do exist, but only with ultra light loads. I guess every washer has to be considered separately and indipendently from the brand. It seems to me that balancing might be more tricky in a bigger capacity tub.

 

[jetcone]

ooooo Launderess

can you post a picture of the beloved AEG for us??

 

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

 

[launderess]

Jet

You've seen pics of the AEG set haven't you? Did several threads when they arrived.

If you didn't just say the word and will repost links.

L.

 

[mrb627]

Commercial

Wasn't there a TV Commercial where the yellow pages was used to show a top load machine spin up to speed without banging or tripping an off balance sensor?

We need all FL manufacturers to step up to the plate on that one...

Malcolm

 

[combo52]

Spinning With A Phone Book

GEs new TLers [ 1994on ] could do this easily [ yes even with plastic tubs and those thin suspension rods ] Problem is newer FL and TL washers spin much faster than the old 500-650 range most older TL and FL washers spun at.

FL washers have and always be at a disadvantage when it comes to balancing a load when compared to a TL washer with a good neutral drain, guess this is why you will never see an extractor that is front loading, LOL.

John L.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Malcolm

I think that commercial was for Maytag.

WK78

 

[mrb627]

Thinking About It

I recall it was an Amana Commercial, possibly...

Malcolm

 

[rp2813]

You know, I never had this problem with the big Duet we had at the other house.  I really, really wish that machine wasn't too large to fit in the laundry room where we live now.  It was infinitely superior to the Fux in every way.

 

I've read enough here about a tilted tub (as the Duets use) being no more capable than a perfectly horizontal tub (like Fux uses) at balancing, but my experience says otherwise.

 

[mrb627]

Tilted Drum Machines

Maybe the larger machines with a tilted wash tub have an advantage when dealing with smaller loads. I guess it would make sense to collect the vast majority of the load at the back/base of the tub.

The Whirlpool Duet that I had years ago used to fart around with balancing before the final spin, but I don't recall it giving up and shutting off.

Malcolm

 

[henene4]

Panasonic...

Never shuts off!
But it takes up to an hour to spin!
2 Things cause this:
1. Weak dampers (have to wait a bit still, but they will be exchanged in a year or so, at least within the first 2 years of the warranty)!
2. The drum design: I know, big washers are known to tangel, but this washer really is designed to tangle! As you may have seen on one of my videos, the paddles get smaller and thinner and less broad towards the front of the tub. This causes a really effective and good performing, hence verry tangling movement of the clothes from back to front on the outside and back to the back in the center of the tub (pretty much as fast as a bad roolover in a TL machine). If you now have big (jeans are perfect because they are more stiff than towels, but towels do this either) and small items mixed, they ball up into a clupm of clothing. But on the other hand, this movements boosts the cleaningpower (espacially on delicates, the clothes swim from the front to the back and the other way arround again and again) and helps rinsing and scrubbing!

 

[whitetub]

When I wash my bath mats (3 of them), I always put in two or three bath towels, and I don't have any problem spinning.