A Royal Restoration - Summer of Love Speed Queens!

[swestoyz]

Hi, Robert! Your reply inspired me to run down in the basement and check what the current RPM is, now that I've run about a dozen loads through the washer.

I'm not sure if it is belt break-in, the fluid drive having more actual washing break-in time, the lack of turbulence on a now not exposed wash tub, or a combination of the three, but the RPM is now clocking in at a blazing 750+ RPM! I thought towels were starting to feel Rollermatic dry.  

  This is with ~ 8 oz of 3-In-One oil in the fluid drive.

Ben

 

[Unimatic1140]

Very cool Ben, now that's more like it! I will try 3-in-Oil vs zoom spout too when I rebuild my Speed Queen.

Question were the original belts all cogged belts? I noticed that the cogged belts I used are nosier in comparison to standard belts, you can especially hear it during the final spin coast period after the cycle is completed. I've tried belt-dressing but that only works for a few wash loads and the the squeaking belt noise comes back. I was wondering if the transmission and pump drive belts are supposed to be non-cogged? I should look at some service manuals and see what they have installed.

 

[swestoyz]

I've seen both cogged and non cogged OEM Speed Queen/RSPC labeled belts, as well as aftermarket A style belts that are cogged but are not AX belts (AX belts are a bit taller). In fact, the belts that came off the '67 were original and were also cogged.

Here's the clip of the bench test and the belts are no nosier than what I recall hearing on other SQs where I've installed non cogged A style belts. The quality of the belt also may factor into the noise as well. The Continental belts have a finer tooth pattern than the chunkier aftermarket versions and are a closer match to the OEM 20186/20895. These belts are by far the nicest replacement belts I've used on a washer.



Picture one - OEM Speed Queen 20186 bottom, after market 20816 top, both cogged but the OEM belt is an AX belt

Picture two - OEM Speed Queen 20895 left, Continental AX23 right, both are AX style belts

Ben

 

[seedub]

That's curious...

I've known SQ from this era including my family's 1969 unit to perform an overflow rinse after the wash portion also.

 

[sambootoo]

Ditto what all the others have said. I'm ALWAYS amazed at your expertise and the quality of your restorations

 

[hippiedoll]

swestoyz/Ben...

 "I'm so glad you caught that small clip!  The filter dramatically changes the sound, especially for partial loads where the turbulence can be drastic."

The way the sound changed with the lint filter on the agitator, it reminded me of how my Maytags sound different when they are chugging away, with the highest water level, and I take out the fabric softener dispenser cup from the top of the agitator.
There's a spurt of water that shoots up while the machine is agitating, from the center-hole that drains the fabric softener down into the agitator barrel.
It sort of reminds me of an old percolator coffee pot.

Can you imagine all the different sounds the machines would make if they were all chugging away in the same room, at the same time?
1. Your Speed Queen with the lint filter in place,
2. My Maytag minus fabric softens dispenser cup, with high water level,
3. A Norge burpolator,
4. A GE Filter-Flo.

Of course all the lids would have to be opened during agitation

 

[blackstone]

Great Restoration!

I can remember servicing these SQs for customers, but never did a repair job as extensive as this. Excellent work. Thanks for sharing the knowledge.

 

[pulltostart]

Ben,

You've shared several stories and videos over the years about your restoration projects.  All excellent, by the way.  And you frequently talk about your machines being daily drivers.  My question is - who does laundry for your household?  If someone other than yourself, are they instructed on the proper 'use and care' of each machine?

 

lawrence

 

[swestoyz]

Laundry in the Swestka house

Hi Lawrence, great questions. Overall I own the task of most laundry that isn't related to my wife Savannah's clothes, as she takes care of her stuff on her own. That leaves all bedding, towels, and clothes between myself and my daughter.

As for my use of the term 'daily driver'. Through some self reflection I may use that term a bit more so than is probably the case, however the Speed Queen dryer has been in use now by everyone for the last year or so. The balance of the washer collection does get used by me a few times throughout a month as I do try to rotate through machines so they aren't totally idle. The goal can be tricky to achieve with 15 washers currently hooked up at the ready, and often when a machine has just been restored I'll naturally gravitate towards the novelty of using something new. Savannah uses a 1-18 and A712 and we both use the SQ dryer, DG712, and Neptune 7500 dryers. The Miele Little Giant and Neptune washer are on hand for those days where I don't have the time to watch over the older stuff.

Ben

 

[jetcone]

Wow Just wow!

You have evolved into one of the Top Restorers at AW! Hands Down! I have rebuilt two of these machines and still I just learned a ton from you!

Beautiful Machines just beautiful!

I'd love to read that Hotpoint Doctrine someday !!

Cheers Ben

Jetcone

 

[chestermikeuk]

Speed Queen Renovation

Hello Ben , another outstanding renovation of the 1967 Speed Queen set, fabulous set now to enjoy them in all their glory.

We picked up a load of spares from a repair shop closing down and have found a fluid drive, motor pump etc which is for a 70`s commercial Speed Queen, looks very similar to yours, now to find the washer .

Question: What year was the first Speed Queen Automatic Top loader Produced >

and - What year was the first Speed Queen produced with a perforated Spin Tub not solid ?

Cheers, Mike

 

[rinso]

WOW! Solenoid slamming sounds are definitely a sweet sound from the past. Norge and Maytag AMP mechanisms treated us to this experience as well. I always thought that a fluid drive AKA a viscous drive was a great idea and should have been used by more manufacturers. They can help solid clutches to last a lot longer, or eliminate them from being a point of slippage.

 

[swestoyz]

SQ Questions from across the pond

Mike - thank you for the kind words! And nice save on commercial parts. You never know when a Queen may show up!

To answer your questions, the first year Speed Queen made their first automatic, the A10, was either late 1952 or early 1953. I'm not completely certain on a date. What is fascinating that SQ kept the overall design the exact same, minus the reversing motor and washtub capacity changes in '70 for domestic machines, all the way up until 1980. From there on out the perforated tubs were here to stay and the US lost it's last solid tub maker.

Ben

 

[foraloysius]

That's a Royal restoration indeed! Magnificent. Since I became familiar with American washers I got a soft spot for Speed Queen. This set is lovely with all the separate settings through the four small controls. Thank you for the video, that agitator looks to have decided to get that load really clean!

 

[swestoyz]

Update ----

An eBay auction popped up yesterday for two cans of Franklin gearcase oil for a Speed Queen automatic, part number 2528F. Franklin Oil sold aftermarket gear oil for several appliance brands, including Maytag, Frigidaire, and Whirlpool. This was the first time I had seen a Franklin can of oil for SQ.

The cans were labeled as one fill, and also had printed that it contained 24 ounces of oil! So, we finally have official confirmation of the amount of oil that the SQ/Beam transmissions should be filled with, matching the assumption I had made when rebuilding the transmission.

Hard to believe it's been two years since the washer restoration was completed. It is still going strong, no leaks or adjustments have been needed.

Ben

 

[repairguy]

Thanks for the update Ben. Glad to hear the machines are still going strong. My set is waiting patiently for restoration. Glad you found the capacity of the gearcase and shared that useful information.

 

[nashmaytagbear]

WOW! Backlit panels and lighted dryer drum! I'm totally jealous Ben! Awesome Job!

 

[tomturbomatic]

All of this McGraw Hill talk has made me wonder what was the brand name of the air conditioners they produced. When I was about 12 or so, there was a new bank in our shopping center that was in a building like a portable classroom. It had two big through the wall air conditioners that were made by McGraw Hill according to the medallions on the cabinets , but I think there was a name on them other than McGraw Hill or maybe not. It was long ago.

Our neighbor had a dryer similar to Ben's. It broke down at some point and the dealer took it to repair, but seemed to have lost it so, after a year, she demanded a WP since her washer was WP and she had wanted a WP when she bought the SQ, but did not have the guts to demand a WP and got sold the SQ. It had a drum like yours, Ben.

 

[circlew]

Evidently you mean McGraw-Edison, as McGraw-Hill is a book publishing company. Their air conditioner and dehumidifier brand was Thomas A. Edison.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Thanks, Tom.

 

[jetcone]

So fun

To see this thread popup again right after your most recent Rollermatic project. Tweaked my hip this am and am mostly char bound and I got nicely lost in the videos, actually glad it slowed me down from twirling around the place ! 

I think my Zen kicked in ! 

 

 

Again beautiful job Ben !