Amana ALW880WH Top Load Washer

[toploader]

I didn't have my camera handy but I picked up one of these locally last Saturday for $20. It is in excellent condition but needs to be cleaned and needs a new tub seal.

The cool thing about this washer is that it is essentially a Speed Queen. It has the SQ 3.3 cubic ft. SS tub and the white agitator with the over-sized fabric softener dispenser. I just hope it runs and lasts like a SQ.

I wonder if I can use a SQ tub seal instead of the Amana one.

Might anyone have any literature on this model? I went to the Amana site and they have nothing on this model.

I am not familar with SQ internals. On the Amana, I removed the front bottom panel. The motor is in front of everything and there is not a lot of space to work with.

 

[toploader]

Here is a picture the seller e-mailed me...

 

[toploader]

The control panel...

 

[toploader]

The tub and agitator...

 

[toploader]

And yes, the fabric softener dispenser is disgusting, but it can be cleaned. God I hate fabric softener!

 

[vintagesearch]

nice.

why dont some people clean the fs dispenser? seriously im the only one who does it in my house! LOL anyways nice machine.

 

[bosch2460]

I had the EXACT model a few years back. I did at least 20 loads a week in it for 4 years, and never so much as a squeak out of it. The only reason it was replaced, is because I wanted to go to a front loader. Turn over is great, rinsing is decent with a good spray rinse BEFORE the rinse. And a good extract. Congrats on a good purchase!!

Joel

 

[frigilux]

Nice machine! I like having the four agitation/spin speed choices. Does it drain and/or spin between the pre-wash and the main wash on the Double Wash cycle?
Gotta love a stainless steel tub, too. Many trouble-free loads to you!

 

[toploader]

Thanks guys. I gotta tear it down first. I am so looking forward to sending the front loader on a one way cruise.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Dumb question

When I had my last top loader. I used the downy ball instead of the dispenser in the agitator. I know the agitator cap pops off to clean it but how do you really get down in there where it dispenses?

 

[bosch2460]

Frigilux

Yes, it does a full spin out after the Double wash setting. I used to wash cloth diapers. So, it was perfect. Double wash, with an extra rinse without having to babysit it. The softener dispenser is easy as hell to clean. I even put it in the dishwasher a time or two.

Those Amana's were very helical drive, Maytag-like. Good times.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

ahh!! The one with the weird knobs. Did Amana start making these in late 2000? I haven't seen many of these come into the shop. I only remember them on the website.

 

[estesguy]

Good luck,,,

Good luck with this model. Yeah, the old tub seals. I bought a set like this new when Montgomery Wards was closing down in late 2000. I got 6 years out of it, before I'm assuming the tub seal went bad and fried the motor. All I know was it was smoking and there was a puddle of water underneath it. I had no clue it had been leaking or how long. I was just glad I had moved it downstairs on concrete, instead of having it leak on the upstairs wooden flooring. Totally not impressed with a machine that only lasted 6 years under moderate use, as we have machines upstairs and down, so it didn't even have to do the full family of 4 washing.

 

[autowasherfreak]

why dont some people clean the fs dispenser?

A friend of mine has a newer Whirlpool top loader, and the fabric softener dispenser was absolutely disgusting on it. She claims that she didn't use fabric softener that much. One day I was babysitting for her, and did some laundry out of boredom when I noticed the dispenser I took it out and cleaned the hell of that thing for about 45 minutes using hot water and an old baby bottle brush

I always cleaned fabric softener dispensers on all my machines, even if I didn't use fabric softener they seemed to get a little gross in time.

 

[toploader]

I had the model number wrong. It is an ALW880QAW.

bosch2460: Do you know if this does a spray rinse during the extra rinse cycle or does the tub just fill up with water again? Do you know how long the spray rinses last?

supremewhirlpol: I think this is early to mid 2000s.

estesguy: Thanks for the encouraging news there "Johnny Raincloud".

 

[bosch2460]

Toploader

The extra rinse is a full, deep rinse. The only spray rinse is right after the main wash (as it should always be, IMHO). If I remember correctly, it was about 30 seconds. Could have been a minute, but I highly doubt it. I got mine in 2000, and it was right after they changed the look of the control panel. In fact, 6 months earlier, I got an Amana dryer, and it was the old style panel. I really did not care about matching though, as long as I got clean clothes. Any other questions about it, just ask.

OH!! and if you ever use the Delicates or Handwash program, it will automatically default to a slow wash and slow spin. The perm press MIGHT default to a slow spin, but I rarely used it, and cannot remember. So, do not think it is not working properly, it is supposed to do that to prevent damage, and poor results.

 

[whirlcool]

That Amana looks more like an Amanatag than a Raytheon machine. The Raytheon machines were really Speed Queens, but I think after Raytheon got out of the laundry business the Amana design changed.