Amana-Queen on life support

[justjunque]

Hi all.
I've posted about this machine before, but just received bad news from the repair tech this morning.
I believe someone here had told me in the past that this machine was a 2002 Raytheon Amana.
It came with our house, which we bought ten years ago. We've been very happy with this washer!
Lately, it's been getting louder when spinning; sort of a scraping sound. The tech confirmed what I feared...the seal and bearing. Y'all warned me that that would eventually happen with this machine.
The tech said that the bearing is available, but not the seal. If, (and that was a big "if"), I could find a seal, he could do the job.
He said we can still use it for the short term, but it will eventually get worse.
I'm just wondering if anyone here knows of a magical place where I might be able to find a seal, or knows the part or parts and numbers that I would need to look for on eBay.
We're top-loader people. If I have to replace the washer, I'm torn between a new Speed Queen, or hitting the local used appliance stores for something vintagey but serviceable. Not ancient, just from when washers actually washed well.
If I were to go the used route, can anyone recommend something good, for which parts are more readily available than with our poor terminal Amana?
We're also currently losing a beloved cat, and the underlying feeling is similar. We knew this day would come, we were just hoping we'd have more time.
Thank you all in advance for any help.

Barry

 

[pierreandreply4]

i would go vintage

i would go vintage like for exemple a direct drive whirlpool washer dryer set like this or ge filter flo

 

[superocd]

I was away from home for a couple days because of my job and stayed at a Days Inn with a pair of Speed Queen TL's in the guest laundry. The spin cycle was pretty loud and could be heard a good distance down the hallway. The wash cycle was quiet though. They were Raytheon units.

Sorry about your cat, too.

 

[justjunque]

Thanks.

Pierre:
I was expecting Whirlpool to show up as a recommendation. That's all my parents/mom have owned in my lifetime. In fact, the picture you posted looks a lot like her current washer.
I won't be replacing the dryer at this time, although a matched set would look nice.
Our dryer, a 1990s Whirlpool gas model, is going strong!

superocd:
Interesting. Several members here told me that seal and bearing are the weak spot with these Raytheon machines.
And thank you for the condolences. He's our boy. We're just enjoying whatever time we have left with him.

Barry

 

[repairguy]

This machine was built in 2001. Maytag bought amana somewhere in this time period and made some changes to the type of seal. I was doing a lot of service on these machines at this time and found that you couldn’t go by the model number to order the parts. I had to take the machine apart to determine which setup was used. Some of these had the speed queen style transmission and some had the herrin style Maytag and there was a different kit for each That changed to a triple lip seal design with the bearing incorporated into the seal. Pictures of the transmission bearing area may be able to confirm. The kit is possibly W10116791.

 

[justjunque]

Hi, Melvin.
Thank you for that info.
It's worth looking into, but I'm guessing that's not the kit that we need. I'm only saying that because this tech said that the seal we need isn't available. And the kit that you mentioned as a possibility seems readily available. At least on eBay.
We are planning on getting a second opinion before throwing in the towel.

Barry

 

[angus]

I had the next model up from your washer. Mine was a 2000 model and was from the period where Goodman Indiustries owned Amana. That was the company between Raytheon and Maytag. Unfortunately my unit literally only lasted three years - when I started to have that issue of loud spin squealing, Amana had already been sold to Maytag so the poor repairman had no idea what to do. He was at the house for 6 hours, had the entire machine apart and at the end of the day literally said he couldn't fix it. So, my local appliance store swapped it out for a Whirlpool...

 

[goatfarmer]

Years ago, I "heard' of a local service center, who worked on Amana under warranty. They would have a washer that leaked, so they would tear it down to replace the seal.

 But you had to tear it down so far, 2 more bolts would remove the transmission. So they removed the trans, and replaced perfectly good transmissions under warranty. Saying there were issues with it. Getting paid for a transmission R&R, and Amana paying the bill.

 

[estesguy]

The Amana I had was also a 2000 model. Biggest POS I've ever owned. The bearings went at 6 years. When removing the machine, it appeared to have been leaking on the floor for awhile. Luckily it was in the basement on a concrete floor. After reading post #6 above I'm glad I kicked it to the curb instead of trying to repair it. The dryer was also less than stellar. The machine made a clunk clunk noise as the drum rolled over the rollers until it warmed up, and always seemed to run hot. If this machine was not MADE by SQ, why does it LOOK like one?? Best of luck finding the parts you need.

 

[runematic]

kit W10116791

This washer is a series 11 before Maytag bought Amana.  If it was series 15 or higher kit#[COLOR=#333333; font-family: MyriadPro-Regular; font-weight: 400; font-size: 12pt]W10116791 would work.[/COLOR]

 

[supersurgilator]

I find it hard to believe that the seal wouldn't be available as these are essentially regular SQ units that have been made available forever. I did look just for fun under the model number you provided and found this. Maybe another member can chime in if this is the correct kit or not. Honestly I would go ahead and try to fix this machine as its just as good as a current SQ.

https://www.repairclinic.com/PartDetail/Tub-Seal-And-Bearing-Kit/W10219156/1482428

 

[justjunque]

Thanks, Bruce.
That gives me a little glimmer of hope.
I hope someone else will chime in. If I truly can't get the seal for it, I'm probably going to try to find a well kept Whirlpool or Kenmore of similar or even slightly older vintage.
I had an opportunity over the past weekend to use my mom's newer Whirlpool. I don't know what year it is, but someone had told me that it's near the end of the decent direct drives.
I'd definitely want something older than that one. I just wasn't fond of some of the "new" features.

Barry

 

[combo52]

2002 Amana TL Washer With Bad Seal and Main Bearings

These are NOT the same machine as an Alliance built SQ Washer.

 

SQ had plenty of problems with main seals and bearing failures since they went to perforated basket washers around 1980 and the washers and dryers built under Goodman & Maytag were even worse.

 

Yes this washer was designed by SQ and some parts are interchangeable, but it was built in a different plant and not to current SQ standards at all.

 

For starters the main seal is NOT the same and is NOT interchangeable with current style SQs. Redesigning the main seal was one of the biggest improvements of the Alliance built machines and is one of many reasons that current SQ TL transmission style washers are the most rugged and long lived conventional TL washers you can get today.

 

Current SQ TL [ TC5 Series ] washers are good performers, much better than DC Maytags in fact [ They wash a larger load, they have a Life-Time  SS wash basket that will not chip or rust or etch,  they spin faster, rinse better, Do Not suds lock, Do Not go out of balance, they have self-leveling legs and do not walk and vibrate. 

 

All that said I will not have either one in our personal laundry room, they just use way too much water and detergent, we will keep and display both in the appliance museum where they can be used for historical purpuses.

 

John L

 

[pierreandreply4]

justjunque

do not know if you can afford shiping or if this store would ship delivier to your area but here is a link in term of shiping you would need to contact the store the washer in the link is an inglis whirlpool direct drive washer color almond but pretty sure you could repaint it if you wanted another color or keep the actual color you could also check in your area if they have a model close to this one but here the link in case you went to consider it

https://econopluselectromenagers.ca/shop/laveuses/a-chargement-vertical/laveuse-chargement-vertical-2/

 

[justjunque]

John,
Thank you for the detailed (albeit sad) information.
More than one member here had told me this part would eventually go on this washer. I'm just glad that we got ten years of great service out of it before it happened.
I've only had experience with top-loaders, so I've always just accepted the amount of water they use. That's not an issue for me. Plus, there's only the two of us here, so it's not like we're doing laundry every day. Basically, a couple of loads per week. And one of those is a small batch of whites; done in a low water level, gentle cycle.
Maybe we're the exception, but we've been very happy with this machine, and will be sorry to see it go.
But I do respect and appreciate your professional opinion.

Pierre,
Thank you for the link.
Of course, I'm going to see if I can find something locally first.

I'm drawn to the older Whirlpool/Kenmore because of their reputation, and that's what I grew up with.
Having only personally owned the Amana, I'm not used to the dual-action agitators, and I'm still a bit unsure of them. That's a learning curve that I'm probably going to have to get around though. I doubt if I'll be going vintage enough to get back to the Surgilator!

Barry

 

[pierreandreply4]

in a direct drive washer depending on the model you can always switch the duel action agitator for something like this with or with out liquid fabric sofner dispenser

 

[DADoES]

 
Dual-action agitators were introduced via Kenmore (on old-style belt-drive washers) in 1977 so it's not as it they're something new. 

 

[justjunque]

Glenn,
That made me LOL.
I guess I didn't realize they had been around that long. But, using my mom's newer (to me) Whirlpool last weekend was my first experience with one! And hers doesn't have an easily tricked lid switch, so I wasn't able to watch the agitator in action.
I'll be the first to admit, I'm not exactly on the cutting edge. I've never even bought a front wheel drive car. We only own one because it was given to us. And I'm still not entirely comfortable with the whole idea. I'd be perfectly happy still driving my 1970s or 1980s rear wheel drive cars, if the New England winters hadn't devoured them with rust. I do want to own a rear-engine, air-cooled VW before I leave this earth though.
Sorry. I'm getting just a bit off topic.

Barry

 

[justjunque]

Hey, Pierre.
See...that's pretty cool! I wasn't aware that you could do that. I would have thought the quick action of a direct drive would be too aggressive with anything but a dual action.
The poster of that video does say that demo is using a gentle cycle or something though.
Still, a neat idea. I like that I would have options that I wasn't aware of. Thanks!
At the risk of sounding even more clueless; is my dying Amana a direct drive? It doesn't have the quick, short strokes like the direct drive Whirlpool/Kenmore.

Barry