Any Fisher & Paykel fans here?

[smartdrive701]

Hi Everyone.

Found this site the other day while researching Fisher & Paykel and just signed up. I'm in Melbourne, Australia. I came across this site while searching for info about Fisher & Paykel's early Smart Drive washing machines, and, I'm pleased to say, I am the lucky and proud new owner of a Fisher & Paykel Smart Drive 701 autowasher.

Why a Fisher & Paykel 701 you might ask? Nostalgia and emotional attachment. It was the machine we got while I was growing up in the mid 1990s after our Hoover "Heavy Duty" top loader broke down after a number of recent repairs. My mum did all the research and, at the time, it was a toss up between Fisher & Paykel or Kleenmaid, who at the time were rebadging Speed Queen machines (tho now, as I understand it, they were not quite the same spec as Speedqueen). Well, we chose a Fisher & Paykel 701, and, I still recall thinking how cool it was, what with its onboard computer, touch panel, direct drive motor and whisper quiet operation, I specifically remember the tech who came to install it saying how they could diagnose problems with it by plugging a laptop computer.. COOL!

Wondering if there's any other vintage Fisher & Paykel fans here? Gentle Annie anyone?

Anywhoo look forward to chatting with you all about F&P and washing machine tech. in general.

Cheers,
Nick.

 

[washer111]

Allow me to Introduce Myself

Lover of F&P products here too. We have a 2011 Dish-Drawer (Double)... Do some searches here and that should become apparent *quite quickly* 

LOL

 

I have a relative with a machine of a similar age, that replaced a Hoover Twin-Tub. Still going strong, even after mice decided to have their way several years ago. 

 

[easyspindry]

I have a F&P . . .

. . . Intuitive Eco washer and top load dryer that I bought new in 2006. They are great machines and I have had 8 years of trouble free service from them.

The washer has the agitator instead of the disc. I like the agitator much better. I cleans really well and can handle large loads.

Also have the F&P dish drawers and have loved them as well.

That led me to get a F&P gas cooktop which has been a pleasure to cook on.

I have never understood why F&P appliances have always gotten a bad rap here in the States. I have had very good luck with them.

Enjoy yours.

Jerry Gay

 

[DADoES]

 
Your 701 washer is a Phase 2 machine.

U.S. models don't have the front pump-access panel.

I have a GWL08 which is a Phase 4.  It's 14-1/2 years old and has had one repair thus far, replacement of the pump in Oct 2011.  It went to live with my sister/bro-in-law a a few months ago.

Also have an IWL12 (Phase 6) and DEGX1 SmartLoad dryer, both bought in 2004.  No repairs on the washer.  I completely disassembled the dryer earlier this year to deal with lint accumulation impeding airflow in the outlet duct housing, found one of the elements was broken, and replaced the drum bearing at the opportunity although it wasn't significantly worn.
SmartLoad Pictorial

And a DD603 bought in August 2003, no repairs on it.

I also have a GWL11 awaiting refurbishment, given to me by a friend.  It developed a problem with draining and he bought a new machine (typical consumer, replace instead of repair).  The pump runs so the problem probably is a clogged or bad diverter.

 

[smartdrive701]

Hey, great to see some fellow Fisher & Paykel fans here, *tips hat* to Jerry, washer111 and DADoES

>Lover of F&P products here too. We have a 2011 Dish-Drawer (Double)

DishDrawers are awesome, typical of Fisher & Paykels' long standing innovative design philosophy.

>I have a relative with a machine of a similar age, that replaced a Hoover Twin-Tub. Still going strong

Yep, my mum still has her Smart Drive 701, circa 1994, and 20 years on and still going strong - one, possibly two, repairs in that time.

>I have had 8 years of trouble free service from them.

Yes, one of the great things about Fisher & Paykel machines is their simplistic and minimalist design, there's literally only about 4 components that can potentially fail -- the motor controller, the display board, the pump and the inlet valves. As the Fisher & Paykel promo material says, "a part that's not there, cannot fail".

>U.S. models don't have the front pump-access panel.

Our don't have the service port either, from what I can tell they discontinued it after the GW703. I like it tho, it has a cool "Smart Drive" logo engraved into it. I remember when I was a kid I always wondered what was behind it. I remember my mum forbidding me to try opening it!

>I have a GWL08 which is a Phase 4

Your GWL08 looks like our GW709, which, from what I can tell, was the last model they released here before they changed the long standing control panel, lid and hob design.

>Also have an IWL12 (Phase 6)

I like the recirculating feature of this machine, forget what they call it, Eco Active I think. I don't like the flimsy lid tho. A lot of the ones I see on eBay have broken lids, wish they had kept the lid from the previous design. I found a service bulletin a while ago that said the lids were originally fitted with torsion springs, which they found was contributing to them breaking, LOL, so now they ship them WITHOUT these.

>I also have a GWL11 awaiting refurbishment

Looks like our GW712. Your SmartLoad dryer is interesting, I've never seen Fisher & Paykel top loading dryers here, yet yours seems to be made in New Zealand, I wonder if they had them there locally or if they were made specifically for the US market.

 

[rapunzel]

Have an F&P dishdrawer set bought in 2003 and am still loving it.

 

[hooverzodiac12]

Hey Nick

Nice to meet you, i have quite a few vids of my old fisher and paykels i will have to find them first, im also in melbourne, shoot me an email so i know where to send vids to and chat the video attached isnt mine but same machine

Josh

 

[gizmo]

old F&P

My parents have a Gentle Annie. I got it from the recycle centre years and years ago for about $15. All it needed was a drain hose - tub to pump.

I fitted the hose, bought a second hose as a spare, as I was told they were the last 2 in captivity. They must have had it for about 10 years by now??? The machine washes every day, it soldiers on still working perfectly. I still have the spare hose.

Mum now has alzheimers disease, I doubt she could ever learn to use another machine.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

F&P top load dryers

I've only seen one and was fastenated by the top loading system and how they made the drum 'close up' when tumbling. Of course, I had to tear it apart to watch it. Pretty neat system. Was surprised by what seemed a small lint catching system (a cup?) you'll never see WhirlTag come up with something that spiffy...

Had to shoot video.

RCD

 

[rapunzel]

I've always liked the top loading dryer. That would have been my second choice if I hadn't opted for Speed Queen. They were available here for a little while, but F&P never marketed them and most people's laundries aren't designed to accomodate two full-size appliances. So the top loading dryers went quietly into the night, as do so many wonderful things. Now, I get the impression that they are also being discontinued in the US? Is there some kind of problem?

Is there still an American f&P website? I've looked and it would appear that there isn't.

 

[foraloysius]

Ask...

http://www.fisherpaykel.com/us/

It might turn up as the page of your country, but at the bottom of the page you can choose that part of thw world you wish.

 

[foraloysius]

Sometimes a Fisher & Paykel even turns up in the Netherlands:

http://link.marktplaats.nl/m798057298

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

I bought this 2004 F&P "Intuitive eco" washer (model 1WL12) and "Smartload" gas dryer (model DGGX1) July of last year.

 

I ran probably 8-10 loads through the washer with no issues, but the dryer managed only 2 loads before it stopped heating.   I'd like to get the problem figured out and start using it again!

 

I sold the washer to a co-workers ex (she needed it more than I did) and it's been working well for her since.

 

Kevin

 

[brisnat81]

Hi Rapunzel,

The other reason that the dryers tanked in AU, was the requirement for a 32amp circuit. I looked at one and the price of running a 32amp circuit vs a 20amp (IE Speed Queen) circuit was astronomical. It jumped from $200 to nearly $500. The cost was mainly to do with the heavier gauge of the wire and the difficulty in working with the stiffer cable in an existing construction.

I decided that I didn't need one that much.

Cheers

Nathan

 

[rapunzel]

Thanks for the link Louis. It takes me directly to the US site. Now go and get that top loader - it's only a hundred bucks.

So, what happened to the top loading dryers? They are nowhere to be seen. Is anyone aware why they've been discontinued?

 

[rapunzel]

Hi Nathan,

I do recall that issue about the 30 amp requirement as well. Why would they do something like that? Surely a 20 amp circuit would have been okay. I still think it's a really cool design. I wish Aussie architects and builders weren't so disinterested in designing proper, functional laundry spaces.

 

[DADoES]

 
I read somewhere in passing that the topload platform was discontinued because they couldn't be easily modified to meet the latest, more stringent revision on dryer safety/fire requirements.  Possibly there are more considerations involved than just that, don't know.

The elements are rated 15 amps and 5.8 amps, the motor is 1.6 amps ... which totals 22.4 amps.  My DEGX1 is labeled 24 amps, which calls for a 30 amp circuit.

 

[foraloysius]

I mailed the seller with some questions about transportation. Never heard from him.

 

[henene4]

Hold on...

... couldn't it be just trasformed to run at 20A by "cutting of" the smaller heater?