Brand new SQ TC5 with noise issue

[emmach]

Thanks for keeping me up-to-date on your machine, Grebus. Yours seems to be improving, while mine is going in the opposite direction! Your machine in your video sounds exactly like the noise my machine makes (it better represents my machine than my own audio does!) as opposed to the noise that username 7732528 had a solution for. (I do see that it seems that the SQ tech recommended a similar solution to you to what he had proposed. I wonder how much they know.) I did ask the customer service rep straight out if the technicians agree that my washer is not operating as it should and if there is any possibility that my claim would be denied. Frankly, I'll be surprised if she answers that email. I guess if my machine continues to get worse I'll have no choice but to get someone in.

 

[grebus]

I edited my YouTube video to add more of a title and description and hope I might get some feedback in the comments section (it's had a lot of views so far, but most of them are linking from this site). I was hoping to get some more feedback here on this site, but now it seems like just you and I going back and forth with our posts. If you hear anything more let me know, and will do the same for you. Thanks.

 

[grebus]

I did two loads of laundry today on normal/eco and heard the sound on and off. Then did two loads on bulky and never heard it. So I guess I am experiencing the same situation as emmach. BTW, the bulky cycle isn't too bad in that it uses low agitation with high speed final spin--this might be gentler on clothes in the long run. However it does use more water than I had been using with normal/eco since it has a full rinse.

I noticed that the TC5 matrix (attached) has a number of errors on it, so I am going to redo it with what seems to be the correct info. I will post it here once it's done.

 

[addle]

I have been offered a used Speed Queen

I was offered a free 2014 Speed Queen that appears to be in very good condition. Is there any reason for me to keep my 2003 Kenmore, other than the Speed Queen is very heavy? Do you have any advice for a new owner?

from appliance411.com

Speed Queen AWN432SP111TW01 According to the serial number this product may have been manufactured April of 2014.

Kenmore Model: 11024932200 CP0719541 According to the serial number this product may have been manufactured in Clyde, OH, February of 2003.

 

[emmach]

Low agitation does have the benefit of being more gentle on clothes but I have found (thru lifting the lid during agitation to observe the turnover) that when I do a full load on bulky/sheets, the sheets and other items do not turn over as well as when using the heavy duty cycle. I feel that I cannot put in as many garments using that cycle. If I do, they spend more time then I'd like above the water line.

 

[mtn1584]

I know exactly what the problem is.....

I have a 12 year old AWN542.....
Washer flutter means..... there are two washers placed together I believe between the brake wheel and the transmission. They are visible and don’t take up that much space.... when the washers don’t sit tight together or are warped for lack of of better word, they rub together and make that noise. It is NOT a mechanical issue. I have used WD 40 white lithium grease to resolve the annoying noise..... I had a tech come out years ago and replaced the belt, he had no idea why the machine was making the noise it made. Mine was loud and at times sounding like grinding. I have another SQ 9 Electronic Series Washer that NEVER made the sound. Have the tech come out and add the plastic washer between the two metal washers and add the grease. MAKE them do it if it annoys you that much.
Mike

 

[emmach]

I know exactly what the problem is....

Thanks mtn1584 for your input. So in your opinion there is no real reason to have a tech come out? It will not shorten the life of any part of the machine or cause something else to fail if these washers continue to rub against each other? The noise wouldn't bother me if I know the issue is not a concern.

 

[mtn1584]

My washer has had that annoying noise from the two metal washers for years.... nothing mechanical to worry about whatsoever. The washers are just used as spacers between the spin brakes and the drive wheel. There is nothing to worry about at all.
Mike

 

[emmach]

Thanks Mike!

 

[grebus]

Agreed, thanks Mike for the valuable insight and information! I guess I'll see how long I can go before it becomes annoying enough to have a tech come out. I actually read one of your previous posts from 2014 on this site about the two washer issue (see link) but wasn't sure it applied to my machine. Thanks again.

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?56279

 

[emmach]

Hmm, interesting. In the 2014 post I read that a couple of people were only having the issue with hot water. I am definitely hearing the noise even during a cool wash and on the rinse cycle, although it may be more frequent when using a higher temperature. I'm also not sure that I would describe the noise that I'm hearing to be metallic, certainly not screeching and not that horrendous.

 

[mtn1584]

No rime or reason

Water temp has nothing at all to do with the noise. Load size however does. If you have a heavy load of towels, most likely your tub WILL index, that is turn with the agitator. THIS IS NORMAL, in my case when I have a load in that DOES NOT make the tub index that is when the washers are more noisy and quite often rub together.
My assumption is the more weight in the tub, clothes plus water make the washers sit tight against one another. When the tub is lighter. The washers have slightly more play and then rotate with the stroke action thus causing that annoying metal on metal noise.
Again NOTHING mechanical BUT annoying nonetheless. Just as annoying as an old GE Filter Flo washer clutch clicking while in SLOW agitation mode.

 

[grebus]

Mike, one question on lubing the washers. Did you loosen the drive pulley bolt to get the pulley to drop down a little or did you just spray the white lithium grease with everything assembled? I'm thinking of doing this myself rather than having a tech called in. Thanks.

 

[mtn1584]

No my friend I did not loosen any bolt although if you had a tech come out I suppose you could. I just used the White Lithium Grease sparingly on the two bolts. If you use anymore you’ll most likely get overspray on the brakes and your tub will never stop indexing.
Mike

 

[emmach]

update

Hi,
Just wanted to give an update on my machine.
Last week, during the heavy duty cycle that I do on pretty warm water, the scraping noise was a little less often during the previous week’s same type of load (maybe 35 times during the wash and only 5 or so during the rinse.) Today though, doing a load on the same cycle , the noise happened more than it has ever done in the past, approx 75 times during the 9 minute cycle and about 20 times during the rinse, which in the past has been maybe 6 times. In addition, there were 10 times when the noise was prolonged sometimes for as long as 2 seconds. As usual, loads I do on bulky/sheets do not have this noise. So the level of agitation seems to be key here.
Needless to say I am not thrilled that things are getting worse not better. And not surprisingly, a rep at SQ did not respond when I asked if there was a possibility that my claim would be denied although, in just 3 days, she responded to the four emails I sent prior to that one.
Grebus: may I ask if there is any change to the frequency in which you are hearing this noise? Have you tried to repair it on your own?

 

[grebus]

I haven't attempted the washer grease fix yet, but still plan to do so. I have been using the bulky cycle exclusively since I was annoyed at hearing the sound. It has been working fine but I still hear the noise once in a blue moon (even on bulky).

The main reason I haven't tried the fix yet is that the machine is in an awkward space and sits in one of those plastic drain pans, and it will make getting the front panel off a bit challenging. Once I get to it, I will let you know of the results.

 

[emmach]

thanks, Grebus!

 

[grebus]

Here's my update. A few days ago I took the front cover off and attempted to spray the washers with white lithium grease. I could only get the can and short spray tube pointed at the washers from the front left side of the machine, so wasn't sure I was getting very much coverage. I was also trying to minimize the amount of overspray as much as possible. I didn't do a test after I was done.

Today I did four full loads of laundry on the normal/eco cycle with the heavy duty option on. I did not hear the sound even one time. I hope that is a pretty good indication of this being a solution to the issue. I would suggest buying a longer spray tube for the lithium grease as it would probably make the job easier and you could get better coverage (you can get them on Amazon).

On another note, I may be returning my TC5 for a number of reasons. Mostly I think I'm not as fond of it as I thought I would be, I think it uses way too much water, and it's washing ability has been so-so for me. If I do, I will buy the LG WM3900 from Costco, which was always my other choice when I was first looking a few months ago.

 

[combo52]

SQ TC-5 Using Too Much Water

I would agree, even though we have sold way over 1000 traditional SQ TL Washers I would never have one, the only way I use a full fill TL machine is if I can reuse the wash water.

 

If you can return it I would get the SQ Front Load machine, I bought a new SS version last November and the only problem with it is I can't find enough laundry to use it very often, it does huge loads fairly fast and very well,

 

I know the LG will do a good job and may last a while but as a American I cannot justify buying Chinese stuff when we build a much better washer here.

 

John L.

 

[panasonicvac]

We have an LG WM8100 similar to the WM3900. It's been nice so far, I quite like it actually. But if I were to buy a front load washer and dryer again today, I would get the Speed Queen this time.