Confusion about recent SQ top loaders

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bill

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Joined
Aug 24, 2020
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Location
Redwater Alberta
Hi Gang,

Well, have turned to putty after 3-4 days on my back reading everything possible about washers and of course getting my head turned earlier on toward the SQ toppers. Can't do no more and have to get back to work or starve so hoping like the dickens that you can all pitch in and answer these unknowns.

Have read many places, incuding most of Amazon reviews and many of threads here. I understand the durability claims on the SQ, and appreciate that the water level can be raised permanently and the lid switch bypassed and the rinse water temp setting changed. All great stuff and very attractive.

But don't get:

* At least one person (Frigilux) has mentioned a roughness in drum (seen in store model) that could cause tearing of material he thought but no report from him on results. Others on Amazon have reported tearing of clothes without apparently being aware of a cause. Maybe that's the reason

A very long trip for me to look at one, and then must make quick decision to buy or not. So does anyone have more info on this imperfection and idea how common it is in last year and advice as to whether is safe to buy one like this?


* Grease in drum. One fellow on Amazon said even after several months still getting some smudges even tho did all the recommended cleaning. Some mention of issue in this group also. So, is this absurdity still happening all the time or randomly or not at all and is it just a minor nuisance or a life shattering, disemboweling, apocalyptic nightmare? Like you know, in 2014.

* Service manual. Not available specifically for AWN/AWS I can see. Amazing. Too bad. Main trouble is this: Some people here have said you can at least get a manual for closely related machines but the links offered, like to servicematters.com either don't work or don't produce.

Called SQ about top two issues. Answers were inconclusive. Maybe got wrong person. Can't believe I'm still looking at these people.

In the old normal these things would have quickly killed all thought of SQ but now with the apparent total insanity that the rest of the washer world has become the good soldier apparently needs to persevere. And perhaps for nought, if, as it seems from this debacle alone, the end of time approacheth, clad in dirty clothes to boot. lol

Anyway, appreciate the passion for this and the effort put out on this very necessary forum by so many here. Thanks in advance for any perspective you can share. If not before, I will pipe up if I buy after have enough experience to contribute. It is a rather fascinating subject and I can see that the pursuit (if not achievement) of the perfect spinner could become enticing enough to allow some satisfaction. Next life maybe I'll line them up. This one, too late.

Salute
 
Bill,

First off welcome to AW.

The Speed Queen topload models are arguably the current cream of the crop of all topload design washers sold today. If what you desire is an old-school, heavy duty, deep-water washing machine like the days of old you will not be disappointed in any of the current SQ models. I'd surely buy one of these if I had to have a topload machine.

Bear in mind that the Internet reading/research you have been doing has very likely over represented any possible failures of these machines. It is rare to see a person that is happy with their machine take the time to go out and write a glowing review. A person that is jilted due to a problem (both actual or self induced) is far more likely to complain profusely. The vast majority of these machines go into service without a hitch. The problem with dirty spin baskets or rough edges is blown out of proportion and would be easy to deal with if you were to get one. Any other brand will have a certain percentage of problems also. At least we know that Speed Queen stands behind their products with a solid warranty. Only downside is that they aren't as common as some of the "big box" brands so retailers and service are a bit more spotty perhaps.

Don't let yourself fall into "paralysis by analysis', just go buy one of these if it is the type of machine you want. Then you can enjoy using that fine machine as opposed to driving yourself bleary eyed reading about them ;)
 
Bill, the inner tub has a seam but it's smooth as silk in our AWS76. No sign of clothes damage so far (~7 years). The one issue we did have with our machine was with the fabric softener dispenser, on top of the agitator. Ours had a sharp edge at the bottom, and after the third time slicing ourselves on it while emptying the washer we finally called Alliance and they shipped us another one. It was much better, but since we add fabric softener manually we wound up just popping the dispenser off altogether. No problem with doing that per SQ tech support.

As with any manufacturing process there are going to be bad batches once in a while, and the grease/rough tub seam issues appear to be limited to specific timeframes. As far as I know neither is considered a general problem with SQ. If that's wrong info I'm sure someone will correct it.

As for the service manual, design changes from year to year on SQ's TLs are limited to aesthetics (knobs, graphic panels etc). The basic schematics of the washers haven't changed in many years (although that will finally be changing with their new TL models with electronic panels), so a working service manual is very easy to find.

IMO if you want a washer that's close to infinitely flexible, reliable and cheap to fix even when it breaks, nothing is going to beat these SQ mechanical TL's.
 
Bill- Just sent you an e-mail. Thought I'd answered your questions at this thread, but I must have been interrupted and didn't post it.

Buy the Speed Queen. I'm willing to bet the farm you'll be very happy with its performance, and that you'll get years of reliable service from it.
 

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