Frigidaire built GE washer and dryer

[nmassman44]

Hey everyone got these yesterday. A friend of ours is losing his condo and offered these to us. They are about 11 years old and very low mileage. Still plenty of life in these two. The dryer is gas. The washer spins at 850 max and for quite awhile in the final spin. I was amazed at how dry the clothes were when they came out. I had to douche the washer since it had an aroma to it that was a cross between ewww and whats the scent?! Here are a few pix....

 

[nmassman44]

control

 

[nmassman44]

I raised the water level while they were apart from each other...so easy in this machine

 

[nmassman44]

artsy wash shot

 

[nmassman44]

and another

 

[nmassman44]

dryer shot. This dryer has thermostatic control and not sensor bars that I prefer. But hey it was free so cant bitch

 

[nmassman44]

My line up The GE/Frigidaire stack, The SQ washer and my beloved GE Profile dryer

 

[golittlesport]

Great laundry set up you now have. Machines for every need. Does that washer have the slow tumble/extended soak on the delicate cycle? Best handwash cycle I've ever used. I had the Kenmore 1000 rpm spin version of that washer and really liked it. It was a real workhorse and great performer for many years. Passed it on to my son and the bearings ended up going at 10 years old. If I had kept it, it possibly could have still been going as I know my son and his college roommate over-loaded and over-suds it.

 

[gansky1]

Great pictures - love the artsy shot!

I think these Electrolux-Frigidaire washers were pretty solid machines and considering how many were sold and still in use, proved their value for most people.

 

[wayupnorth]

A couple of my neighbors had those models (Kenmore and Frigidaire) and both spun themselves into the junkyard with an estimated $800 repair bill for replacement of the bearings, outer tub, etc. None lasted over 7 years. And neither had heavy useage. But the dryers are still running fine.

 

[nmassman44]

I don't know about the Delicate cycle since I have only used the Regular/ Cotttons cycle. I had a set from Frigidaire back in the 90s that had the 850rpm 30 second burst final spin that really didn't extract much water. The dryer had the two way tumble that I did like but the blast furnace effect when it stopped to reverse and the elements were still on and it would stop, reverse and stop again and then start the heat was so intense pulling thru the load.
This set I was amazed that the bearings are still in great shape. But the guy we got the set from washed in cold water only. So you can see where I am going here. The scent that the washer and dryer has is a bit well stinky. I ran 2 cups of bleach thru the washer and got rid of mold in the bellows and in the dispenser drawer. I will have to get a washer cleaner to really deodorize it. I have been using borax and it does help.

 

[combo52]

Frigidare Built FL washers

Nice usable laundry room set-up, you should be able to turn out lots of clean laundry per hour.

 

They sold MILLIONS of these machines between the Frigidare, Gibson, Kenmore and GE names and they are pretty decent performers. The washers had more than their share of broken spiders and bad bearings, the spiders are thinner than most FL washers and if you use too little detergent, too much fabric softener, in cold water and no bleach they corroded and broke often. The same user problems contributed to seal and bearing failures. Over sudsing and packing the machine never likely hurt any of these washers, or any other modern washer.

 

We work on these dryers almost daily, they are an OK dryer if you are not a heaver user, I estimate that they have about 1/2 the usable life of a WP built dryer, or about the same as newer GE dryers. Weak areas are the front and rear drum bearings, motor, idler pulley, heating element, and valve coils on the gas models. The good thing about these FD built dryers is that they sell a dryer rebuild kit that contains the F&R drum bearings, belt, idler pulley assembly for less than $50 retail so it really helps to keep these machines repairable without breaking the bank.

 

[frigilux]

Mike--I had the same gas dryer (though mine was a few years older than yours) when I lived in a warehouse apt. It tended to singe a few areas with large loads of bath towels, so beware. Items at the back of the drum (again, large loads) tend to get the worst of it. Also: If you try to dry a comforter, use low heat and stop it every 10 minutes to reposition the load; otherwise, singe!

Other than that caveat, they were a fine pair. Too bad the dryer drum is so damn small. It's not big enough to deal with the rather large load the washer can handle---my only complaint. Hope you enjoy them!

 

[nmassman44]

The dryer I am not thrilled with since it's on the small side for capacity at 5.7 cu ft. And the vanes catch underwear and washcloths in the ends in the space between the vane end and drum wall. I know my Kenmore version of this dryer does this. Plus the Kenmore has the stainless steel drum. I might take that drum and put it in this dryer and I would have to take the air baffle out since that dryer is electric and this one is gas. What I am talking about is the air baffle mounted to the drum to shield the heater element. Then again I may leave well enough alone too....
That's good to know they have a kit to replace the belt and bearings. I may get that kit.

 

[yogitunes]

Excellent set you got there......I love these models....they seem to be the best models......I had the Kenmores, which I preferred, even the dryer had a Stainless Drum......for the most part, you can't kill these machines......

I adjusted my water levels too.....nothing these machines can't handle.....I think I still have my VHS user video for these machines somewhere....

Best of luck with them

 

[nmassman44]

One thing that I did notice is that the washer handles the same sized loads that my SQ toploader does. The front loader does wash well. But one odd thing is that you know those Tide Stain Release packs, well they have issues dissolving. I had the remnants of the pack glued to a couple of shirts. Had to rewash them. So I won't be using those packs. I followed the directions on the package and tossed them into the drum before the clothes.
But that said this washer extracts a whole lot more water than the SQ washer. Uses less water too so that's a plus for us since water here ain't cheap. Opening is smaller but thats not an issue. Softener is dispensed better than the SQ since softener gets hung up in the agitator and I don't use it plus the dispenser on the SQ sucks. Getting back to the extraction part. The SQ spins at 710 rpms. The front loader at 850 rpms and the drum has many more water exit holes than the SQ washer that holds onto water much longer in the load. Overall I like it.

 

[nmassman44]

Aww thanks Martin. Let's see how long they last with my pain in the ass tenant using them. Not happy about that but the idiot was doing laundry tonight...yes in this heat too...and he was using the dryer and put it to more dry when less than Optimum will work. I told Scott that she will learn the hard way by shrunk clothes and singed clothes.

 

[laundromat]

I bought a set for my auntie and uncle 12 years ago whom I am going to replace them for with a nice Kenmore set in Berry.Nothing wrong with theirs,never.Just wanted to update their appliances since they and their daughters got all of their appliances from me and are just recently beginning to have issues.They'll get a nice Frigidaire dual oven range with two identical oven cavities, a GE Taltub dishwasher, a Frigidaire OTR microwave,a Whirlpool french door frig. w/indoor water dispenser and an insinkerator disposal.All those are black.My two cousins, their daughters, are in on this and the day I arrive in Baltimore will be the same day the appliances are being installed.

 

[arbilab]

I have the Frigidaire badge of that washer. No troubles, no stink. Worst thing it does, can skip rinse spins when unbalanced.

There is only one tumble "speed" but in wash/delicate the tumble/pause duty cycle reverses. Short tumble, long pause (soak). "Warm rinse" is final only, others are cold.