G E FILTER-FLO

[frigidaireguy]

I used the "gentle" cycle on my Filter-Flo the other day and when I pushed the button to put it back to "Normal" it stayed in "Gentle". Any thoughts on what caused this and how big a repair am I looking at. Thanks !!!!

Bob

 

[combo52]

GE Filter Flow washer stuck on low speed

Hi Bob, that’s almost impossible but it is possible does it also now only spin on the low speed?

Did you try it again to see if this problem persists?

If the shifter fork got jammed in the activated position, it could be stuck on low indefinitely. It would be pretty easy to fix or at least to make it run it high-speed again

It’s also possible the machine is either leaking water on the belt or on the belt which would cause it to slip so much you may think it’s stuck in slow speed.

Any event try again? Let us know what happens.

John

 

[frigidaireguy]

Thanks John - I will check it this afternoon when I get home and let you know.

Bob

 

[appnut]

Bob, did you allow the machine to keep runing when you pushed the button to put it back to normal or did you stop the machine and then switch the speed button? You have to pause the machine to change the speed settings. It's not designed to change speeds while the machine is running essentially.

 

[frigidaireguy]

Hey Bob
I don't remember but I will make sure to pause the machine. Good to talk with you hope you are doing well.

Bob

 

[DADoES]

 
FilterFlos all have a 1-speed motor, a GE thing so they can claim maximum pumping speed for filtering at all agitation speeds.  The drive belt attaches to a clutch mechanism that mounts to the motor.  Multi-speed clutches always start in high speed mode, change to lower speed in a few seconds if such is selected.  The motor must be turned off and back on to reset the clutch for high speed, just changing the control setting from low to high won't do it.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

speeds

I think you mean it starts out slow then goes to fast. That's how mine operated.

 

[DADoES]

 
Yes, I probably mixed it up.  The FilterFlo I used a bit in the 1970s was a one-speed, no low speed.

 

[DADoES]

 
That brings up, then, that a shut-off shouldn't be necessary to switch from Low speed to High.  It would be needed for High to Low.

 

[combo52]

GE Filter Flow washers with two speed clutch

These always start out on low speed, you can change from Lodi high-speed, while the machines operating with no ill effects. It’s just hard on the motor to keep starting and stopping it, so I would not advise, pausing the machine if you want to increase the speed.

if you try to change from high to low speed, it will just stay in high speed until you stop the machine or until it stops. It will not hurt anything. It just won’t change to low speed while running.

John

 

[frigidaireguy]

John:
I did as you said and tried it when I got home yesterday and it kicked right into the hjgh speed - So problem solved - Thank Goodness because I use that machine weekly.

Bob

 

[jons1077]

Speed switch

Switching from low to high would require stopping and starting the motor. The slow speed solenoid energizes which raises a sort of finger or tab to catch the slow speed clutch arm and maintain it there keeping it from going into full speed. This means constant force is being applied from the arm to the solenoid “finger”. That tension would need to be released for the solenoid finger to be allowed to drop back down away from the clutch. Low to High speed on start up happens because that solenoid is never energized so the clutch is allowed to release itself into the full speed.

People would lose that solenoid finger when they switch from high to low while the machine was running. That clutch is spinning fast and then throw that little finger up to catch that arm
At full speed would be like throwing a wrench into a fan.

 

[combo52]

GE two speed washer clutches

Hi Jon the information in reply nine was taken from GE service manuals, you can sit there and flip the switch back-and-forth all day long without hurting the clutch, GE would not, and could not have built a washing machine that a simple flick of the switch caused an expensive repair.

If this were true, they would’ve designed an interlock in it, so it couldn’t be changed while of motor was running.

You can change from low to high with no effect. If you try to change from high to low, it just won’t happen until the motor stops turning.

This information is correct and applies to the two speed clutches, I do not have as much experience with the three and four speed clutch, but I really doubt it would be damaged by changing it while it’s operating.

John

 

[jons1077]

Thank you John

At some point they must have made a change. I specifically remember when I was young, both grandmothers having GE machines (‘69 3-speed and the other an 80’s Hotpoint). I definitely recall flipping the hotpoint from high to low and it did it but very loud banging noises. After that I never attempted to change speeds on a GE with it running. So, true or not, I ain’t risking it.

 

[combo52]

Hi Jon it is true if the shifter for is not adjusted properly, it will catch and possibly break it, but it was likely to break anyway, if it’s that badly adjusted I’ve seen many of them broken over my career but sooner or later somebody’s going to flip the switch while it’s operating so I wouldn’t take the chance either if you haven’t checked the adjustment, it was not designed to break if you changed it while it was operating, it’s very easy to check the adjustment of the shifter to make sure there’s no interference and this can be prevented. This is explained in the service manuals for working on the two speed clutches.

John