GE at our restore today

[panasonicvac]

Yup, I don't like it when a tub tilts or rust happens on SQ. Also another issue I've noticed with SQ is the sudsing. My LG has the same issue as well but I'm still happy I bought it over a SQ. But I never had that problem with GE or even my Kenmore. This particular model lasted for a good long while.

 

[circlew]

Yup, I don't like it when a tub tilts or rust happens on SQ. Also another issue I've noticed with SQ is the sudsing. My LG has the same issue as well but I'm still happy I bought it over a SQ. But I never had that problem with GE or even my Kenmore. This particular model lasted for a good long while.

Why would a SQ be any more likely to rust than any other washer? If you're speaking of the tub, I thought those were 300 series stainless steel with a lifetime warranty against rust. I know someone who had a solid tub model, and the SS tub still looked new when they got rid of it after 20 years.

 

[panasonicvac]

Not saying it's guaranteed to happen but if I were to soak my clothes overnight, I'd rather not take the risk.

https://automaticwasher.org/threads/rust-in-my-speed-queen-washer.92723/

https://automaticwasher.org/threads/fixing-my-speed-queen-rustbucket.96842/

 

[DADoES]

Why would a SQ be any more likely to rust than any other washer? If you're speaking of the tub, I thought those were 300 series stainless steel with a lifetime warranty against rust. I know someone who had a solid tub model, and the SS tub still looked new when they got rid of it after 20 years.

Distinction must be made between the outer tub and inner basket. SQ has a porcelain outer tub. The inner spin-basket is SS. The second link above shows that the outer tub is rusting, not the basket.

 

[Chetlaham]

Not saying it's guaranteed to happen but if I were to soak my clothes overnight, I'd rather not take the risk.

https://automaticwasher.org/threads/rust-in-my-speed-queen-washer.92723/

https://automaticwasher.org/threads/fixing-my-speed-queen-rustbucket.96842/

That only happens using way to much bleach or other abrasives in excess during prolonged soaks. Outside of machine misuse an metal outer tub does not give problems.

 

[Chetlaham]

Yup, I don't like it when a tub tilts or rust happens on SQ. Also another issue I've noticed with SQ is the sudsing. My LG has the same issue as well but I'm still happy I bought it over a SQ. But I never had that problem with GE or even my Kenmore. This particular model lasted for a good long while.

That video shows a washer that can't rinse and can't handle suds. The rinse at 13:05 has more suds than the wash despite the large amount of water relative to the load. The machine also needs to default to a slow first spin at 7:23 and then pulse itself to prevent suds locking the machine.

Speed Queen doesn't have inner basket re-reinforcements that whip up suds, Speed Queen has a clutch so any suds drag doesn't over heat the motor, Speed Queen accelerates gradually in spin and has a spray rinse to knock down residual suds. Speed Queen rinse water is far clearer than GE's.

If you're getting suds lock on a Speed Queen you are using way to much detergent.

Second issue- look at how lightly loaded the machine has to be just to get turn over. GE knows this hence the ribs on the wash basket- so clothes touching the side can actually get clean when loaded with more clothes than the few seen in the video.

 

[Chetlaham]

Also, from the comments in that video:



The motor can't tolerate suds of any kind due to the lack of clutch. While GE did good (IMO) going to a PSC motor getting rid of the centrifugal start switch, they should have kept the clutch so the machine can actually handle large loads and/or sudsing. A suds lock of any kind will cause the motor to trip out or burn up where as any vintage washer or Speed Queen classic just slips its belt or clutch clutch without issue.

 

[qsd-dan]

That video shows a washer that can't rinse and can't handle suds. The rinse at 13:05 has more suds than the wash despite the large amount of water relative to the load. The machine also needs to default to a slow first spin at 7:23 and then pulse itself to prevent suds locking the machine.

Speed Queen doesn't have inner basket re-reinforcements that whip up suds, Speed Queen has a clutch so any suds drag doesn't over heat the motor, Speed Queen accelerates gradually in spin and has a spray rinse to knock down residual suds. Speed Queen rinse water is far clearer than GE's.

If you're getting suds lock on a Speed Queen you are using way to much detergent.

Second issue- look at how lightly loaded the machine has to be just to get turn over. GE knows this hence the ribs on the wash basket- so clothes touching the side can actually get clean when loaded with more clothes than the few seen in the video.

What a POS! Suds locking AFTER a neutral drain with no excessive detergent or a spray rinse. Poor rinsing and can't balance a load that's not out of the realm of normalcy. Agitation is much nosier than a DD. Did any GE top loader spray rinse after the FF's? I know Hydrowaves didn't. This model didn't, either.

 

[Chetlaham]

What a POS! Suds locking AFTER a neutral drain with no excessive detergent or a spray rinse. Poor rinsing and can't balance a load that's not out of the realm of normalcy. Agitation is much nosier than a DD. Did any GE top loader spray rinse after the FF's? I know Hydrowaves didn't. This model didn't, either.

The tub re-enforcements hamper performance and just cause drag. No other washers had them that I know of.

My 98 Model T did spray rinse twice for 5 seconds after the deep rinse on the Cottons cycle and once in the first spin for 5 seconds and twice in the final spin for 5 seconds on the Permanent Press Cycle. Latter early 2000s models very quickly abandoned the spray rinses.

I hated the spray rinse being in the final spin. I once put some damp items in the machine, set it to the whirl icon for what I thought would be a wring out, only to then become flabbergasted why the items came out wetter than they were put in.

The Model T I had was unpleasant surprise after unpleasant surprise.

 

[combo52]

GE T model automatic washers

Were an interesting machine for sure, overall they were great performers and a huge improvement over what they replaced.

GE obviously set out to build a better performing cheaper to build machine so they could remain competitive in the Appliance market with washing machines.

They initially were fighting with the union workers and threatened to send the whole project overseas, but instead they brought the cost way down on the product by sourcing parts that they previously made themselves. The most notable part was the transmission. It said that it was made by the Murray lawnmower company I believe.

The biggest problem in the T model machines was the transmission and brake assembly. They had a very high failure rate on it the extended the warranty to eight years on the parts to try to keep people happy with them. We were changing a lot of transmissions in them for a while.

The article about this machine when it was introduced in Appliance Manufacturer magazine, stated that they did try stainless steel and porcelain steel tubs. They decided because of cost to go with the plastic tub, which was actually more durable than the porcelain tubs and probably less expensive. A porcelain on steel tub is actually the cheapest wash basket to make once you get the tooling in place etc. a stainless steel tub would actually be the cheapest one to assemble, but the cost of the materials is higher.

Other companies such as whirlpool direct drive machines went to a stainless steel tub in the Maytag versions, it was cheap and easy to do. They also had plastic tubs in direct drive washers that were sold in some of the cheaper models of things like the Coronado‘s that whirlpool built because customers like the idea of a non-rusting tub it all depended on the market they were trying to hit.

The video of the T model washer running in reply number 31 is not suds locking it is cycled this way so that it can accelerate and eliminate the possibility of suds locking it takes pauses like that automatically it depends on the model some did it and some did not do this.

It is also often normal to see more studs in the rinse cycle than the wash cycle. This is because the suds suppressant goes out with the wash water that are in the detergent. There’s nothing unusual about that, if you don’t like seeing a little bit of suds in the rinse water put some fabric softener in.

But overall, the T model washer was a great performer. It certainly performs better than a Speed Queen top loader, we saved one of the early model T model machines that we’re gonna rebuild for the museum. It needs a transmission, of course, but I was able to score a transmission for it.

My only real complain about the T model washers as they were noisy during the agitation. They also had a more anemic agitation than direct drive machine. You couldn’t pack them quite as full and get the same great cleaning that you got with the Whirlpool DD machines.

The T model machine that we saved has the extra large holes in the bottom of the wash basket. These were eliminated a couple years into production because they had too much trouble with the pump clogging they were so effective at getting sand and grit out of the wash load that when customers put something like a rubber backed rug that was disintegrating in the machine, the bits of backing which would literally clog the pump almost immediately when it went to drain, we used to have to do service calls to clean out the hose leading to the pump when someone did a disintegrating rubber backed rug, but it really demonstrated just how effective the machine was getting rid of the dirt and crap that stays in other washers.

John L

 

[Chetlaham]

While I agree with most of what is being said, owning a Speed Queen and having used two model Ts I can assure you the Speed Queen cleans, rinses, extracts and takes care of clothes many times over what a model T can do.

 

[angus]

I don't know if those machines were actually "Raytheon"built. I had the Amana version of that machine purchased in early 2000. At that time Amana had already been sold to Goodman and while the original design may have been based on the Raytheon design, I believe those were built by Goodman. What I DO know was that while that machine performed well while it lasted, it only lasted three years. The main tub seal kept failing, and water kept leaking - resulting in several replacements to the spin bearing. The most bizarre part was that by the time that machine failed in 2003, Amana had been sold again, this time to Maytag. So for the final repair attempt, those machines were being serviced by Maytag techs who had literally no idea how to fix the problem. That poor guy was at my house for over six hours, had the machine completely apart and was on the phone for hours trying to figure this out. I was lucky though. The appliance store took mercy on me and replaced the machine with a Maytag. Unfortunately, that machine was beset with inner tub issues - the first had rust within a year, then each of the three repair attempts failed as the three replacement tubs were damaged. Yet again, hats off to County TV and Appliance in Stamford, CT - they took THAT machine back and replaced it with a top of the line Whirlpool in 2004. That machine is still chugging away happily today with no repairs in 22 years. I sold it to my friend when I got my Speed Queen and he moved into his new house. Granted, he isn't tough on machines - only does on the average four full loads per month (he is an engineer), but still....
As for the GE badged models of this machine, as I recall, there was a strike at Appliance Park and GE needed to outsource appliances - so they rebadged Amana washers and dryers. As for other appliances - ranges, refrigerators, not sure who supplied those.

 

[pstehle]

Why would a SQ be any more likely to rust than any other washer? If you're speaking of the tub, I thought those were 300 series stainless steel with a lifetime warranty against rust. I know someone who had a solid tub model, and the SS tub still looked new when they got rid of it after 20 years.

The basket is stainless steel, the outer tub is porcelain on steel, which can rust if there are imperfections or it gets damaged. It seems to have been a much more common problem back east than out here in 5% RH Arizona... Splashed water dries out in a few minutes here most of the year, in the summer in Maryland, the puddles can sit for half a day or more.