GE FF coin-ops- I found one of my old screennames

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Probably could be confusing them with Maytags since they had a front panel that could be removed to replace the belts or replace the pump along with adjusting belt tension.
 
Yes, MT did have a wonderful removable front panel for all their washers.

Do you see the removable panel on the front of the washer in the above pic?
GE did that for their coin-ops. It's a really good idea.

Why they didn't do that for ALL their FF washers is the question.
 
Not front servicable

Video of a coin-op GE washer that looks like it doesn't have the front removable panel. It even looks like something made in the 80s toward the end of the FF model.

That's unusual.

 
They probably put the front access panel on their coin op machines since they knew they would get more wear in tear in commercial service as opposed to being in residential service. Maytag used the same design on residential and commercial machines since it was cost effective to use the same design for many years and that was their way of “cost cutting” since they wouldn’t have to develop new designs and such every so often.
 
Exactly

"...since it was cost effective to use the same design for many years and that was their way of “cost cutting...”

Exactly. So one has to wonder why GE didn't do that. They clearly knew the front serviceability could be done in the 70s, maybe earlier.

Now that I see the video above I wonder if GE deleted their front serviceability machines in the 80s.
...or did they offer both options as some laundromats have the lower walls open on where machines are set up?

I guess we'll never know. lol
 
GE Filter Flow washers with removable front panels

GE quite simply didn’t do this on residential models because it cost more to make them that way.

GE did sell a 24 inch wide Filter Flow washer that was made in Brazil in the US in the late 80s and early 90s that had a removable front panel they were cute.

The removable front panel on a Maytag washer really didn’t do you much good you still had to move the washer and tilt it back to even get to the belts Motor pump etc.

I along with most experienced tax would much rather work on a belt drive whirlpool washer for routine repairs that I may tag any day world pools were just more accessible for water valves timers etc.

Major repairs on whirlpool belt drive or Maytag washers could be a pain in the neck in either case.

John L
 
I can't thank you enough for making this thread! I love being reminded of these simple washers, and the link to the pics of the GE FF laundry mat.

Does anyone have a pic of a GE FF washers with the front service cover removed? I've never seen one with the front cover off.

A home version of this machine would have been so nice. Knob, status lights and push buttons!
 
I haven't been able to find any pics of a coin-op GE with the front panel removed.

Sad truth of it is, it's been 25+ years since these were made, they weren't particularly popular due to service issues and the water wasting that would cost owners $$. I'm sure most people were happy to see them go to the crusher.

With the front panel removed it looked the same as the BACK side of a standard FF washer with the back panel removed but you didn't see the inlet hoses as those were on the other side and the drain hose was piped to the other side.

This relative I helped out with in the early 80s had a service contract for a large apartment complex and they had all GE appliances. Wall AC units under the windows, dishwashers, top mount refrigs, stoves, and coin-op laundries on every floor of each building.

A couple of washers needed to be replaced once and instead of buying new coin-op machines the owner just bought new basic BOL GE washers that we popped the top off and put the top of the worn out washer on to the new base.

It was obvious for those with a discerning eye because the new washer was white but the old coin op was harvest gold. But it was a good way to save money.
 
Being honest I would imagine FFs would be a better option than the chug-chug GEs which followed. Around 2007-2008 an apartment complex near me started to phase in the hydrowave version of the coin ops. Despite being used daily since the mid 80s and taking so much abuse most of the FF machines were still running great in 2008. I don't think FF coin-ops were as trouble pron as they were made out to be. But then again I'm comparing them to the epic junk which has taken their place.
 
Is this the same place?

Yep, that's the place. Looks like they replaced most of the filter flo's with a mixture of older and newer front loaders.
 

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