GE FF Question

[macboy91si]

Hey, I'm looking at an almond set of GE FF's on CL nearby and I was wondering how far up the chain these are? The pics make the washer and dryer out to be in good shape, and after contacting the seller, they said they werein very good working and cosmetic order. The price is not as good as I'd like, but if they're close to TOL and as good looking as they say, it wouldn't be that bad. They also mentioned that they have all of the paperwork for both machines and the "canister" for the washer? I'm assuming (hoping) it's a mini-basket. They said the "hat" was also with it.

Here is the washer control panel, does anyone know of what the controls are for and approximate age. I'm thinking they're still "Imperial" material, I guess right around 85-86 by the style of the control panel, but I don't know.

-Tim

 

[macboy91si]

The Dryer

Also curious about the buttons and such on the dryer. Is the knob the Press Guard or signal volume or just the start switch? I love buttons and such!

-Tim

 

[bajaespuma]

Would hold out for a good price.

The washer is in the neighborhood of 2nd down from TOL. The buttons are speed control, N/N, N/S, S/S. The knob on the left looks like the one for water level control, the center knob is temp control H/W, H/C, W/C, C/C. The knob on the right IIRC is the extra rinse option. It has a bleach funnel and came with an activator-mounted FS dispenser.These machines were OK performers and this one did come with a mini basket and the spiral ramp activator. The knob on the dryer looks like an extra-care control. The end of cycle signal was frequently a toggle switch next to the control dial. Hard to tell from that picture, but the writing seems to indicate "extra-care". IIRC this dryer had an extra deep drum. These machines date to 1992. I wouldn't pay more than 150 for the pair.

 

[mtn1584]

The last of this particular style console was made in 1990, after that the GE logo was used instead of "General Electric"
Mike

 

[yogitunes]

That look similar to the one I got for $50.00 on CL.....but I'm willing to bet it's a SPOTSCRUBBER version...that last little button has a border around the lettering, usually indicating the SPOTSCRUBBER option....if it is, I'd kill for it!....this option ha a solid mini-basket, wherehe filter -flo shuts off to concentrate the detergent and water with intense scrubbing to get out almost any stain....these are RARE!

 

[mickeyd]

Macboy, that's hilarious!

The canister and the hat. I love it. Go for it, if only to make sure;-)

 

[markk290]

Does it have the second rinse switch beside the time? It does look like a Spotscrubber. The white at the bottom of the timer looks like the one I got from Keith B., a memeber here, and it is a spotscrubber.

 

[macboy91si]

I'm so excited!

I go to pick these up on Monday if all goes well. They appear to be almond, which usually I'm not too fond of, but on GE's they always look nice for some reason. It may be the way the almond accents the control panel, but I love an almond or gold FF. I don't really know what the "Spotscrubber" option is, I've have only heard people talk here about it, sounds neat to me. If it has the Mini-Basket, I'm sold. I'm assuming that the washer is the "Extra Large" capacity with the taller tub?

I can hardly wait... I'm probably paying too much, $175-200 for the set, but just sold a newer GE Profile and a Frigidaire and made the money, I think they're worth it, but that's just me. If they're in good shape and work and have all the goodies then I'm onboard here. I have a set of Hotpoints, but I like the GE's better, and I have Martin to thank for that! After he sent me the FF hat and flume, I installed it on the Hotpoint and I was forever converted.

-Tim

 

[yogitunes]

Price may be a little high, but you can always ask to lower it down, even if only 20 to 50 bucks or so, never hurts, worst they can say is NO, and YES these GE FF can get you hooked, I never paid attention before as to how well they move a large load and rinse really well, and I have tried to suds lock mine, for the heck of it, but the rinse water is always clear...go figure....Most all GE's also have the larger tub, only a few BOL models had the smaller one....And I for one will be envious and jealous if that is a SPOTSCRUBBER...you lucky pup!

that should also be the extra large mini-basket as well, you can leave the filter off to watch it wash but put it in place to spin...trust me

the excitement of a new toy!

let us know how you make out and if you need parts....

also, lift the top and use a cable tie around the lidswitch to make it work with the lid open...if you need pics let me know...

 

[mixfinder]

That Drone at Highway Speed

I mused at Consumer report denigrating GE for an old tired design platform after everyone else went to the stroke of death. Funny how it used to be GE that beat the clothes up with an aggressive stroke and in the end they became among the slowest. I bought a 1960 GE from a school teacher when I was still in High School. I had a repairman come out because it was so noisy and he said nothing wrong just the nature of the beast. As my experience broadened through the years I've come to appreciate the drone of the clutch that makes a rhythmic sound kind of like cruising down the freeway. This machine has one weak link in rust where the gasket touches the top of the machine. Fortunately its easily fixed. Beyond that GE filter flos wash for years with hardly any repairs, do a nice wash and when you're out of laundry and bored, you can always find a doily to put through in the mini basket.[this post was last edited: 5/28/2010-13:28]

 

[yogitunes]

Consumer Reports = Idiots!

CR always had something bad to say about a lot of machines, Speed Queen for example, the solid tub machines got a bad rap for wasting water with the over-flo rinses, but in reality how much water is used/wasted in a Maytag or GE, Whirlpool or many others with a perforated tub, that outter tub holds a LOT of water compared to a solid tub which only fills the actual tub used....in my area all laundromats had either SQ or Frigidaires Jet Cone, only one had Maytags...if these machines were so bad why were they used in so many laundries?....who knows...but common sense they don't have!

Many people believe what CR has to say, and so did we at one time, but then reality kicks in, and if we knew then what we know now, think of the money we would have saved by not buying their magazine!.....time to stop rambling...sorry guys

 

[yogitunes]

but none the less....

Tim were looking forward to pics and your thoughts of the GE....

Martin

 

[yogitunes]

also....the extra rinse could be part of a cycle...like the "extra cleaning cycle" I have on mine, makes no sense, it has the extra rinse option in the regular cycle, via the switch, and the "extra" cycle has 2 rinses....checked the book, the only difference is the 2nd spin is 4 minutes like the 1st spin and the last spin is 7 minutes

I rather have a longer WASH time or an automatic Soak feature, but thats me.....

 

[macboy91si]

Turning off the FF

How does the machine turn off the Filter-Flo exactly?

-Tim

 

[cfz2882]

does not turn off

the filter flo is active whenever the motor is running in
agitate direction-the filter flo's pump is two turbine punps
stacked,smaller upper section is for filter.

 

[jons1077]

Turning off the filter flo...

The filter flo recirculation works in exactly the same fashion as a detergent dispenser or lint filter recirculation on an older whirlpool/kenmore. When agitating the recirculation is always on and constant. The way the detergent recirculation is haulted is by cutting off the supply line from the pump using a solenoid valve. My understanding is this is what the filter-flo will also do in spotscrubber mode. An additional solenoid is spliced into the hose leading to the filter flume. When activated it cuts recirculation off thus turning the filter-flo mechanism off.

Jon

 

[yogitunes]

Jon...you got the million dollar question RIGHT....

there's a unique valve that is in-line of the filter flo that closes off for this program.....

it's just odd to see the filter flo shut off...and how quiet the machine gets, it's the water flowing that makes most of the noise during agitation

 

[cfz2882]

so there IS filter flos that can turn off-will keep my eyes
open for one of those!

 

[yogitunes]

Yes there are...and they are RARE....but if you can find one with the solid mini-basket....dont walk....RUN

thos are close to TOP OF THE LINE...ashame they didn't combine this with the dispens-all system....that would have been the ultimate machine

that HAT is to be put on the floor and do the Mexican Hat Dance around with excitement from these machines....lol

Here's one I also got off CL for $15.00....MOL....nice features...missing the mini-basket, this one takes the smaller filter pan