GE FF wash start sequence

[potatochips]

What causes the GE FF machines to start slow with agitation at first, and then click in to normal speed on a normal cycle?

Is it the solenoid that causes it? Or is it the clutch shoes expanding with centrifugal force over time?

I feel like its the former as I can hear a click, and if it was clutch shoe slippage, I think it would ramp up as opposed to go from low to normal so abruptly?

 

[combo52]

Delayed Hi-Speed Operation On GE FF Washers

Its The second, the friction in the clutch carrier plate bearing slowly causes the carrier plate to start turning and when it reaches a certain speed the shoes engage and lock out the low speed slipping clutch operation.

 

If low speed operation is selected the solenoid is energized and it stops the carrier plate from turning at all.

 

This was an interesting system that made no sense at all, Why GE ever fooled with a silly slipping clutch when they were the largest builder of motors in the world never made any sense.

 

Customers that used low speed a lot experienced expensive clutch rebuilds ever 5 years or more.

 

John L.

 

[potatochips]

Thanks John.

Ive never understood that either, having the clutch wear away for slow speed operation. If they wanted a clutch bad enough, they could have put a two speed motor in and a single speed clutch like what was on the washers that replaced the FF.

 

[joefuss1984]

I always loved to hear them start slow and then click to fast speed. Maybe was just me.

 

[ken]

As I remember reading GE did it that way so the motor would always run at full speed so the recirculating pump always ran at full speed.

 

[Chetlaham]

Slow Speed

I've seen plenty with the shifter broken off or a slow speed that did not work. Very bad design in terms of longevity. Only guess was to keep the pump running on full speed in all parts of the wash and drain. Not sure about FFs, but model T GE washer bragged about pump height- so maybe that might have been it.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

filter-flo normal speed

I had a GE filter-flo that did that during normal speed. I liked how it sounded.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

I too

love how normal/fast speed starts up.

 

[toploadloyalist]

Did Hotpoint washers do that as well?

 

[maytag85]

GE may have touted their innovations but yet the clutches on their washers were problematic and would cause reliability issues as time went on. No wonder why Whirlpool customers were more than happy with buying a Whirlpool product and didn’t have many complaints about them. Whirlpool belt drives do indeed have a clutch but it’s only used for the spin and few to none went bad from what I can imagine since it was a good simple design that worked.

 

[toploadloyalist]

Whirlpool customer satisfaction

Did that Whirlpool customer satisfaction also apply to Kenmore, since they were made by Whirlpool?

 

[maytag85]

Reply #10

I’d say yes since Kenmore was made by Whirlpool, and Whirlpool customers definitely experienced better turn over with the Surgilator as opposed to the agitators Kenmore used with the exception of the Vari-Flex agitator which had the adjustable agitator fins that allowed for 9 levels of agitation with the 3 speed motor and 6 levels of agitation with the 2 speed motor.

 

[washerlover]

GE Loud Brake

And although I am a huge Norge/Wards fan, I often take offense when folks say how loud their machines were. Albeit I will agree, but GE comes in a close second, with the brake and the noisy gentle cycle speed...regardless, I love these noisy machines!

 

[combo52]

Reply # 11

Hi Sean, the Vari-Flex agitator gave 12 different washing levels on 3 Sp machines and 8 different washing levels on 2 Sp models, I always though it was too bad they didn't use the VFA on one speed machines as you would not need multi-speed motor at all to provide different levels of agitation.

 

John L.

 

[maytag85]

Reply #13

The Vari-Flex is definitely a good agitator since it offered many different washing levels even if you only used the normal or high speed agitaton.

John since you have been working on and selling appliances for the past 40 to 50 years, which customers were happier with their appliances? GE or Whirlpool/Kenmore Customers?

 

[DADoES]

 
I've had very limited experience with the Vari-Flex.  A neighbor behind Granny had a Kenmore 900 with one.  They left town for an extended work relocation to Singapore, asked that Granny and another neighbor (who lived in a trailer house on dad's rental property next to Granny and didn't have a washer & dryer so I schooled her on how to operate it) use the machine occasionally so it "doesn't get stuck."  I was surprised and impressed at how effective is the Vari-Flex at varying the agitation.

 

[jons1077]

Vari-flex

John is correct. Vari-flex agitators had 4 settings making any washer very versatile. When vanes are fully extended they go just beyond the baseplate giving a very vigorous agitation. Fully retracted, the wash is quite gentle and could be considered “hand wash” on a low speed. They were also great at catching strings and lint so it’s not a bad idea to pull them apart for a good cleaning once in a while. This photo is my poor old Kenmore 80 from 1970. This machine is currently out of service since I had to rob it of a clutch spring. The cabinet is rusted beyond repair which is a shame. She may end up being parts one day.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

hotpoint washers

Hotpoint washers also started the normal speed at low like GE did.