GE Filter Flo washers

[fan-of-fans]

I was wondering, were all of the GE washers made in the 60s-80s Filter Flo? My parents house came with a mid-late 1980s GE washer when they bought it in 1995. I remember the tub rusted through so they replaced it with a Kenmore DD in 1999. I can't recall if it had the filter pan though.

My grandmother also had a GE and I believe hers did have the pan. She bought her house in 1996 and it had all GE appliances from the later 70s when it was built. But I recall something happened with the washer so she replaced it too with a DD Kenmore in the late 90s.

And finally my other grandmother had a GE washer from the 80s and she too wound up replacing it with a Whirlpool in the late 90s, I seem to recall it started leaking.

Also, are GE washers of that era reliable? It seems I read so much on here about them leaking oil. I think the design is unique, but wouldn't want oil getting on my clothes!

 

[cfz2882]

some of the later FF style GEs may have been "rim flo"-a screened trough at the upper edge of the wash basket through which wash water is circulated during agitation,lint rinsed to outer tub during spin rinse.FF design hot points and "marathon"speed queens are also rim flo.I would rate filter flo reliability at slightly better than average-tub rust and boot problems seen to be the usuall trouble in my experience followed by lower transmission seal leakage and two speed clutch problems-the aluminum pulley groove of the two speed clutches wear rapidly,no wear problem with the iron single speed clutch.The lower transmission seal leak problem is caused by metal particles worn off the transmission internals building up on the lower seal,getting between the input shaft and seal lip-opening up a gap for oil to drip.Transmission change on a filter flo is very easy though.

 

[wayupnorth]

The later models by GE and Hotpoint in their absolute BOL models had nothing but a Normal cycle dial, no water temp or level switches and no recirculating filter or rim flow lint removal. But were built the same at the TOL models, just minus anything beyond a basic washer that washed for a much lower price. I know of people that had the oil problems with their GE's and got rid of them.

 

[yogitunes]

there can be a number of factors that would cause any machine to fail an early life......variables could be from, user error, detergents, iron/hard water, hard use, etc.....

there have been some that didn't make it far in life, and others that would seem to run for ever without a repair.....

they can get a rep for being water hogs, but rinse very well, and handle just about any load you throw at it.....the minibasket and cycle can be a handy addition....

 

[askolover]

My grandmother's

1974 FF was still going strong @ 35years old when she had a stroke and to my knowledge had NEVER had a single repair! My mother's 1982, that's another story...it died in 1993 after a couple of major repairs and finally transmission failure...replaced with another Maytag.

 

[behzad]

I love Filter-Flo and FF loves me too,

Fillter Flo is the best! The agitator, the tub, controls and the filter pan are just great.

BJ

 

[bajaespuma]

The only repairs that any of the FF's that I knew of was when a sock would jump the wall into the outer tub and clog the drain. GE's were prone to that especially if one didn't heed the service people and switch to a low-sudsing detergent. The 1969 CU report indicated that the GE brand deserved a "better than most" repair history.

 

[akronman]

Fine machines

I have 2 great Kenmores, a large tub center dial Maytag, 2 1-18's, a Norge, a solid Tub Speed Queen, and 2 GE FF's. If I had to choose one machine, it would be a GE Filter-Flo 2 speed. Versatile, turn over everything, great rinsing and filtering, problem free.

Not that I ever want to choose.......

Kenmore's don't rinse as well, Maytag don't turn over or filter as well, Norge has long-term life issues, Speed Queen too small, 1-18's need weird, difficult maintenance.......

But I never want to choose, since half a dozen machines are better than one

 

[abcomatic]

I had a 1983 GE that I bought new and loved it. I used it until 1998 when the inner tub just fell over on it's side. I traded it off on a new Kitchen Aid and loved that too.