GE Filter-Flo

[macboy91si]

Well Keven

Mine is a 1986 and my 86 GE ad that came with it has your exact console in it. Your machine is the TOL "standard capacity" w/2 speeds and the mini-basket. The next step up was the 1 -speed ex-large capacity. The "Large Capacity" it refers to on the control panel is just GE marketing label hype. This is small tub machine and the "Ex. Large Capacity" labeled machine is the deeper tub models. A great machine there, sort or rare in it's own rite.

 

The silver/orange/red on black started in 85 I think. I'm sure the differences from 85 to 86 were small, the SpotScrubber was introduced in 1986.

 

-Tim

 

[mtn1584]

I can definitely say that the silver, orange, red console ended in 1991.
Mike

 

[mtn1584]

Ex Large Cap vs. Large Cap

Does anyone know the difference between the Large Cap and Extra Large Cap. models of that era? Was there a capacity diff? I was led to believe that the Large Cap. was a 2.0 cubic foot tub, and the Extra Large was 2.7 cubic feet, Is this true?
Mike

 

[panthera]

No hu-hu, Mike

I get too touchy, bad history and time to put it aside.

When I was a very young child, my grandparents' filter-flo did loads of wash every single day and rarely broke down.
It had a few neat features - rinse and wash temperature were set separately from each other and the fill level could be manually stopped at any time.

I do know that the mini-baskets could be ordered separately, although many dealers 'threw them in' to sweeten a deal back then.

My experience of mini-baskets was not overwhelming, to be honest.

Thanks all!

 

[andy]

Keven,
That's usually what they do with everything. Once they have a great product that most everybody likes, they discontinue it. It doesn't make sense to me. I agree with you about the trash and junk. Most everything is pretty much like that, now, it's not just washers and dryers.

The term "built to last" now means "built to last........maybe a year or 2" and then it's shot, time to junk it, and go buy another one.

The days of things lasting 25 to 50 years are long gone. I know how you feel.

 

[aldspinboy]

Kevin...
Congratulations on the GE it really looks nice under the hood there,
good to see you have got the leaks fixed.
You are lucky to have nice sunshine in that room. Enjoy !

I have seen this model around the corner from me in this little second hand shop.
Not sure if I am getting it... I would like to, If I do get the machine it will be the last for some time there is just no more room.
But for 100 bucks it's very tempting.
I have cat's it would be great.

Kevin, Martin, Tim, Group...
Look how the models change in the control panels,
very interesting for the water levels and temp and the cycles.

Here is the GE.

Darren k.

 

[aldspinboy]

Pic 2. Control 1.

 

[aldspinboy]

Pic 3. Control 2.

 

[aldspinboy]

Pic 4. Control 3.

 

[aldspinboy]

Pic 5. Basket.

 

[a440]

Yay!

Great Job!

I bet you are washing everything in sight!

Brent

 

[Unimatic1140]

Ohhh nice find Keven!  I LOVE the black and white speckled porcelain wash tub.  Congratulations, Filter-Flos are soooo much fun!

 

[a440]

<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Just curious.....</span>

<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Did the GE washers from the Filter Flo years ever make the outer tub smaller to save on water?</span>

<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">I love these washers, but I knew they were water hogs.  Just curious if they ever made the outer tube smaller.</span>

<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">I don't recall ever hearing this discussion.</span>

<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Brent</span>

 

[panthera]

Brent,

This one - which everyone places in the mid-80s, or next to last Filter-Flo, certainly leaves LOTS of space between the inner and outer tub.

I know that well-built spins with spray rinsing can replace nearly all or perhaps even all conventional rinsing in most cases.

Still, I'd rather use the extra water and have genuinely clean clothes.

Of course, I do wonder if the extra space didn't permit a faster spin? Easier to cope with out of balance loads, high suds levels, drag?

 

[macboy91si]

Tub Space

 

Keven:

That extra space between the tubs if for the inner tub to fly around. The suspension on these machines allows for the inner tub to move about like outer tub would in say a Maytag or Whirlpool. The outer tub in the GE has to be large enough to contain the swinging spin basket in off-balance loads. It's a waster of water, but I still love my GE's. I think it's what makes a GE a better rinsing machine, ie. so much extra water.

 

Brent:

GE never made any more drastic changes to this design. The outer could not be smaller or the inner tub would crash into it (more). The suspension on the machines is connected to the inner tub much like a solid-tub washer. It is a necessary waste for this design.

 

Mike:

Since about 1970 I believe there have been 2 sizes of the tubs, large and standard. GE swapped around with the names and by the 80's/90's what was the standard capacity machine was dubbed "Large Capacity" and the larger tub models were dubbed "Extra Large Capacity". I'm not sure what the cu. ft. measurements are on them, but they are the same as they had been. The larger tub is deeper than the smaller one.

 

About the age, I agree it could be newer, but I was only going by the pamphlet that came with my 86, and it shows Keven's very machine, however that's not to say that the 87-91's don't look the same. Keven can serial number it to find out for sure.

 

-Tim

 

[yogitunes]

I agree with Keven

I rather use more water and know my clothes are clean and rinsed well, for some water may be at a premium, but how much are you saving if you have to wash a load 2 or 3 times to get the same results....

I often believe the larger outter tub helps reduce the chance of sudslock and drag on the system......they say it can be done, and maybe I haven't reached that point yet, but I purposely double the detergent and add liquid dish soap just to make the suds pile up, and so far it spins without fail, and the rinse is clear....

Its almost a shame that we cant convert these machines with a solid tub, set the water level at minibasket, and once the outter tub reaches the mini level, the filter flo would replenish the overflo.......just like the originals of the late 50's.......just a thought....

another thing about these last of the filter flos........the tubs don't have as many holes as the older models, they would probably remove more water if they did

 

[macboy91si]

Tub Holes

Martin, the patterned fewer holes I was told was deliberate, they are placed at key water levels in order to promote scum and lint to flow into the outer-tub for recirculation.

 

It makes sense, but I'm not sure personally whether it works or not.

 

-Tim

 

[panthera]

Thanks, Tim

I didn't phrase my statement very well, that is what I meant - the extra space permits the inner tub to be slightly more unbalanced than a narrower tub would, thus, a higher spin speed without more investment in technological improvements.

And, let's face it, one of the reasons these machines work so very well is because they are primitive compared to Whirlpools or Maytags of the same era.

Not a complaint, mind you. I like simple and solid.

A few questions. It seems as though the timer always uses the same intervals, unlike Maytags I've worked with. Anybody know if all the steps are the same length?

The porcelain enamel is in good condition, but it sure has orange peel on the top like mad. Did GE really have such poor quality? We have the machine set up next to a Maytag from the 1970's and the difference is really obvious.

I love the size of the belt, the dimensions of the motor coils, the heat dissipating design of the starter coil - that is neat stuff!

Here's the tag:

 

[macboy91si]

Congrats Mike

Mike nailed this one, Keven your washer was made in August of 1990.

 

Keven: I also agree, I really like simple and basic, if a bit wasteful. It's one of the things that's making me fall in love with my recently acquired Geo Metro. I believe the timer increments are the same, and the porcelain tops are orange-peely, it's even contrast to the baked enamel top of the matching dryer. These machine are very simple to work on, I've repaired mine several times and converted it from a Hotpoint to a GE over along the way. Only one of my repairs was a necessary one and that's when the boot stiffened up and was causing the machine to vibrate. The old boot was like cement and not at all flexible, which I am told is a lesser heard of occurrence.

 

-Tim

 

[panthera]

Neat! Thanks!

Since I really don't like the styling of the very last of the Filter-Flos, I guess this is just about as good as it gets. Well, short of a turquoise or PANK Filter-Flo...

I am inexperienced regarding GE washers I did, however, work with rollermatics and in a European repair shop for years. Boots (obviously, in Europe they would have been front loaders) which stiffened up, were coupled with machines which showed evidence of having been used with laundry treatment such as the notorious dial eating "Shout" of a few years back. There are also so water qualities which can provoke problems.

This boot is, thank goodness, soft and pliable. I hope it lasts for many years, though, thanks to the help for y'all here, we were able to get it off and back on tight without too much trouble. A major advantage of that extra wide tub.

So is she still a Leo or must we now call her a Virgo?