GE Front loader help needed

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58limited

58limited

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 27, 2006
Messages
2,209
Location
Port Arthur, Texas
I bought a new GE model WCVH6260FWW front load washer in early 2005. It has given me no troubles whatsoever, even after having salt spray all over it during Hurricane Ike in 2008 (it was in the garage near an open door, it is now inside the house).

Now, when it spins, it sounds like it is banging against the left side - hard. I ran an empty load and it is louder and vibrates more on spin than it used to (I've run empty loads before). The drum itself seems a little loose when I move it by hand. Is there a stabilizer that could be broken? Could the drum be loose from its mounting? I know nothing about front load washers, I've only worked on top loaders, and that was years ago.
 
little swan

must be a "little swan"built washer.By description,sounds like a broken or corroded
away spider the likely problem-bad bearings should roar or rumble.Wonder what
getting parts for GE imports is like...
 
I'll call the appliance repairman today and see what this is going to take. My bosses' son owns an HVAC company that also works on appliances, maybe I'll get a little discount. I posted here first so that I would be at least a little informed when I make the call.
 
Looked it up at work.

I looked up your machine at work (I work for Cincinnati Appliance Parts) and it looks as if you'd need a new rear half of the outer tub and a new inner drum. I could not find the spider or bearings listed as seperate parts. I think this is like the machine my mother bought around the same time you got yours. The thoughts on that design of washer here at the store are "mostly junk." Based on using my mother's washer, I'd have to agree with my coworkers.

The type of washer we reccommend to our customers who are replacing an older machine is a Speed Queen. They are durable, good performers, and the parts (when needed) are available at reasonable prices. Servicing procedures aren't too complicated either.

Let me know what part numbers you may want and I'd be glad to see what they cost for you. Shipping, however, on something that big may be cost prohibitave.

Good luck,
Dave
 
Thanks, Dave.

I really don't know how to work on these units, but when I figure out how to get the front panel off, I can probably fix it myself. My appliance guy hasn't returned my call yet. I would be interested in the cost of the parts, it will help me to decide whether to repair it or get a new one. Shipping might be prohibitive, but might still be cheaper than paying for a service call.
 
Sounds like

the same thing that happened to my next door neighbors Kenmore branded Frigidaire. The Sears repair guy quoted her $775 for a new outer tub and all the parts labor needed. Naturally, she was flabergasted and went out and bought a new Kenmore that went 1 month and the electronics fried. Sears replaced it with another new one and so far she says it is ok.
 
After looking at some diagrams, I'm not sure I want to take the time to work on this myself. When I hear back from my repairman, I'll decide if I'm even going to spend the money. I started looking at new front loaders at Conn's and will hit the box stores this weekend. Speed Queens, while an attractive choice, are not sold in my area and I'm a little hesitant with their 2.84 cu. ft. capacity - I prefer larger. Plus, I've read here on the forum that they tend to vibrate a lot during the spin cycle. My house is on a chainwall foundation and has wood floors. Also, I will need to finance this purchase so I can't pay cash outright.

Now, if I buy a new washer, I need to decide if I want to keep the 7 year old GE dryer and hope it doesn't go out soon, or go ahead and buy a new matching set.
 
One daughter in law works at our Lowes and they really sale the Electrolux more than the other brands then the Whirlpool/Maytags..  Hoime Depot sells lots of the Maytags.  We have a local store that has good prices too they will meet or beat the big box but it is cash no charge.  Lots of time you can get gredit and no interest if paid in 12 months,  I did that when we got my mother new washer.  She wanted a top load (she is 92) so got her the FP ecosmart with the full agitator.  We ahve the Kenore FL made by Frigidaire.  The one thing we realy like is ithe drum is straight not tilted.

 
 
Kenmore FL by Frigidaire owned by White and name leased to China. Eyeroll. Brand identities mean absolutely nothing these days.

I have a Fr'daire (98) by White, fortunately from a European design which is why it still works. I dodged a bullet. A few years later they were Chinese. The exact same product sold under GE and one other brand.

If your 7yo dryer works fine, keep it. Who cares if it "matches"? What's important is that it WORKS. A new "matching" one might not last 7 months. Or even 7 WEEKS.

Gawd, I've become so cynical. But I grew up in the era of generational (20yr) appliances and there just ain't no such thing anymore.
 
My repairman said about $700-900 minimum to fix, so washer shopping I go. Two places, one 40 miles away and one 50 miles away, can order an SQ front loader w/ pedestal for me. Total with taxes will be about $1840 which is about the same price as A.J. Madisons who will deliver for free. I'm also looking at some other options. I've read a bunch about Maytags, Frigidaires, Whirlpools, LGs and Samsungs. So far, the choice for me is SQ or LG, maybe a Samsung. I'm leaning towards SQ for the reasons given on other posts. One retailer has Electroluxes - any opinions about them?

I didn't take any vacation last year so the boss told me today that I can cash it in. I will thus be able to pay cash for whatever I decide to get.
 
Basically what Dave said above: Need to replace the rear outer tub half. It is possible the front half is damaged too. That is about $600 or so in parts plus labor. I can't justify fixing it when I can get a new washer for about $1000, or bite the bullet and get a Speed Queen with pedestal for ~$1840. Since members here say SQ washers are designed to last about 25,000 cycles verses about 3,000 - 5,000 cycles for most other brands, I think I will go with SQ - I may never need to buy another washer again. Now that my laundry is inside the house, hopefully no salt spray exposure will occur to shorten its lifespan. If it does, that means I've probably lost the entire house.

Before I make a final decision, I'm going to look at SQ top load machines too - the one comment I keep hearing about the FL is vibration. As I said above, I have a chainwall foundation with wood floors so that might be an issue.
 
rear tub outer half...

that was what was said about "frigilux"front load washers too-have to replace the
rear tub half if bearings bad...found that to not be totally true on the frigilux
machines;fixed up a "bad bearings"'98 frigilux with only a new seal and bearings
-did take a few tricks though as there was a plastic ring to help retain the seal
that was "hot staked"in place-had to break the ring free and reattatch with some
S.S. screws going back together. 6306 and 6307 size bearings were used in the
frigilux-plenty stout;they were damaged by water getting past a worn seal.
For a new machine,SQ probably the best bet :)
 
Before I spend the $$ on a new Speed Queen, I decided to go ahead and take the top and front off of the machine. The repairman, who didn't charge me since I work for his bosses' father (therefore he didn't completely disassemble everything since it was a no-charge visit) took the top off and moved the inner drum around to diagnose. He was mainly drawing on his 20+ years experience and gave me his opinion, which is really all I was asking: Do you think this is worth spending money on, or should I buy a new washer?

After I took the front off of the machine, I took a video and posted to youtube, I would appreciate any comments any one can give:

 
bearings

myself,i'd dig in further to see if the shaft,tub bearing housings,or spider are
damaged,parts cost/avalibility and evaluate from there..I am very used to working
on all kinds of machines though and have a lot of special tools,ETC.
If you would have to "farm out"the repair work,i'd say time for a new washer...
 
I'm thinking that to tear into this more I might need help. But since it is most likely garbage, I might just keep going and see what happens. If I have the mind set that the washer is going to the curb anyway, what is there to lose?
 
OK, tore into it all the way and found the problem: the shaft connects to the back of the inner drum via a thick aluminum trigon bracket. This had corroded and broken:

58limited++2-19-2012-14-10-37.jpg
 
Looking at the GE parts website, you cannot just buy the shaft and trigon bracket. You have to buy the entire basket (inner drum) assembly which is $536.00 plus S&H. That plus the front outer drum half makes this not worth repairing. I can buy a new machine for a little more than the cost of these parts, or go for the SQ and hopefully not deal with this again in my lifetime - I doubt I will ever come remotely close to doing 25,000 loads of laundry:)
 
corroded spider

the trigon bracket is known as the "spider"-with that only avalible as a complete
drum for $536(!)+ the shipping cost of a bulky item,that washer is way,way NWR...
A couple years back,a local appliance store was closing out some older style
frigidaire front loads(mid-'90s era basic design)and they wanted $349 for those-
a great deal,they sold out fast.when i did the bearing repair on the '98 frigilux
it's spider showed just minimal surface corrosion and it was a high usage machine
-original drain pump just about shot,noisy as hell.
 
GE Parts

Get your GE parts here. HeHe.

Lots of good parts, but probably the ones that never fail, so I doubt there is a market for them. If anyone needs anything though, let me know.

I didn't know what the "spider" was, thanks for enlightening me. It wasn't even shown on the parts diagram.

Heading to my office to wash my work clothes for the coming week.[this post was last edited: 2/19/2012-19:45]
 
7yrs not too bad for chinese import

was thinking 7 yrs really not too bad of a lifetime for a late model asian import
washer-may have made the 10 yr mark if spider had not corroded and broke...
Last year there was a thread about a repair on an LG direct drive and it's spider,
though still intact,was really nasty!
 
Now that's some "Imagination at work".  Go GE,  its very disappointing when you pay several hundred dollars for something thats so poorly made.  alr
 
I averaged about 2-3 loads per week which came to about 1100 loads total for this machine. Despite my earlier comments about salt spray during the hurricane, there was no corrosion inside the cabinet. The electronics looked new and all of the screws and bolts were clean. The only rust was along the top edge were the top mounts to the cabinet and at the very bottom where the bottom cover under the door mounts to the cabinet.

I was thinking that simply powder coating the spider would probably solve the corrosion problems.
 

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