GE Hydrowave!

[pulsator]

I'm expecting a Hydrowave of my own to be delivered tomorrow between 11 and 2! And FINALLY, there is a vid of one on youtube!!! SOOOO QUIET! A close friend of mine just bought one and DAMN it is quiet, thus why I just had to have one!!! I dare say it is quieter than a Unimatic!!!!

 

[jeffg]

Sounds similar to a Cabrio, except with knocking noises.

 

[frigilux]

That's great, Jamie! I've watched the video of one working at GE's website and I like the slower, long agitation stroke. If I were to replace the Frigidaire TLer, I'd probably opt for a Hydrowave, too. I never want a short/fast stroke machine again. I got tired of having buttons sewed back on my shirts. And I'm sure you'll post pictures, right?!

 

[tuthill]

Since we want to see a very fun, cool, and functional piece of modern engineering in operation were a bunch of weirdos?? Wow, there really ARE some weirdos out there!

Jamie, that's really cool you're getting a Hydrowave! I'm sure you'll love it and you better take a lot of pictures!

 

[johnb300m]

GE washer

Nice vid. In this day and age of crap appliances, I'd definitely get or urge my parents to get a Hydrowave. They look nice and simple, and finally a top loader of the 21st century that won't beat the balls out of your clothes.

I just inherited a bottom end GE washer in my new townhouse. And I gotta say, for a cheapo washer, it's pretty decent. Alot quieter than our parents 1982 Maytag washer. Yes, it does have an insanely fast and short stroke, what looks like 90 degrees or something!
When I've been doing shirts, I've only been using the "EasyCare" cycle with slow agitation and fast spin.

As far as that knocking noise? That's probably normal for GE. I think it's their crap top hung suspension. Mine really shakes around when washing on high speed. It's got these rubber bands that hold it in place when agitating from the torque. Real interesting. Kinda dumb, but it sure does the job. I was impressed.
I think I prefer GE machines over Whirlpool now....

Of course nothing will replace a Dependable Care Maytag....

 

[supersuds]

Will you have Andy moving it for you?

My sis has had a Hydrowave for, oh, 18 months or so, and with her having three kids, it has operated more or less continuously. No problems at all, is very quiet. I don't recall hearing a knocking sound, but there is always such a ruckus going on with the kids it could have been drowned out I guess.

Her only gripe is that drawstrings sometimes get caught in the gap between the agitator vanes and the bottom of the agitator.

 

[DADoES]

<blockquote></i>They look nice and simple, and finally a top loader of the 21st century that won't beat the balls out of your clothes.</i></blockquote>{sigh} I won't bother to again point out the manufacturer that has been agitating much like this since the late 1990s.

 

[brisnat81]

If the mechanism is like the Australian domestically made machines, it should last forever.

All locally made machines here have worked like that since the mid 1980's and most still have a life expectancy of 10 years.

The Dual action agitator hasnt caught on here though, its still always the straight vane.

 

[frigilux]

OK, Glenn, I'll carry the torch on this one: Yay! Rah! Fisher & Paykel! Yay! Rah! Fisher & Paykel!

I know what it's like to get no respect---you should try owning a houseful of latter-day Frigidiare appliances. Nothing but smackdowns all the day long, LOL.

I may become an LG man, though. A steam washer pair on platforms at the appliance store keeps hitting on me every time I go in. Oh, and that French-door refrigerator with a control panel on the front, too.

But first...I need to rob a bank.

 

[estesguy]

Overloaded

I have had one of the Hydrowave washers for about a year now with no problems. Mine does not make any clicking/knocking at all during the wash cycle. IMHO this guy has overloaded the machine, I don't care what he says. That was my first impression when the video started, was that there were clothes clear up above the top of the tub line. When mine is in action all clothes move around the tub just fine. It reminds me of one of those battery powered baby swings, it is very quiet. The drain pump is the same one GE has used for years, and is not so quiet, lol. The spin cycle is 650 RPM, and can get somewhat noisy with a rather noticible " whooo" sound to it. The motor reverses back and forth electronically from a circuitboard mounted on top of the motor and protected by a drip shield. The notorius braking system that failed in so many older GE's is gone too. The machine just coasts to a stop, unless you lift the lid sooner, then it brakes electronically by reversing the motor.

 

[gizmo]

Anyone got a link to a diagram that shows its innards?

That knocking sounds like a solenoid operated brake, just like you find on any Japanese or Aussie machine from the 1980s, except F&P. The brake holds the tub still during agitation, you hear a slight knock as the tub tries to turn with each turn of the agitator. There is a little clearance between the brake arm and brake band, they tap together at each stroke.
I'd be interested to see if the "new" GE works the same way.

Chris.

 

[askomiele]

650 rpm? that's it? Come one, thought they would ramp up the spin speed to at least 1000 rpm. What a shame! Seems to me, good machine, simple design, nice reviews...

 

[estesguy]

You get what you pay for

The spin speed is 650-700 on these machines. If you want more, you have to buy the Harmony series washers, which go to 1010 spin speed. These Hydrowave washers are considered mid-line washers that can be purchased for around 375-500 depending on the model and discount the store is willing to offer you. There are 2 wires coming from the base center area of the machine, that I am pretty sure operate some kind of solenoid that works to allow the tub to remain stationary during the wash, or locks it so that it spins during spin cycle. There is NO transmission in these machines. If anyone trys to tell you otherwise, they are wrong. The center shaft goes from the belt driven pulley, straight up to the agitator. If the electronics of this machine hold up, I would think it would be a very reliable machine.

 

[johndaytonausa]

Hi, I also own a GE Hydrowave washer. I bought mine from Sams Club last April. So far it has been one of the best washing machines I've ever had! It is VERY QUIET and does a great job washing. It had taken out some stains that my Duet Sport couldn't. I think for the price these machines can't be beat. I hope they prove to be reliable.

I wish Jamie good luck with his new Hydrowave!

 

[vintagesearch]

WOW!!!

what a far cry from what they used to be like!!! our GE that we bought in 2002 was a major POS granted it cleaned very well had a great capacity it was loud as hell! we trashed it it developed a huge leak, the brake wore out, and eventually wouldn't drain! i wish you all the bes!t they seem to be made much better. and so quiet! slower wash action, how interesting. best of luck and laundry times!

 

[funguy10]

It's almost 8:00 in the evening. Why haven't you posted pics and stuff yet? Or are you currently working on it?

 

[pulsator]

Photos!

Well, after a very long day filled with many many loads of wash, the Hydrowave is finally resting, and I'm finally sitting down and checking the computer for the first time today!

Funguy, seriously, don't nag me for picures, it's getting old FAST.

Here she is gleaming next to the Miele set!

 

[pulsator]

The Timer

I've noticed that the only difference between the normal and delicate speeds is not actually the speed, but rather the arc length! Normal speed has a 360 degree arc length, delicate appears to have a 180 degree arc length!

 

[pulsator]

Water level and temperature

When I was about 8, my parents got divorced and dad got an apartment which had one of the early plastic tub GEs, the water levels were extra small/medium/extra large. I used to always wonder why the hell they didn't just put extra medium instead of just medium! Now it seems medium no longer exists...

I like the Cool/Cold option, I hate using cold water in the winter because it's so cold that nothing dissolves! (Besides, I do not allow liquid detergents anywhere NEAR my machines!)