GE Spacemaker .. thoughts?

[PhotonPanda]

Hello all, I happen to have access to one of these today. It's a compact washer model GSLP1100A0WW (Canadian version of WSLP1100A0WW ?). I have questions and some random thoughts.

It sits unused today, but was told that while it was in use, it would sometimes stop and dump water. You would then have to start over again. Does anyone have any idea why? Is it a common occurrence? I was also told that moving the drain hose would sometimes affect this behavior.

Aside from that, it looks to be a neat little washer. What do you guys have to say about it? Good or bad. I have not personally seen the washer in action.

Having seen the suspension for the tub, I now understand the videos of similarly constructed washers - why I see the tub moving around so much when it agitates. It's suspended by the four corners of the machine with lots of freedom. I'm used to my '75 Maytag which pivots at the centre bottom of the machine.

I also have to say that the transmission is *tiny* on this thing. At least compared to my Maytag. What are the average sizes of transmissions on new-ish models? I'm only familiar with the two I've now seen - the old Maytag and the compact GE. Do the compacts last nearly as long?

 

[gefilterflo]

I believe that this is a Whirlpool World Washer that's built like a Brastemp. Someone may need to correct me on this, but I think that one internally is the same as Whirlpool and Kenmore portables made since the mid '90s.

 

[PhotonPanda]

I also have pics with the back panel off. I'll link them up if anyone wants to see. They're not particularly good pictures, just a quick reference for myself. I realized I forgot to take pics of the tub and agitator! Oops.

Perhaps I can get my hands on it later, hook it up and give it a spin, but for now the pics are all I have.

I just looked up a brastemp on youtube.. Different lid and filter arrangement but seems to be very similar otherwise. The unit I saw had two "magic filters" mounted on the inside of the tub. It was not a smooth tub but had some "ribs" of sorts too. Very different sounds than what I'm used to.

It's a neat machine. I can't wait to try it out. It'll be better on power and water for medium and small loads than my Maytag so I do want to get my hands on it.

 

[mrb627]

Spacemaker

I came close to pulling the trigger on one of these machines back when Best Buy had them on the sales floor here. I figured I could get my TL washer fi from a portable rather than having to use a garden hose to a machine in the garage. Never could locate any information about these on youTube. At the time, a salesman at BB told me these were made by LG for GE. Don't know if that was true or not.

I anxiously await a video or two of this machine in action.

Malcolm

 

[PhotonPanda]

The serial number seems to only indicate that it was made in January 2004.

If anyone's curious, here's some label info:
Camco Inc. Hamilton, ONT. L8N 3Y5
Model FSLP1100A0WW
Clothes Waser
DC68-00510B
Made in Thailand

Here's what yahoo has to say about camco

"Camco wants to bring the hum of automated house chores to your home. The company manufactures home appliances (dishwashers, washers and dryers, microwave ovens, ranges, refrigerators, and wall ovens) under brands such as GE, Hotpoint, Moffat, McClary, Monogram, and Samsung. The company also makes private-label products for Canadian department stores. With manufacturing operations in Montreal, Camco sells its products throughout Canada as well as the US. It also operates a growing service business that offers in-home appliance repair. Camco was founded in 1977; in 2005 Mexican appliance maker Controladora Mabe purchased Camco."

Here's the back of the machine, with the tub exposed.

 

[PhotonPanda]

Here's part of the drive assembly. The motor is just hidden from view at the front of the machine.

 

[PhotonPanda]

Finally, here's the drain pump, with clean-out access at the corner of the machine.

 

[whirlcool]

I never knew that the GE Spacemaker series included a washer. I only thought they were only counter top appliances that you hung under the cabinets!

 

[supremewhirlpol]

I've had one of these. Its wash action is similar to the World washer. It has a nice shiny clothes basket. The lid can be folded and separated. It has a lint filter on the side of the clothes basket. It has solid state controls, no transmission. It does sense the load and adds water accordingly. The one I had was pretty beat-up. The people who had it before me basically tore it up->broke the bottom vanes of the agitator, stuck garbage in the lever mechanism to engage the clothes basket, put stuff in the pump too. These people also had roaches, to which they ate the insulation off the wires going to the control module, since it was sealed with epoxy. While it was working, it worked ok, machine action was not very eventful, compared to a FL machine. It also plays a little tune when it finishes the cycle. It was a very cute machine, but sadly I had to junk it->it was in that bad of condition. I remember them being popular in appliance rental stores ~2002-2004. The matching dryer is a whirlpool-built dryer->Just says GE instead of Whirlpool on it.

 

[macboy91si]

GE Portable Dryer

Hey Melvin, the dryer is actually a GE product, still made today. It's been around and virtually unchanged since the early 90's. I don't think GE ever sourced the dryers out, just the washers. The original portable was a Hitachi and then WCI made agitator based portables. They also made a GE version of the WP World Washer portable and it may have used a GE branded WP dryer, but the true GE version has existed since the mid 70's. Oh the confusion of the portables. I don't know who actually makes this machine however, it seems very LG like, not so much as the world washer though.

-Tim

 

[PhotonPanda]

It's load sensing even with a "Load Size" selector? Yes, the tub is nice and shiny, with a straight vain agitator. I would like to argue that solid state controls doesn't mean there are no mechanics (but you can make them simpler), and a parts diagram for this machine lists a transmission. I'm guessing it's a simpler part than in older machines though.

I wonder if it could fit my comforter and wash it easily. Seems it might be a bit small, and my dryer had a tough time drying it. I had to make adjustments and dry a second time.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Tim,
Yes, I know that Hitachi and WCI made some models for GE over time, however, the dryer that I remember going with the machine above is a Whirlpool made dryer. Now there could have been another model dryer, but is it was not sold in my area.

Photonpanda,
I say it is load sensing because the first few minutes that the machine agitates, it will add water as needed.
I did not say because the machine has SS controls that there are no mechanics. The machine is BD, but no actual gearcase->gearcase=transmission. In this case there is a shifter, but no transmission. If you say there is a transmission, the internet must work by osmosis!!

Would you consider the a modern TL GE Profile that is driven by inverter motor to have a transmission?

 

[macboy91si]

GE Dryer

I think there was one sold under the GE logo to mate with the world washer with the GE and that one IS a WP (fixed bulk head drum). But the link below is the GE version and it's been unchanged for around 20 years. Makes me wonder why they did that? The real difference is that in the GE model, the entire drum rotates as in their full-size units. The neat thing about this dryer is that it can be turned upside-down and used in a stack configuration.

GE Appliances: Shop for Home, Kitchen, & Laundry Appliances

GE Appliances is your home for the best kitchen appliances, home products, parts and accessories, and support.

products.geappliances.com

 

[mrb627]

Another Set

Here is a set on CL right now. It clearly has a Whirlpool made dryer with it. Unsure of whether it is actually branded GE or not.

Malcolm

View attachment mrb627++11-8-2010-13-35-12.jpg

 

[PhotonPanda]

supremewhirlpol,
Fair enough. I did say they were pretty crappy pics, and I was going by the parts list that showed a "transmission" whatever it may actually be. I wasn't about to disassemble the machine there to find out how it worked, since it isn't mine! Back panel was enough.

I'm not very familiar with the modern machines, though I've seen some pics/vids of some DD mechanics. I guess this machine is built more similar to a DD but is a BD due to space or mounting issues.

 

[PhotonPanda]

The washer is now in my possession!

First look inside, since I didn't get a pic last time around.

 

[PhotonPanda]

The lid is a mix of magnetic switch and normal switch. The magnet is used for all the cycles. The other switch is for spin. Both are easily bypassed.

I noticed that with a "medium" load fill with a blanket, the tub sits at least 1.5" lower than at empty. I wonder if this is normal or whether the suspension is more worn than usual.

And a pic of cold water rinse fill.

 

[mrb627]

Wash Action

I would love to see a video of this machine in action.

Malcolm

 

[brisnat81]

A lot of these machines in AU do have a gearbox, but it is to reduce the agitator speed (Reduction Gear) and to provide a spin brake rather than provide agitation. The motor does the backwards and forwards.