Hey everybody. I noticed that GE seems to be the only manufacturer to have a normal agitation start delay on 2-speed models. Is this true? As far as I can tell, no other machine does this, not even their later models that came after their filter-flo.
GE start of normal agitation delay
- Thread starter gelaundry4ever
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GE FF agitation delay.
This is because of the clutch they used to produce the speeds instead of a 2-speed motor. It was normal operation for these machines.
WK78
This is because of the clutch they used to produce the speeds instead of a 2-speed motor. It was normal operation for these machines.
WK78
to wk78
I remember that, because I had one. It was very interesting. This led me to believe that this was a GE exclusive.
I remember that, because I had one. It was very interesting. This led me to believe that this was a GE exclusive.
Jerome, this has been discussed. GE did that so they could claim that the Filter Flo design maintained full volume of water flow at all times ... for filtering recirculation during slower agitation speeds vs. high agitation speed, and for draining at lower spin speeds. The clutch added mechanical complexity.
GE washers with mechanical two speed clutch
Has Glenn mentioned and reply three GE thought they were engineering a great idea but everybody else was able to make top loading washers work with a nice simple two speed motor, there was absolutely no advantage to the agitation starting out slowly that was just a flaw in the design of the clutch that it couldn’t start agitating at high-speed immediately.
It would’ve been much better to use A two speed motor even machines like Frigidaires one to 18 actually would pump out on the low speed of the motor to reduce the amount of lint and scum being deposited in the clothing as a struggle to pump out the water getting up to spin speed.
A properly designed water pump would’ve allowed plenty of water flow for the lint filter when the machine was on low speed agitation, and it would’ve been much simpler and more reliable.
The three biggest flaws of GE filter flow washers was the awful two speed clutch, the fact that they filled the entire outer tub water, wasting a ton of water and detergent, and the lousy suspension system that didn’t contain vibration very well.
For these reasons, GE filter flows were really never a top-notch washing machine. John.
Has Glenn mentioned and reply three GE thought they were engineering a great idea but everybody else was able to make top loading washers work with a nice simple two speed motor, there was absolutely no advantage to the agitation starting out slowly that was just a flaw in the design of the clutch that it couldn’t start agitating at high-speed immediately.
It would’ve been much better to use A two speed motor even machines like Frigidaires one to 18 actually would pump out on the low speed of the motor to reduce the amount of lint and scum being deposited in the clothing as a struggle to pump out the water getting up to spin speed.
A properly designed water pump would’ve allowed plenty of water flow for the lint filter when the machine was on low speed agitation, and it would’ve been much simpler and more reliable.
The three biggest flaws of GE filter flow washers was the awful two speed clutch, the fact that they filled the entire outer tub water, wasting a ton of water and detergent, and the lousy suspension system that didn’t contain vibration very well.
For these reasons, GE filter flows were really never a top-notch washing machine. John.
Not to mention, the two quarts of oil that would spill on the floor when the brake mechanism punched a hold in the transmission or the aluminum top would corrode causing the oil to mix in creating a disastrously BIG mess. Also would destroy whatever was being washed at that time the particular failure happened. While Maytags ain’t perfect, they had far fewer issues since Maytag had a design that more than proved itself, GE also had the same mindset as GM: good idea, good layout, terribly executed.
GE!
I will never forget the smell of the GE gear oil smell while it was operating, particularly on the agitate and spin cycles. I will say that I really enjoyed it because of the cleaning power and the noises they made. My mom put a dirty jacket in that minibasket on normal speed and it sounded like the washer went off balance while the downy ball was floating in there when in reality, it was agitating on the normal speed.
Another thing I liked was the sound of the spin cycle when the cabinet was thundering and the suspension was clicking especially with a full load of denims and cottons. That ramp activator can't be beat!
I will never forget the smell of the GE gear oil smell while it was operating, particularly on the agitate and spin cycles. I will say that I really enjoyed it because of the cleaning power and the noises they made. My mom put a dirty jacket in that minibasket on normal speed and it sounded like the washer went off balance while the downy ball was floating in there when in reality, it was agitating on the normal speed.
Another thing I liked was the sound of the spin cycle when the cabinet was thundering and the suspension was clicking especially with a full load of denims and cottons. That ramp activator can't be beat!
Learned Something New
And here I thought the slower agitation delay was to keep the detergent from flying out of the lint filter before it dissolved (if one chose to dispense the detergent that way). Thank you everyone for enlightening me!
And here I thought the slower agitation delay was to keep the detergent from flying out of the lint filter before it dissolved (if one chose to dispense the detergent that way). Thank you everyone for enlightening me!
I think it may be possible to grease or oil those springs, but probably is a pain since GE never used the greatest of designs in their washers. With a Maytag or Whirlpool belt drive, fairly easy to do those tasks since Maytag and Whirlpool used more common sense in their designs, probably is why GE began to be less and less popular in the 80’s and 90’s, didn’t help that Jack Welch was the CEO of GE at this time, either. GE should have fired that crook since he basically ran the company into the ground just to benefit himself, no one would else.
When I was a kid...
When I was a kid, I would immitate the click sound of the shifting into normal agitation. I would say, "glat". That washer would clean anything. I also thought the washer sounded like somebody just straight-up banging on the piano.like CRAZY!!!!
When I was a kid, I would immitate the click sound of the shifting into normal agitation. I would say, "glat". That washer would clean anything. I also thought the washer sounded like somebody just straight-up banging on the piano.like CRAZY!!!!
Clutch shift
This 1970 GE got its clutch rebuilt. It was pretty much frozen. It has a nice lengthy slow agitation before shifting and I love that. During the spin, if you listen closely, you’ll hear it shift then as well.
This 1970 GE got its clutch rebuilt. It was pretty much frozen. It has a nice lengthy slow agitation before shifting and I love that. During the spin, if you listen closely, you’ll hear it shift then as well.
