GE Top Loaders - Any Improvement?

[frontloadfan]

This Sunday I will be taking delivery of my third washing machine since I purchased my house in 1996. The new machine is a Maytag Neptune (samsung) and, of course I am very excited about it. My outgoing machine is a Frigidaire front loader and I think it was a great little machine until the bearing started to go out. If it hadn't been for the "little" size, I would have tried to have it repaired.

Any case, the subject of this post is the first machine I purchased in 1996. We went to Circuit City (they still carried appliances back then) and GE was the one company offering free financing, so we went for the top-of-the-line GE top loader. It had a plastic drum (should have been a good warning sign). It last for less that two years and then it started smoking really bad. I figured it would just be a case of replacing a belt. Service came out and told me that the machine had been leaking, probably every since I had it and all of the inside was ruined. It would cost $300 to repair and it would still be a piece of junk. I later talked to GE repairman and he said the problem was common and that it had to do with an outsourcer replacing a seal with an inferior model without telling GE.

It sure left me sour on GE. This was not isolated either as I my mother and sister all had similar experiences with GE washers purchased about the same time. I was wondering if GE ever went ahead and improved their top loaders?

 

[westytoploader]

We also had a new-design 1996 GE...ours was MOL and worked fine for two years until we moved. The tub started indexing during agitation, and it would shift in and out of spin during the neutral drain phase. It had that weird "band system" for supporting the tub assembly, causing the whole thing to shake back & forth during agitation. I almost thought the machine was getting ready to just fall apart.

Hopefully they have improved on the mechanics (especially the sh*tty suspension), but when I saw one with a clear front panel at Nebraska Furniture Mart during the Convention and fired it up on spin, I highly doubt it.

--Austin

 

[parunner58]

Your problem with the 96' GE washers was experienced by us also. We had ours for two months and it would not spin. GE had to replace the motor. After two years GE had to replace all the rubber tub mounts. Last year the pump died, we replaced the machine with a Frigidaire FL.

It is a sad story considering my mom had a GE Dispensal they got in 1973 that lasted over 15 years doing laundry for a family of 7 and our first MOL GE lasted from 84 until 96.

Good luck on your new purchase. We almost bought a Neptune but we know over 7 disatisfied Neptune owners and the talked us out of it and we could not afford to go with a true European brand like Miele or Asko and did not want to buy from a big box store to get the WP.

 

[golittlesport]

According to the readers of Consumer Reports, GE top-loaders have improved. For years GE was one of the most trouble prone machines from the results of the readers surveys. But both GE and Frigidaire machines have greatly improved their frequency of repair rates...with Whirlpool/Kenmore machines at 10% repair rate as a base, GE scored 11% and Frigidaire 8%. They obviously ironed out the "wrinkles" of the newer design after the filter flo. I don't think any top loader is "heavy duty" these days.

 

[tolivac]

A good friend of mine bought a GE washer when he moved into his home in Richmond,Va at the time.He bought it around 97 I beleive.That machine lasted him only 2 years before it blew!!-and I mean blew-I went to his house after the catastrophie and his laundry room floor was covered in water and plastic washer guts.It looked like what was a plastic transmission blew up and broke the plastic outer tank.We took the poor dead GE to the dump-he then got a new TOL DD Kenmore to replace the GE.As far as I know he is still using the KN.Both of us wanted to see the GE carcuss crushed at the dump-(probably by the bulldozer)Didn't have time to wait since he was working at the radio stations there as an engineer-Was helping him fix some of the station problems-the washer problem got in our way.also the GE washer had a "copy" of a KN DA agitator.

 

[peterh770]

GE is trying really hard to recapture market share in the coin-op world. They have made a number of improvements and the reliability surveys are showing that its working. Despite all the plastic, taking a second look at them may be worth it.

 

[frontloadfan]

See Press Release Under the GE FL Thread

I found a press release about the new GE FL that is being released later this year. Amazing: according the press release, GE was rated #1 by consumers who purchased washing machines since 2001. This really amazes me. However, has GE made a Front Loader since 2001?

The new FL sounds like a great value. Only $799 for 3.7 cub feet, with internal heater and sanitary function. Hope it turns out to be a good machine. If so, it could start a trend to lower pricing for the premimum front load machines. If it turns out to be reliable, how can Maytag/Whirlpool/Kenmore charge $1,100 and up for machines that are only .1 cub feet larger?

 

[toggleswitch]

IMHO the first three or four years of any first-run production is Sugar Honey Iced-Tea.

 

[agiflow]

I took my chances in 2003 with a Kenmore TL machine and the thing chugs along great. This was based on a previous Whirlpool DD that went for 15 yrs. without a single problem.

I would say from experience if you want a TL washer to go for the WP/KM machines. The DD has a very good proven track record.
Just make sure it has 3 speeds.

Speed Queen sounds like a real alternative for TL washers though.

 

[tolivac]

I think I would vote for the SQ machines-in the meantime I will stick to WP-KN "classics" The swap shops here still get'em.If I had lots of space--would "stock up"If I buy new-would be the SQ TL.It best duplicates the action of the WP-KN BD classics.

 

[agiflow]

It's nice to see the classic surgilator live on in speed queen..even though it is a 4 vane agi....it has proven to be a very effective agitator.

 

[hummer]

GE Filter Flo

I've had 4 GE Filter-Flos since 1972. The first 2 GEFFs lasted over 10 years each. Both could have been repaired and lasted longer, but I wanted a different color. Wish I'd held on to one of them. The 3rd GEFF washer, purchased about the mid 90s or so, lasted barely 2 years and was a nightmare. After reading the posts here, I suspect it was an infamous plastic parts ones. It went to pieces with water and oil everywhere. Unfortunately, the GE repairman was not as forthcoming as some of you had and I thought it was just a lemon. When bought another washer (the 4th), we were told GE did not manufacture the FFs any longer, but that the new GEs would remove hair and lint just as well or better, so we bought it. That was a crock and I sent it back. The 5th washer, from Sears - late 90s, didn't remove lint and hairs either. I asked my husband for a used FF for that Christmas. He thought I was nuts, but got one. It will be repaired until I drop dead unless I can find a washer that really removes hair and lint as well as the FFs. All of you seem to be very well-informed about washers, past, present and future, so some questions: 1) is there a washer on the market now that removes lint and hair well; 2) if I decide to stick with the old FFs, what was the best performance year(s) for them; 3) what are the best features to watch for (stainless tubs, etc.); 4) which years had the choice of hot wash/hot rinse, hopefully falling within the best performance years; and, 5) which years did not dumb down the hot water wash option and add cold water. Thanks to anyone who is kind enough to take the time to answer.

 

[angus]

I had the same problem - the FF I bought in 1994 lasted no more than 3 years. Between the repeated transmission replacements and the cabinet rust which seemed to take over the machine, it was a nightmare. GE replaced it with their "latest innovation", the plastic GE. THAT went out the door in 18 months.

I too have been looking for a used FF. In fact there is a GE dealer not far from me who once told me he salvages older FF's for friends that insist on using nothing else. Since I originally spoke to him, though, his tone has changed. He is quite cantankerous by nature so now he tells me that he can't really do that since he can't warranty against outer tub rust, etc.... I begged, insisted that I would worry about rust later, but to no avail....

In my opinion, the years to look for are the 80's. Those years seemed to produce the most indestructable models. I guess the late 70's are fine also. I don't think you will find the hot wash/hot rinse option at all, but you probably will find the hot wash/warm rinse on some of the models closer to the top of the line. On some, it will be a wash/rinse combination selection and on others you can select the individual wash/rinse temps with a toggle switch.

I am certain that no FF was ever made with a stainless steel wash tub though... The last one I had was the Profile top of the line model and that had the procelain tub.

And don't forget - - you of course will want the mini basket. I have had four washers since my last FF and that is the one thing I miss more than anything. It was great for socks and the one off fugitives like the navy or black knit shirt that simply couldn't be washed with anything else.

I am so envious - my best friend's sister recently moved into a house previously owned by an older bachelor. And what was in the basement? A mint condition mid 1970's GE Dispensall with all working parts. She is thrilled and has already said she will never part with that machine..... I offered to switch my year old Whirlpool clothes shredder plus add a cash incentive, but she flatly refused. I can't imagine why..........

 

[knitwits1975]

It's interesting that you should mention all this about the GE washers. I distinctly remember the fall of 1995 (when their washers were redesigned) watching the commercials for these machines. Who doesn't remember the pyramid of wine goblets stacked on top of the GE profile machine and the spokeswoman saying "If a car can do this, why not a washing machine?" What about those posters of the semi trucks parked on the spin baskets, (one under each wheel). Was this advertising just bulls**t? Maybe the basket is the strongest part, and everything else is crap. I guess what I am asking is, have GE appliances really gone that much to pot. General Electric makes a myriad of other products. Everything from light bulbs to MRI scanners to Jet engines. And they used to make decent appliances. GE is a company with too much to lose. I hope they rethink their habits for making products. I'll bet we would all really appreciate some craftsmanship for a much needed change.

 

[frigilux]

The quality control for GE toploaders must have improved since the mid-90's. My sister and another friend of mine both purchased MOL GE's a couple of years ago, and they're both doing well and washing a lot of clothes. One of the machines services 2 apartments. So far there have been no service calls, nor horror stories involving plastic explosions, leaking tranny fluid or smoke.

Of course, the real test is to see how they do over the long haul...

 

[thirtyater]

I must have been really lucky!

I bought mom one of those first redesign profile GE's that is about 10 years old. They use it daily and the only repair it has had (knock on wood) is I replaced one of those rubber tub straps. I love the plastic tub as it won't rust. I think you could stack crystal on it as smooth as it runs. Mom had 2 GE FF's the first a 1959. They were great machines. I will say that it does not filter as well as the FF. The only other machine she had was a 70's Frigidaire Gold Crown Rollermatic. It was a nightmare. It was repaired numerous times before being declared unrepairable by the dealer at the age if 7.

 

[Cybrvanr]

Hey Tolivac? Your friend work for Clearchannel. Richmond's where I live, and I know several friends that work at the Clearchannel radio studios

 

[peterh770]

Hummer,

1) is there a washer on the market now that removes lint and hair well;
No. The best you can do is a front loader that doesn't produce lint with "thrashing blades" of an agitator and a good, roomy dryer.

2) if I decide to stick with the old FFs, what was the best performance year(s) for them;
Since the design of the FF hasn't changed in many years, there really isn't a good or bad model year run.

3) what are the best features to watch for (stainless tubs, etc.);
In a new washer or in the FF's? Find a washer with the features that you want and need.

4) which years had the choice of hot wash/hot rinse, hopefully falling within the best performance years;
The only instance of a hot rinse that I know of were the spray rinses on early SQ models. If you want a hot rinse, you are going to have to either fill the washer manually, or connect your hot water to your washer's cold water valve.

5) which years did not dumb down the hot water wash option and add cold water.
I don't think GE ever did this in the FF line "way back then".

 

[kenmore1978]

GE products

"General Electric makes a myriad of other products. Everything from light bulbs to MRI scanners to Jet engines"

And would you believe, railroad locomotives, too? Talk about diversity...