GM Frigidaire 1-18 Washtub Capacity

[roto204]

Agreed

I share your observations--I've had stellar loads in my 1-18 that I couldn't believe, and some real sucksters that I thought would be easy.  The key, as you say, is understanding the load composition and setting the water level (and time!) accordingly.  Even when I load properly, I sometimes find that dress shirts and slacks get tied together, or bedsheets require unspooling before loading in the dryer.  C'est la vie.

 

Because this requires thought, I think it was doomed  My mother's BD Kenmore from the early eighties was very much fire-and-forget in terms of getting everything in there.  

 

Good detergent seems key in a 1-18 too, since some get way too sudsy and then you end up with a blanket of fine lint settling back on your clothes when it spins out the water, once the suds are compressed back against them.

 

[scrubflex]

R-E-A-L-L-Y!!! That is unbelievable and so disappointing, especially since they're no oscillating vanes or fins that beat the clothes. If there's only rolling water turbulence and surging currents that is moving the clothes, what actually stretched out the underwear? I thought the Jet Cone agitator was more gentle than all vanes, finned or ramp agitators...next to tumblers...I'm shocked.

 

[roto204]

Stretching

YMMV, but I've found the cones pull downward and you can, in a large load, get compaction of items between the Jet Cones and other items in the load, which can result in some stretching.

 

[washerlover]

I have a 1976ish WP 18-lb machine and the first time I used it I thought something was wrong with the water level switch -- the machine filled up to the bottom of the agitator cap! But boy, what turnover and awesome washing action in this machine. Almost as fun as my Norge and Wards 18-lb'rs.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Sorry to burst the FD bubble:

But ANY 1976-1981 Kenmore with the 26 gallon tub and Dual Action agitator could smoke a 1-18 in capacity, cleaning, rinsing and more than anything reliability. The Whirlpool equivalent with the Double Duty Surgilator would be a close second.
WK78

 

[jeb]

Jet cones

From personal experience I can tell you these were hard on some clothing no matter how you loaded them. Anybody that tried to wash underwire bras, bib overalls, children's clothing with plastic buckles, ect... can tell you they chewed them up and sometimes other things in the load with them. I never had a problem with these in Whirlpool or GE. Jeb

 

[scrubflex]

I thought the Jet Cone agitator's were much, much gentler on clothes. That's not good, I really wanted one.

 

[philr]

Harry, there's always a machine that's better than others for something. Some machines are more durable, some are easier to service, some are gentler on clothes, some do beat the dirt out of clothes better. I personally don't care that much about how good machines are or how a washer treats my clothes as I rarely wear more than $40 worth of clothing anyway! I never use the delicate or permanent press cycles and even if I have quite a few irons, I never use them to iron my clothes and I never use my Gladiron ironer either!

 

I do like to use the extra cycles like the Soak, pre-wash and even more the Extra Rinse!

 

To me, the fun factor of watching a machine operate is the important thing. And Frigidaires offer plenty of action! They don't tear my clothes, I'm quite good at doing that by myself while I'm wearing them! They probably did stretch a few elastic bands, or maybe it's just because I'm overweight!

 

They aren't the easiest to work on or to get replacement parts for, but that's a good excuse to get more machines!

 

[scrubflex]

LOL!!! You made some very good points Phil, I mean it really was a miracle that I found this website. My parents had a '68-69 Westinghouse washer and I can remember way back then enjoying the machine operation of the pistachio green, super-size (2-in-1) SPIRAL-Deep Ramp agitator in action. Hmm, you reminded me of the good ole' fun factor. As for the 1-18, maybe more clothing should be washed on the gentle speed...like Whirlpool's DD 'step-down' agitation, use stronger detergent and shorten the wash times.

 

[jetcone]

If you

use a laundry bag for fine items it wont allow buckles and such to get caught under the bottom cone and squished.

 

As for torn underwear I've never seen that in 30 years of using Jet Action washers. In fact my 3 speed 1-18 on the hand wash cycle cleans and handles knitted wool better than any machine out there- including front loaders.

When you can safely wash a Norwegian sweater and not felt it that is impressive washing action.

 

I will have to experience that Norge 20 pounder as Ive not seen more capacity than in my 1-18's.

Gansky tells me i'm gonna love my super capacity Lady Kenmore with the super surgilator, gotta set that one up soon for comparison washing.

 

 

[brucelucenta]

Having run a commercial drycleaners and laundry for over 25 years, I have used a great many machines. I have used Norge, Whirlpool/Kenmore and Frigidaire along with big front load commercial machines for shirt laundry. All of them worked satisfactorily, but the Frigidaire 1-18 machines held the biggest loads and spun them out dry enough to press on the hot head press equipment. Just from personal experience, they are not the gentlest of machines to clothing. Especially when heavily loaded. The early models up to the time they introduced the jet cone agitator would literally tie clothing in knots. Even the 1-18 ones were bad about tangling very large loads of shirts sometimes, but it didn't matter because the shirts were pressed while damp anyway. When I used a Norge or Whirlpool I could not load it as heavily because it would not be able to turn the load like a Frigidaire would. One 1-18 Frigidaire would hold what a commercial 25 lb front load machine would hold and wash it well. The Norge and Whirlpool simply would not do that. Just saying from personal experience. The GE largest load machine would not even come close.

 

[jeb]

Laundry bag

While I agree a laundry bag helped with small things, it is hard to put adult bib overalls in one. I had several parts ruined it the 1-18 (I even bought replacement buckles but they never fit right). The laundry bag did not help with the underwire bras, although it did help them not tear up other clothing in the load. After you ruin a few $45.00 dollar bras and pairs of bib overall you learn not to trust it with these things.

 

[scrubflex]

Hmm, so it seems, certain clothing should or must be washed on the gentler speed to be on the safe side. Or, shorten the wash times since the Jet-Cone could be so aggressive with the clothes. That's what I'll do do when I find my WIC-A 1-18. My Whirlpool Gold DD washer tangled my laundry also, that's not too big of a deal for me. The DD "High-Frequency" agitation creates super (ROLL-OVER) currents like the Jet-Cone, even turned shirts and pants inside out...not a problem.
I would still love to see a video of the Jet-Cone in action with the water level above the top cone to see the action. It's never been filmed before. (HINT, hint)

 

[philr]

Here's one!  Sorry, I did put too much detergent... 

 

 



 

 

 I filmed the exact same load at the "Normal" level during the rinse cycle:

 



[this post was last edited: 1/20/2015-04:04]

 

[jetcone]

Nice to hear your experience Bruce

I would have guessed the same result, that the 1-18 has the largest capacity of all top loaders ever built.

 

 

 

[scrubflex]

Awesome

Phil I see from the 1st video, anymore water then MAXI, would have made it impossible for the Jet-Cone (TOP) cone to push the load down into the tub.

2nd video, the Jet-Cone is really a very powerful agitator. Seems like it only needed a little more water to rinse that big load...not necessarily the MAXI level.

Thanks for the videos Phil...and she's very quiet.

Bruce thanks for helping to make it crystal clear that the 1-18 capacity is TOPS, hands down.

BTW, Jon L hope you haven't changed your mind about sharing your "QUIETING TECHNIQUE" with us.

 

[scrubflex]

Phil are your videos on YouTube?

 

[philr]

Yes they are:

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfzIOjgBfLiZBKgtEE7ZdJQ
 

The load was a mix of towels and bed sheets. One of them being very lightweight but thick! So it weights about 14 pounds but it filled the tub when there was no water.

You're right, the turnover would have been great with the water level just above "Normal". There's no way I could have fitted that load in my other washers. Maybe I should try in a 12 pound solid tub machine. I think it would be seriously overloaded like the one in my avatar!

http://https//www.youtube.com/channel/UCfzIOjgBfLiZBKgtEE7ZdJQ

 

[scrubflex]

Yeah, I don't think it'll work but, you'll have fun finding out. I'll check out your videos.

 

[norgeway]

RE Norge...

While the Norge will was a huge load..It will also wear out clothes faster than anything else..it really is much harsher than the 1-18,the Frigidaires do a great job and in my experience don't tear up the clothes...BUT if you have greasy nasty work clothes, a Norge is TOUGH to beat!...as far as a Frigidaire goes the old 3 ring agitator models will outwash any of the others...if the clothes are tangled up....that means they have really been moved around!

 

[jetcone]

Amen

Hans !!

 

[washerlover]

As much as I hate to agree, Norge/Wards can be pretty brutal on clothes. I think they should have stuck with the 3-vane agitator instead of moving to the 4-vane in the late 60s. I have a 4-vane '74 Wards Signature and a '65-6ish Norge with 3-vanes. Same fast stroke, but the number of vanes do make a difference. Never had any trouble with my 1-18 being rough on clothes. If anything, I'd say Frigidaire was probably the most gentle on fabrics.

 

[scrubflex]

I guess the 3/4 HP motor combined with the Turbosweep (4-Way Deep-Clean) agitator, 202 agitation arc and 70 or 72 agitation stroke was too tough for the clothes...especially if overloaded. But, what I can remember from my uncle and aunts late 80's Norge, it washed a load of jeans on the MED level very poorly. I could not understand how bad the Turbosweep performed. It could not turnover the jeans, just threw them around...no rolling movement.

 

[scrubflex]

Great videos Phil.

 

[scrubflex]

Phil, when I look at your MAXI level video, can't help thinking what will the Jet Cone action look like if there was more water added to the tub. Hope you'll make a video showing that action.

 

[jetcone]

1-18 Hand wash

amazing !!

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_BPKDvEnAE

 

[combo52]

Frigidaire Washer Videos

Always love the solid tub Ripiddry 1010 washers, great videos Jon.

 

The 1-18 3SP washer is very,  gentile in agitation, I would also give GE FF washer high marks when using the Mini-Basket at low speeds and the 68-72 Lady Kenmore's with 3SP motors and the Vaira-Flex agitators. Does anyone have any other TL washers tat they consider very gentile on delicate fabrics?.

 

I still give the all time award to a Calypso when using the Hand Wash cycle, we have one AW member that actually washes loads of Bounty paper towels in his machine without problems, Jon this might be a good test for the 1-18.

 

[philr]

Bounty paper towels?! How about trying with cheaper ones!?

 

[brucelucenta]

I would have to look at back issues to tell you, but one year consumer reports did a comparison of washers that were all one speed machines to see how gentle they could be with sheer draperies. Frigidaire 1-18 was #1 for a one speed machine in gentleness.

 

[combo52]

CRs Test Of One Speed Washers

You may well be correct Bruce about the 1-18s gentleness, the main thing I remember about CRs test was ONLY one machine failed the test and put runs in the sheer fabric and it was the single speed Maytag's with the polyfinn agitators, we need to look up the test results again.

 

But in any case the Calypso was not out yet and I will put its gentleness up against even the 3Sp 1-18 anytime.