Got my new Speed Queen AWN542 but have some questions/issues...

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DreamKeeper

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Dec 31, 2014
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So I received my new washer but have a few observations and questions for you guys.

1. As the delivery guys were installing the washer I started looking over the installation manual and I realized that they may not have done a few things correctly. First the washer did not have the bottom shipping plug. So they moved the washer up a flight of stairs without the shipping plug installed. I questioned them about the bottom plug and they said that they took it out right before they put the washer on the dolly and brought it in the house. That once they unpackaged the washer on the truck that the shipping plug just falls out and there's no way to put it back in without taping it to the washer. They assured me that as long as the shipping brace was in place in the tub that the shipping plug was not really needed. Well I wish I had read the user manual first because it actually goes into more detail about the shipping plug than the installation manual. It clearly says that you should NOT move the washer without the plug installed and that it can be reinstalled and snaps into place. I'm not sure if these guys just didn't know what the hell they were talking about or were lying to me for some reason.

2. In the installation manual it says that you need to add water to the tub before using the machine. It has an illustration of adding water to the machine with a bucket. I asked them about this and they said that you don't need to add the water manually, that you just need to make sure that the washer is filled with water before it starts it's initial agitation. Is this true or should they have added water manually?

3. During agitation the washer is making a noise that doesn't sound right to me. The noise is sort of like a rattle. It only makes the noise when I run a cycle with clothes, if I run a cycle with just water there is no noise. I took the front panel off to see if anything looked abnormal and I found a black powdery substance under the belt in the front. I'm assuming the black powder came from the belt. Is it normal for a new washer to have this black powder? I'm attaching some pics I took. I did notice in the user manual that it says some new washers that have set in storage for a while may make a knocking sound for the first 4 or 5 washes because the belt settles. So I'm going to try doing a few more loads to see if the noise goes away, but it actually sounds more like rattle to me than a knock.

Thanks for your help...

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Should be fine

The tub will index like crazy until the brake pads seat in.

It will squeak a tad bit also.

My shipping plug was removed before they dollied it 25 feet from the truck to my basement, no issues.

I did put the water in first before starting the machine.

Can you upload a vid with sound so we can hear it?
 
Video

Thanks for the info washman, that makes me feel better about the shipping plug. I did do a quick video so you can hear the noise I'm talking about. This is during the second full wash that I've done with clothes. Is this the noise that's caused by the tub indexing or is this something else? The spin cycle sounds fine, it's just during agitation that I get the noise and only if clothes are in the tub.



Thanks...
 
Yup

Mine does that too. Has since day one it is a bit louder on heavy loads. From what I have read, not a big deal. The indexing will settle down over time.
 
something ain't right.....

that noise is either the idler pulley doesn't have any lube.....

or the belt has a flat/wide spot in it......

at 1:05 you can see the idler arm shaking, which could be part of the rattle.....mine doesn't jiggle like that once the machine starts going and tension pulls the belt taught....

if you don't feel right about it...call for service, that's why their there...

as for the other stuff, like that shipping plug, did you keep it should you ever have to move the machine?.....I transported them on their side and back in a car and never had an off track issue....I do have the plastic tub support that goes in top....but no big deal if I didn't have it......besides, they always uncrate and pull all shipping braces and parts before bringing into your house....most likely would not fit through your doors while in the box, or crate attached to the bottom...

I just had a buddy pay movers to empty his house, and they carried a TL washer completely upside down from the basement.....shocked the heck out of me for that one, but it works fine...

the only issue of adding water is to lubricate the pump, and not run dry.....as long as the machine had water added before the motor started, again, your fine....

don't over analyze, concentrate on any real issues......yours most likely isn't the first one they ever installed....
 
As long as water is added somehow before the motor starts that's ok. The water is just to moisten the pump seal so it doesn't overheat and crack.

But, piece of advice, always install machines yourself. I always ask them to be dropped off in an unopened box. If the box comes opened or the machine taken out I refuse to take it.

A lot of places out source delivery, so you get a mixed bag of people. Some do it right others have no clue. My guess in terms of the plug is that they just don't know. They have a hundred different washers to worry about and chances are they don't read the manual for everyone one. They should at least be told take everything out at the spot of installation. But again, you get a mixed bag of results.
 
installing a new appliance by yourself is "half the fun" of buying a new machine....

there are times when they install a new dryer, that they will disconnect the old hose, fully clogged, and hook it onto the new dryer......not their problem, or their job to check and clean this stuff....

this is all the more reason to 'do it yourself'.....remove the old, clean the area, flush the pipes, clean or replace venting, and use new hoses and cords....IF you want it done right.....OR, take your chances!....

many wont hook up a GAS dryer or dishwasher, you must contract a plumber for these things......
 
Noise During Agitation On A New SQ TL Washer

It doesn't sound too unusual to me, I would run it at least a year before calling for service unless it gets MUCH louder and if it stays the same ignore it.

These are good rugged washers, but no one ever said they were silent, you could install the sound insulation package that I used to silence a NOISY Frigidaire 1-18, doing what I did to the FD would make your new SQ almost silent.

I will post pictures of the sound reduction techniques used on the 1-18 when I get a chance.
 
idler braket

my guess,,,, idler wheel bracket is touching motor shaft.
Thats why idler is moving !!! This is caused by belt being adjusted a little loose.
YOU should examine idler bracket where it gets real close to motor shaft,, i think it show in the video, but hard to see.
I once had this problem on a old SQ raytheon.
 
idler LEVER

correction,,,, correct part name might be idler "lever" :)
(sorry,, would not let me edit my previous post ???)
 
Noise

Thanks for all the info guys. I'm going to contact Speed Queen and see what they have to say about the noise. I've now ran 9 loads of clothes and the noise is still there and may have actually increases just a bit.

I did look again and I think you guys who are saying that it may be the idler pulley/lever may be correct. There is a slot in the bracket that the motor sets on and the idler arm has a little finger that sticks up and fits into that slot. From what I can see it looks like that little finger is setting right up against the far right end of the slot and when it moves back and forth it's hitting the end of that metal slot and that may be what's making the noise. When it goes into a spin cycle that lever gets popped out to the middle of the slot and that's why there is no noise during spin.

I wouldn't think that lever should be sitting right up against the end of the slot. I guess my question is why is it then? The belt doesn't feel loose to me but of course I'm not sure how tight it should be. There is no way to adjust the belt tension on this machine right? I think it's auto adjusting. I wonder if something is out of alignment internally with this machine?

Thanks...
 
exactly :),, idler lever touching shaft !!!!
If you want, it is easy to slightly tighten belt. The motor mounting bracket slides in and out slightly to adjust belt tension. It will get worse as belt stretches over time. Needs to be adjusted by you or repairman.
Glad i could help,, i know i have been helped here tooooo.
 
@cleanguy - thanks for the info. I did just go and look again but I don't see any way to slide the mounting bracket. It looks like it is solidly bolted into place. I just don't see any bolts that when loosened would allow the bracket to slide. Also, the motor is already very close to the front panel of the machine so I don't know it could even be slid out enough. Maybe I'm missing something though. I would probably have a service guy do it anyway just so I don't void the warranty.

@washman - thanks for the thread link. That looks like it's exactly what is happening on my machine, even the black dust from the belt that's talked about in that thread. It looks like others started having this issue over a period of time. What worries me is that mine is already exhibiting these issues from day one. I already had the black dust from the belt on the first day I got the machine. I'm wondering if I should try to get the dealer to swap this machine for another one. If this is already happening on this machine I worry about long term issues. Maybe I got a lemon?

Thanks...
 
I doubt SQ will take the machine back and give you a new one.  I think this problem can be easily fixed, although I haven't read anything above that indicates if it's just an annoyance or a sign of trouble down the line. 

 

You've got a good warranty, so go ahead and take advantage of it.  If a repair tech comes out, you might want to show him the clip from "washman" so he knows the source of the noise in case he's not familiar with this issue.
 
What's in a NUB?

That NUB that it is making contact with, what is it exactly? Is it part of the motor peeking through the mount plate? Or is it part of the mount plate itself? Could it be filed down a bit? Count you insert a spring washer on the idler access to help it clear the NUB?

Other than the annoyance, I don't think it is anything mechanically to get bent out of shape over.

Malcolm
 
@rp2813 - I actually meant getting a replacement from the dealer I bought it from. They say they have a 60 day return policy and will stand behind the products they sell so I'm under the impression they would be willing to take it back and give me a new one.

I realize that the issue may end up not being that big of a deal to fix, but I just hate the thought of spending so much money on something that is brand new and it having issues from the first day I use it. I bought a new car one time that had an issue the day after I drove it off the lot. That car ended up being a lemon and for the next few years until I was able to buy a different car I had nothing but problems with it.

I guess I'm just a little weary of this washer being like that car where I constantly need to have it serviced. If I wanted a washer like that I could have bought a GE top loader with the extended warranty for half of what I paid for the SQ.

But, I'm going to keep using the washer for a few more days and see how it does. if I can convince myself that having the washer serviced will fix this and that there isn't something more serious wrong with it that will cause more issues in the future l would be willing to keep it.

Thanks again for all your input guys...
 
I doubt you have a lemon.  It seems like the noise isn't all that uncommon.  Ben (washman) has had his SQ for a while and it seems applying some grease to the trouble spot helped, and he hasn't had any other problems.

 

But -- I agree with you 100% that if you buy something new and pay a premium price for a quality item, it shouldn't sound like a bucket of bolts.  If the same thing happened to me, and if the dealer offered a 60-day return policy, I'd be placing a request for a service call regarding the noise.   I'm a stickler for annoying rattles.

 

I honestly think a minor adjustment is all that's needed.  As with many mechanical items, there's a break-in period as components mesh into place.  Your machine's issue could be a combination of both.   My mom's 2000 GE made a weird rhythmic sound during agitation when it was new.  I inquired about it and the service rep asked if it was a "sawing" sound, and she nailed it with that description.  She said it would go away, and after about a week or two, it did.

 
 
I think you'll be ok

One thing I hate besides eco-machines is learning a new member of the SQ family is upset or concerned with his purchase.

To that end, I want to alleviate your concerns.

You can rest assured that you have a machine that is that last of the old school TL machines that are among the best, if not the most water miserly, at cleaning laundry.

Backed by a company that is still independent and in business since 1908.

Made from good old fashioned strong steel and metal, not plastic.

Backed by the industry's best warranty.

Built in USA of US and globally sourced components.

I've had the same noise as yours for a while now. I have not noticed any degradation in performance. It has not gotten worse but slightly better when I greased up the nib on the idler assembly.

Black belt dust is same on mine. Due to fact the belt gets used on both sides (due to reversing motor), I expect this. And it is not a big deal to change it out.

By all means KEEP this machine! You'd be foolish to part ways with it after such a short time! Give it a chance! In the fullness of time, you will only grow more fond of the reasurring wooo wooo wooo as the patented 210 degree agitator stroke moves your clothes through the water with ease, powered by a mighty made in Mexico motor.

Stick with it. Don't give up so easily. I'm here for you and any other SQ owner. We are a unique group. Read again what the other senior members posted. They give good advice without all the BS.
 
Dealing with a similar issue myself, I know exactly how you feel about your new machine. I'm a bit of a perfectionist myself, and it doesn't help that I've had a lifelong fascination with all machines, primarily washers and dishwashers, and with that I've analyzed all kinds of machines and become attuned to their various behaviors and sounds. I just bought a new Maytag Bravos XL in November, and in the time I've had it, I've been annoyed by various rattles and knocks and rackets that it's made. Some of them are to be expected, but some just don't sit well with me because of what I've been used to on previous washers before it. Still, I've learned to overlook certain things while still keeping close watch so that I can call for support at the first sign of trouble.

My advice would be what the others here have already given: should the noise your SQ is making feel completely wrong, call customer support. That's what your warranty is there for, and honestly I'd feel more trusting of their tech support than I do for Whirlpool's (ten years ago I wouldn't have believed that to be the case, about WP that is). If I were you, I'd give the machine at least a couple of months to work the newness out before I'd abandon it. That's what I'm doing for the Maytag. That belt dust is completely normal; even cars have that, except that the dust is blown away whereas that has nowhere to go. The rattle may alleviate itself as the belt settles in.
 
AWN542

that machine is a WORK HORSE, I have one, bought one for my mother, both machines are going on six years old, and I talked my brother into buying one when their Kenmore Oasis crapped out for the last time.
I have changed the belt once. Black dust is normal on a new belt. This machine WILL make various noises, and you make think it sounds a bit odd, but remember the noises a General Electric Filter Flo Washer made? They too were also built like tanks!!!
Keep it, work with it, don't baby it, if it needs service you have a FIVE YEAR WARRANTY and this washer will last 5x that!! Remember these washers are used in a Commercial setting all the time.
LISTEN TO BEN, HE IS RIGHT!
Call Alliance, they are GREAT!!!!!!!
Mike
 
Speed Queen Doubts

Some of the older members here may recall that I had some doubts about my Speed Queen purchase after the fact when my dryer stopped dead mid cycle. Well, a tech came out and ended up ordering a new motor and timer for it. Once those components were replaced, it was still dead. The tech and I began stepping through the schematic with a meter and determined there was a broken wire in a harness. Wire replaced. Dryer has been operating fine ever since.

So stick with it.

My question is, can you stop the noise by applying a little pressure with a finger to keep the lever away from the nub? If so, perhaps a spring washer would solve the problem once and for all?

Malcolm
 
Black belt dust

The belt dust is normal and also due to break-in. Speed Queen TL's are known to be hard on drive belts but it will be years before replacement is necessary and its an inexpensive repair.

As for the noise I would call customer service.
 
Thanks for all the feedback guys... I am definitely going to keep the machine for a while and see how it does. I actually do really like the machine. It cleans very well and aside from that one annoying rattle noise it is actually pretty quiet.

I did contact Alliance and they watched the video I shot. He confirmed what everyone in this thread has said that just from listening to the video he thinks that the noise is coming from the idler lever. He didn't want to go any further with a diagnosis without being able to physically see the machine but told me if the noise persists to go ahead and get it checked out.

Anyway, thanks for listening to my rants and for calming my over analytical mind...
 
Hi, curious if you had someone out to check your machine. I had the exact noise problem on my brand new awn 542. I also sent a video link of the sound to the technical support at speed queen. They new exactly what the problem was. It is the idler pully and the washers next to it. They have a fix for it with instructions. They sent it to a service provider in my area and they were here last week to fix it. They replaced the pully and added a washer and replaced another. Supposedly a fiberglass washer was added. So if you havent had it fixed yet, request the repair kit from them. All is quiet now except now I have some rattling in the spin cycle after my tub was leveled. My repair man noticed that the tub wasn't centered during agitation, so he centered it even though the outer box is no longer level. Now I have this rattling in the spin cycle. They are coming back out in two days to check it out.
Also I can't seem to get the suds to stay down from my standpipe even with the adapter on some keep coming out. Anyone have any solutions for me other than to keep a towel wrapped around the top of the standpipe? I do not overdose on soap at all.
Thank you.
 
Suds

My step-daughter has reported standpipe suds with her AWN412.  Her husband sawed off some of it when they had their previous (10 year-old Kenmore) machines and there was no problem.  I gave them a section of pvc pipe to extend it again with a rubber sleeve, but haven't heard yet whether that helped.

 

Interesting that SQ has a kit to fix the noise.  Why don't they just assemble the machines with those components in the first place?

 

After hearing some of the things people go through with their SQ washers, I have to wonder if they're a bit of a sloppy bunch over there at Alliance.
 

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