Help me decide between a Maytag A885 or 2017 Speed Queen AWN as a daily driver.

[good-shepherd]

no likely hood that MT DC will go to age 45 Years

Have to disagree with that statement.

We've seen a number of people come on this site looking for help with 40-45 year old (or older) Maytag DC machines.

Yeah, they usually need a lot work but they made it that long with little to no repairs.

The almond MT washer "wa9aLqTh" is getting rid of appeared to be around 1980 vintage, hard to believe but that was 40 years ago, yikes..

 

[combo52]

1980 MT against a 10 YO SQ Commercial TL Washer

Hi Ralph, The 1997 Amana you had has almost nothing to do with an Alliance Ripon Wi built washer. The Amanas and AmanaTag washers and dryers were full of problems.

 

Around a decade ago SQ did something to improve belt life, several techs have told me they can't believe that the belts just don't fail any longer. I only change 1 or 2 a year, our whole company maybe changes around 4-6 a year, We are responsible for backing the service on almost 10,000 SQ TL Washers in our service area.

 

Just last year SQ went back to an aluminum main drive pulley to further extend belt life, this keeps the belt cooler durning overload conditions.

 

The belt is easy to change, you only need a 5/16" nut driver to remove the front panel [ it is easier to remove than a Mts front panel ] Then you just remove three pump clips with your fingers and flip the belt in place, snap the pump back on and install the front panel, you are done in under 10 minutes, Yes it is easier to change the belts on a MT DC.

 

Hi Douglas, a 1980 MT DC will be very lucky to last another 5 years without repairs and likely major rebuilding, this makes a 10 YO SQ a much better bet, to say nothing about better performance and greater capacity, the SQ will likely last another 20 years with just minor repairs.

 

John L.

 

[frigilux]

Greetings Dave (wa9aLqTh), and welcome to what happens when you ask an “either/or” question here at Automatic Washer, lol. There’s never a shortage of opinions about and personal experiences with any washer you’d care to name.

Just for the record, I have no interest whatsoever in repairing my own washer. I’m the person who helps keep guys like John (combo52) and Eugene (Lorainfurniture) in business.

In light of that, my vote goes for the Speed Queen. It’s still a very young machine and parts will be readily available for many years when service is required.

I have a 2017 SQ top-loader and am very happy with its performance.[this post was last edited: 11/19/2020-08:19]