HELP Speed Queen Wringer

[laundryboy]

Hi Everyone,
My new never used Speed Queen Wringer arrived today, it runs great, but cannot get it to Agitate, anyone have any pointers ? Or Anyone live in Orlando can come help me look at it ??? I want to give it a test run,, Please help....
Chris 315-657-2130

 

[launderess]

Pipe: http://www.automatice.org/cgi-bin/index.cgi?showdoc~1066~~

 

[laundryboy]

Model #

Model # FW2183W

 

[abcomatic]

Chris, The knob only turns clockwise to start and counterclockwise to stop agitation.
check to see what it is doing under the machine and then go from there.
Gary

 

[laundryboy]

Hi Gary

I turned the knob, it clicks, but nothing seems to engage the washer agitator, im really bummed, I dont really know much about these to fix it, I might call sears repairman to come look at it, if I cannot figure it out, I checked the belts and the motor, everything is spinning and the belts are tight. its show room new under the hood, Im at a loss,,

 

[ea56]

This is just a thought, but maybe if the machine has been sitting for several years unused the the grease has become hardened and is preventing the agitator from turning. I recall in a previous posts by Hippiedoll and others that filling the tub with very hot water, (hotter than your water heater) and allowing the water to stay in the tub for a few hours the grease will liquify and allow the gears and agitator to move. This may work since you say everything else looks OK. Does the motor sound like its straining when you turn it on? If so, this may solve your problem. Good luck!
Eddie

 

[laundryboy]

Hi Eddie,
No the motor hums right along, the wringers spin just fine, the agitator spins when I turn it by hand, just not on its own. I wish I had someone close by to come look at it for me, not sure if sears or any appliance person will fix it..

 

[ea56]

Hi Christpher,
I doubt that a Sears tech will be able to help you on this. I would look in the yellow pages for an independent appliance repair shop that has been in business for a long time. Maybe you'll be lucky enough to find a tech that has been doing appliance repair for a long time and has some knowledge of wringer washers. Call a few and see if you can speak with a tech and explain whats going on. You should be able to get a sense if they have an understanding of what your problem is. You might also what to try searching You Tube, you may be lucky to find just the answer your looking for.
Eddie

 

[abcomatic]

HI Chris, Take Eddie's advice and put the hot water in the tub and let it stand. You don't have to fill it all the way up, half way is good, but very hot water may do the trick. Does your model have a pump on it? If that doesn't work, it could be from years of not being used and the previous use of it has let soap and hard water scales accumulate. The hot water will help that too.
When it is all up and running, you will like the way it gets clothes so clean. I have two Speed Queen wringers and they are good machines. Have fun. Gary

 

[laundryboy]

Hi Gary,
Yeah it does have a pump, its never been used, The person I bought it from had it in her basement and never used it, it still has the stickers on it. THe agitator spins when I turn it, it just wont engage when the machine is running, all the wringers ive had in the past, when the lever is engaged when the machine is unplugged the agitator doesnt turn, until you turn it off or plug it in. This one just spins around, its so frustrating, the motor runs quiet and the pump works, the wringers are rolling, just cannot seem to turn on the agitator.. I have never worked on a wringer, im so lost when looking under her, its showroom new and shiny though.. Really hope to find someone to come look at it with me, or might have to choke up the shipping cost and amount I paid for it, and send it to the KIA factory,
Thanks for everyones, help, and if you know anyone in Orlando area, send them my way...

 

[launderess]

Well I guess my common sense suggestion is being ignored.

Why would you want to pay dear money for a service technician (if you can find one), when it is possible to download an actual service manual from this site for little money is beyond me.

Even if the manuals listed above do not mention your particular model SQ wringers didn't change much until their end of production.

Service manuals even if not of an exact model can often be close enough to point one in the right direction. It surely is better than playing a guessing game.

But it is your affair so have at it.

Speed Queen Wringer Washer Parts & Service Manual

 

[laundryboy]

Laundress

I am very grateful for your post, I have been reading the manuals, and trying to figure it out, I am so sorry for not replying back to you, I apoligize from the bottom of my wash tub...
I love all your post and suggestions on all the questions I've ever had here on the site,
Chris

 

[launderess]

So how did you make out?

Problem solved yet?

Nothing is more frustrating than getting a supposedly "new" toy that doesn't work upon arrival.

Am hoping for your sake it is just something simple that needs adjusting or was knocked lose turning transport.

 

[laundryboy]

Hi Launderess,
Nope nothing has worked I printed the manual, went over it, the undercarriage is really new and clean, I cannot figure it out. I remmeber my grandmothers wringer agitator would not move if it was in the ON position when unplugged, this one just spins around no matter what. I left it in the hot sun to warm up the grease too. It like the gears are not catching or something to make it engage to wash. I was hoping someone who knew about these was around Orlando to come look at it.. Ive emailed a few old time appliance stores, they said they would keep an eye out for someone who might work on them. I will take some pics of hte underside and the switch, maybe that might help ?
Chris

 

[ea56]

I'm no expert, but I have been thinking that this is transmission problem. Could the connection from the motor to the transmission somehow become uncoupled during transit? Since you have the manuals maybe you can see if it would be possible to open up the area where the transmission connection is and take a look. Might be something simple like a cotter pin that fell out, but this is just a guess. I agree with Laundress, you must be disappointed that your new toy doesn't work. Good Luck!
Eddie

 

[alr2903]

No expert, but the GM, had one of these. Something about the lever/dial that activates the agitator has possibly worked loose.  You almost need someone to operate the lever, so you can look underneath and see what it is not engaging on the transmission. Whatever this linkage pulls or pushes on has worked loose in transit. That is where I would start anyway.  Hope you get it to work.  A

 

[laundryboy]

Update

Thank you Everyone for all the help,
I Just had a Speed Queen repair man come to the house to look at it, He said the gear box transmission needs to be replaced, he spent about 30 min looking it over. They searched for one for me but to no avail, the good thing is he did'nt charge me for the house call. The bad news it cost me 300 to buy this broke machine then 300 to ship it to Orlando.. The seller will be getting an nasty gram from me, for selling a perfect working wringer washer that does not work.
I am very grateful for all your help..

The search continues for a mint condition Wringer washer...

 

[ea56]

How does the transmission gear box on a new, never used Speed Queen wringer washer need to be replaced? It should take years of use for this to wear out to point of needing replacement. Either the seller was lying or the speed Queen tech is bargaining that you don't know enough to question his diagnosis. Did the machine show any signs of having been used? If not I question that the transmission needs replacement. I tend to think that alr2903 in reply #15 may be on the right track and I would recommend giving his suggestion a try, you've got nothing to lose.
Eddie

 

[laundryboy]

I had him look at the switch. Said everything was tight and the lever was engaging. I'll take some pics of the underside so you can see how good it looks.