HELP Speed Queen Wringer

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laundryboy

laundryboy

Well-known member
Joined
May 18, 2004
Messages
522
Location
Orlando Florida & Moravia NY.
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
 
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,,
 
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
 
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..
 
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
 
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
 
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...
 
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.

http://www.davesrepair.com/pdfmanuals/SQwrngrmanual.htm
 
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
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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...
 
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
 
wringer

Hey .not a spesialist in this but i have som wringers. In my gear box ther is a big wheel with 2 taps on it this is conected to a lift/arm that lifts the (transmisjon wheel,toothweel) cant remember the name in english now.to engage the cam wheel and the Axel going to agitator. When turnd on it cobects it all .

I have had this problem if the gear box has been out in a winter time .
I solv it by turning the machine on its head turn on motor and then engage the agitator some times i use a rubber hammer and beeat it then the clutch should fall in place .leaving it to run fore 5-10 min to heat up the Oil.
 
Was this an eBay Purchase?

Chris,
If you got this from an ebay seller, just about everything comes with a satisfaction guarantee thru ebay for whatever it is worth.
You can also put in a complaint about the seller. And the negative feedback stays on the account so it makes them look bad.

If I sell anything, I always tell them the real condition and photograph the damage or wear on the item.

Anyway, keep us posted and let me know if you need any help.
 
I would report the seller to ebay, I'm pretty sure that they would frown upon her luring you in using ebay's website, then arranging to make the sale off of ebay, thereby screwing ebay out of their cut, while she used their site free. This will get her ass in a sling. In fact, look on ebay for their rules. If this kind of seller activity is verboten, look at what her number of sales are and what her feedback rating is. If she is a high volume seller with a high feedback rating I would try contacting her and explain what you ended up with and what ebay's rules are. Then tell her that if she refunds your money you won't report her, if not report her to ebay. You likely won't get your $ back unless she chooses to do the right thing, but you'll have the satisfaction that she may be stopped from future fraudulant activity, And NEVER do business with an ebay seller again that asks you to complete the sale outside of ebay!
Eddie
 
Am so sorry to hear this.....

Know what it is like to have something arrive and *not* work as stated.

A few things:

Since eBay (was forced) spun off PayPal things are pretty much back to where they were when eBay first began payment wise. Sellers are free to choose PayPal, eBay's CC system or back to checks and or money orders. Personally I still use PayPal for all the built in protections, and recommend everyone else do as well. Not to sure about eBay's CC system security but so far PP has been rock solid, so why mess with a winning formula?

Laundryboy... By all means contact the seller and explain the situation. If it does turn out that the machine is DOA he or she may do the proper thing refund wise.

Am not doubting the SQ repairman's word, but I too wonder how a transmission/gear box on a virturaly new machine can need replacement. If SQ wringers are out there from the 1930's, 1940's, and so froth still operational after heavy use how can a relatively late model unit that has seen little or no use need a new tranny? Unless someone messed with the unit and did something they shouldn't.

Have been considering getting a wringer, but while have seen many interesting units out there from a spares wise point of view Maytag seems the only logical choice.

Landryboy try contacting Modern Parts out in Parma, OH and see what there is: http://modernpartshouse.com/appliance-parts/2811346
 
I contacted the seller and she said I stole the wringer from
Her at a steal for $300. She said not to contact her again or harass her unless i return the machine to her. She said she reported me to eBay prior to the sale for not being a high eBay buyer. She thought I was a fraud for wanting the machine. She said in her ad it was in excellent condition and working when they picked it up. Which isn't the truth now. I am going to file a complaint against her via eBay. Even though she said to cxl the eBay transaction and pay her off the site.
The washer wringers turn greet. So I might have to find a weekend to take off the bottom and see if I can work on it. I've never worked on one before. Bummed out.
 
Christopher-I knew I smelled a rat here! I'm glad you reported her. I hope you kept any email that you may have from her regarding this "steal". Any documentation that you have will help. I didn't mean to be a downer in my previous post. I too know how disappointing it can be to have something not work when you receive it. I also know that being taken advantage of doesn't feel too hot either. Anyway, I sure hope that you can at least get the wringer washer to work. That would be the best outcome.
Good luck.
Eddie
 
Warning, Will Robinson

Never take an eBay transaction off line as it were.

Always where possible unless going to physically collect an appliance yourself (and thus can check condition and operability) pay with anything else than PayPal or credit card.

I saw both the eBay and CL listing from that seller for those wringer washers (IIRC she had two) and didn't think it passed the smell test. They obviously weren't "new" as in in box and thus you cannot be sure. Most sellers slap "new" onto anything that looks remotely like it regardless.

When you have the time get out your copy of the service manual, some tools and take a look "under the bonnet" as it were. Study the diagrams to see how things should work and then see if you can figure out what isn't happening.

You might also want to contact Lehman's: https://www.lehmans.com/p-3046-home-queen-wringer-washers.aspx?show=all

They were selling the Saudi Arabia version of SQ wringers (production has now ceased), but apparently they are a source of spares and repair information. When you consider how much the Amish love wringer washers, am willing to bet they may be able to offer some advice.
 
So I might have to find a weekend to take off the bottom...

Could be wrong and certainly am not an expert but IIRC with SQ wringers you take the tub up and out (after removing the wringer head) to service.

With the tub out of way it will be easy to see what is or is not happening as in relation to the agitator.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?56653

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?31929

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?31442
 
I'm afraid that since your transaction for this washer was outside of Ebay, they may come back and say "Sorry kid, you are on your own with this one. Our protection is only for items purchased through Ebay.".

Don't give up, persistence is the only way to get any action in your case. You could always file a small claims court action against the seller and if she doesn't show up get a default judgement against the seller. File the action in your jurisdiction as this is where the problem originated. Make it the responsibility of the seller to make it to court in your area.

Start off by sending the seller a formal demand letter that they refund your money and arrange to have the washer picked up. Send it registered/certified and give them 30 days. That should start your off on the right foot.
 

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