I Couldn't Deal With Not Having A Front Loader Anymore...So....

[mark1973]

Hi Guys

Well after the sad loss of the 3060 I thought I would be fine with just having the top loader and twin tub. I was wrong and as time went on really missed having a front loader in the kitchen (The top loader is in the garage and with all the recent snow and general cold/wet weather was getting getting fed up going back and forth to the garage).

I gave in to a machine that was at the junkyard and hopefully it will keep going until I can save for a brand new machine.

I saw it a number of weeks ago but decided it was too old and stopped myself getting it plus it was more expensive then.

Went to the junkyard yesterday and it was still there and asked the price and it had gone down to an amount I could just afford so I took the plunge.

It's a Hoover Electron 1100 Energy Control Series.
I think the model is 3294. It's a national model,
Dated Sept 1986 so a late one.

Seems to be working ok so far. Has a very tiny leak from the rear seal and the back plate has some corrosion to it and I think it's because the previous owner must have only used liquid detergent. The powder drawer was spotless with no sign of powder being used.

Im hoping the leak does not get any worse and a hole does not appear in the backplate. I really hope the spider is ok.

The above problems are the reason why I did not want another old/vintage machine as I would like a new machine that will hopefully go a couple of years at least without any problems.

Will see how the electron gets on.

Mark
x

 

[mark1973]

Forgot to say that another reason for getting the machine is that the top loader now has a fault with the hot water valve sticking so to use I have to reach behind the machine and turn the hot on then wait for the machine to fill and then turn the water off again. Was becoming rather annoying!

The twin tub also has a problem. The spin belt needed tightning so I moved the motor over and as I was tighting one of the bolts it sheared off so at the moment the twin tub cannot be used.

Basically the 2 machines we had both had problems and only 1 can be used and is a bit of a hastle so really wanted a front loader again.

 

[newwave1]

Hi mark!
Sorry to hear about the 3060. Its crazy how attached we get. When i took the logic to the tip with countless faults and having not used it for over a year i was still sad to see my first ever collected machine go on its final trip.

I know exactly what you mean about having a machine that will be reliable for a few years, which is why i saved up alot of money and have taken the plunge with the LG. I now have a garage of my own so i still have my old collectables which will be used when the weather is better and when the mood takes me!

Hopefully the leak on the electron will be nothing serious!

What modern machine do you fancy buying?!

Darren

 

[mark1973]

Hey Darren!

Congrats on your new purchase! Looks a lovely machine and im sure you will spend hours trying out all the programmes with various options.

The 3060 was sad but thankfully a lot of it's parts have gone to other people to keep theirs going or to improve theirs so im pleased about that.

The leak is the back seal so a new seal is needed. I do have one but really not confident on replacing it as I did try it on another elctron I had once but it all went wrong and so was never confident enough to try again. A friend did the rear seal for me on the first 3060 I had so I thought I would try it myself and be fine but I gave up with it. I may try again with the electron I have now. Im also scared to take the back plate off and find a lot of corrosion to it inside and corrosion to the spider so that's putting me off also.

With regards to a new machine im thinking of going for an Amica as they have a 2 year warranty and are low priced (around £200). I don't have funds to go for a more expensive machine so thought with a 2 year warranty it was good for a low end priced machine.

Mark
x

 

[newwave1]

I know what ya mean. I've had failed repairs in my time. I still have the bearings to get fixed on my zanussi wdt1085 bu i cant bring myself to do it. i may pay a repairman to do it.

Amica! I think they're very good for the price. Entertaining to watch too if you can get one of the models with the recirculatory jet! 2year guarentees great too!

Best of luck with it!

D x

 

[mark1973]

Im the same Darren. As much as I want to do the repair im so convinced I will cock it up!

I may cheat and put some sealant on it to seal it and hope the machine lasts until I have the money to buy the new one. Not a good thing to do I guess in many vintage collectors eyes but I just know im going to find a lot of corrosion to the back plate etc and feel better not seeing it!

Im not sure if the low end Amica has the recirculatory jet but I did see one in the flesh last week as it was in a shop window and it looked like there was a space in the door seal for one so you never know. It may have been just a standard seal though which they use for all models.

Thanks for your comments about the Amica...I was ready for all the comments "you don't want one of those they are crap" but you buy what your funds allow.

Mark
x

 

[mark1973]

Got the model number completely wrong!..It's A3472.

Just had the machine out to check how rear seal leak is doing and it seems to have stopped..yey! But have noticed a leak from the soap drawer to tub hose which is common and will just need some sealant round the edge.

Mark

 

[washboy2005]

Congrats on the Hoover, Mark! It is a front loader none the less, and a bloody decent one at that, you could have done far worse.

I like the look of those Amica's from what i've seen online, never seen one in the flesh though. However from what I've read, seen and been told recently, Indesit are on the up in the terms of improved programming and build quality, whilst still remaining in the lower budget category. They also now offer the 5 year parts warranty on them.

I love my Hotpoint (will be three years old in May!)

Just my two pence worth!

Hope all is well,
Dan x

 

[paulc]

Congrats Mark!

So sorry to hear the 1509 is sick though! It looks like my Mum is right and I am a jinx on washers!!!!!

Anyway hope the "new" machine serves you well....I like the look of the Amica machines and Baumatic sold that style for a while on their website. The Baumatic I had was good for what I paid for it (£120 from Big W, brand new ) it was a discontinued model.

Plus you know if you need the use of a machine you can always pop round to mine for a mini wash in and a cuppa. x

 

[mark1973]

Hey Dan! Long time no speak..Hope you are doing well.

Thanks for your message and your comments. I did ponder about indesit but im not so keen on the look of them. They don't seem to have changed the design of the fascia in a while so maybe they will change it soon and they will look better. Im not keen on the control knobs for some reason.

Glad to hear the Hotpoint is going strong! I do like the look of the Hotpoints...lots of lights etc...lol

Mark
x

Ello Paul!

Yes your a naughty boy for even coming near the 1509...I believe your mum was right..Just after you visited the pump failed and now the inlet valve...lol. Next time you are here you can look at through the garage door but not go near it..lol

Im so pleased to have a front loader back. Really thought id be fine without one but having a machine in the kitchen makes it so much easier and im loving the energy control buttons so I have a longer wash at 60 instead of 95 and at 45 instead of 60..Great feature. I had completely forgotten also that it does 4 rinses with just one interim spin inbetween. I really like that as things get rinsed well and only having the one spin creates less suds so again better rinse performance.

Thank you for the offer of another mini wash in...one of these days ill figure out what bus to get to get up to yours...lol

Mark
x

P.s Thought id better attach a couple of pics!

 

[mark1973]

Pic 2:

 

[seamusuk]

Nice

Hey Mark

It looks a worthy successor to the A3060 -(tis a pity that had to be broken up tho). Love the "Mean Machines" sticker lol. Am I imagining things or did you have a modern front loader at one point- silver Haier possibly???

Seamus

 

[mark1973]

Hey Seamus

Thanks. Yes it was sad about the 3060 but enough was enough with that machine. It was one thing after the other and when the timer and bearings failed within a few months of each other I had had enough. I didn't have the money to get someone in to replace the bearings so she finally had to be broken down. I am pleased though that others have benefitted from her parts and she will live on in various other other homes.

You are also correct in that I did once have a Silver Haier which I purchased new. It was a nightmare. It did wash well (but then what machine wouldn't when it takes 3 hours to wash). The out of balance spin was rediculous and if it decided it couldn't spin the load in the time the normal spin would be it was shut down and give you a unbalanced load error code. Another problem was that we have stupid large mdf board things as the flooring in the kitchen as its a modern house. When the Haier would spin the whole kitchen would vibrate to the point where items would actually fall off the worktop. The older machines seem to be better with vibrations.

Mark
x

 

[electron1100]

The Mean Machines

Well done Mark to come to the world with a great washing machine, part of a long and classic line of washers from Hoover (Who better) .

As regards changing the rear tub seal, you know you can ask either me or mat for help, it is a bit fiddly this job but there are little things you can do that help with this task, getting the tub gaskett on is the worst part for me, i use a silicon seal compound around the back of the back plate, i find this helps keep the tub gasket in place once you have got it on.

Anyway why waist money on another machine keep this beauty running, you know they are great machines.

Hotpoint inlet valves, they are a peice of pi*s to change mine went on my top loader, two wires, hose clamp and a few screws.......dont give up on it, the pumps are easy to change aswell.........just ask us Mark we can advise

Anyway enjoy your mean machine

Gary

 

[mark1973]

Hi Gary!

I am very pleased with it. It's much better than I had remembered the energy control models were.

I had the machine out today to seal the detergent drawer hose where it enters the tub as I noticed it was leaking the other day when I pulled the machine out to check the rear seal leak. The rear seal leak had dried up but whilst the machine was out today I also put sealant around the backplate and also around the thermostat. Generally I have put it on the normal areas which spring leaks.

Im determined to get around to doing the rear seal myself so im sure I will be emailing you! (thank you very much for your offer of assistance).

With regards to the top loader don't worry im ok with that one and the top loader is going nowhere. The pump went a couple of months ago and I got a recon one off Mark and I did fit that myself with instructions from him (although I did my usual trick of over tighning the bolts) It seems to be holding ok. I haven't had a proper look at the valve yet but I will be attempting that myself also. Would you happen to know if I could use a Hoover inlet valve? or are the Hotpoint ones completely different. Just though id ask out of interest before I delve into the back of the machine.

Cheers

Mark
x

 

[bertrum]

Hi
I would recomend getting this machine repaired, it will give you many more years than any modern 5 year max appliance.
The leaking rear seal really isn't as big a job as you think.

Look at it like this a new LG that is all singing and dancing and looks great with 100 programmes will not be around in 25 years, the Hoover has passed the test of time.
bertrum

 

[fl1012]

Energy Control Series

Hi Mark

Your Electron looks immaculate. It's so shocking that it was at a junkyard. People just give up with appliances for such petty reasons. I suppose it's lucky for enthusiasts though.

Id never really thought about the Energy Control buttons - would be brilliant if more older machines had the option of longer washes at reduced temperatures rather than the 'long & hot' or 'shorter & cooler' choice we usually have to settle for. Obviously with modern machines they all take ages so it matters less!

I've noticed from watching a few videos lately that Hotpoint/Indesit do have some clever programming - i noticed that Darren's WT960 did a longer quicker tumble on the rinses just before draining, which gets the suds out of the clothes before slowing right down to pump it away. Also how Indesit & Hotpoint do the very long tumbles on the Wool cycle to clean the items without them hitting the paddles. It's a much more convincing idea than our Zanussi's 'one tumble every two minutes' that looks hopeless. However i'm not totally convinced about Hotpoint/Indesit's build quality yet. There does seem to be a few too many on eBay with bearing & PCB failure at just 18 months. Zanussi, amongst others, have got worse in this respect aswell though, it seems.

I didn't realise till i clicked your profile & saw your email that i bought some Electrolux, Hoover & Zanussi brochures off you on eBay a month or two ago! Im so gutted i missed the 1980s Zanussi brochures you put on there just beforehand - i own an FL1012 so to have more info about that range wouldve been great. Do let me know if you plan on selling anything else along those lines!

Anyway, best of luck with the Electron. It really looks lovely.

Liam

 

[newwave1]

I take it that was a quipp at me bertrum. I'm sure it will last me longer than most things out there and if not my 20year old zanussi will be happy to take over ;-)

 

[bertrum]

not meant to be a quipp and I hope your LG gives you many happy years of service but Im sure you will agree that its not going to give the service that the old Electron will.

b