Is this a good model Speed Queen to buy used?

[ultralux88]

I’m hoping I may guess that it belongs in this section is correct, but I honestly am not sure on the age of these. Our WP direct drive is finally wearing out, and I really want a Speed Queen set instead, but I’m not sure if this model is a good one to get, or what to check first when looking at it, other than the obvious things. Anything I should know would be appreciated!

 

[panasonicvac]

I'd say yes

If I'm not mistaken, this appears to be a commercial set where the warranty was covered for the parts only.

 

[ultralux88]

Correct

It was a military base set, that much I know.

 

[qsd-dan]

It was a military base set,

That translates to severe abuse.

Look elsewhere.

 

[ea56]

If I were going to have a Speed Queen FL this would be one of the models that would appeal to me. I like the old school analog controls, can’t tell from the photo but I believe this model also has a timer control for the cycles rather than electronic and that would also be a plus for me.

The fact that they are from a military base may be of concern though. But from the photos they don’t look beat up so perhaps they may be in good shape.

Eddie

 

[henene4]

Don't think there is such a thing as a bad machine, just a bad price.

If one would pick those up, you'd check for obvious big issues - bearings, dampers, door seal, mold in the drawer, etc.

If you get the set for like 100-200$, and the washer runs a year or two, I don't think you would have made a bad deal.

Then you could test out if that machine is appropriate for your situation and if you like it.
The dryer will as usually probably outlast the washer, so if you insist on a matched set, you could always just put the dryer back up for sale for 50 bucks or so if the washer goes bye-bye.

 

[combo52]

Used Speed Queen front load pair

The serial number tells you the age of the Speed Queen‘s the first two digits are the year such as 06 would be a 2006 machine the next two digits of the year it was made again 06 would be June.

I believe the small door front loader was discontinued around 2006 so they’re nearly 20 years old. They shouldn’t be very expensive. I have the same washer bought new in 2005 never had a problem with it, but it hasn’t had terribly hard use as I have nine washing machines hooked up.

The tub capacity on this washer while still great is only about 2.7 ft.³, and this earlier design was more prone to vibration. If you have weak floors, it’s best for a really solid floor. Other than that it might be a very good machine give the tub a spin make sure it has a good quiet bearing plug it in and put it in the spin cycle if possible, some of these have worn out shock absorbers it would be great if you could see how it behaves with a few heavy wet towels in it.

This machine, even though it has mechanical controls is fully electronic. There’s no timer in it the controls and boards on this machine were very reliable almost never saw any problem with them. I would not worry if they were from a military base unless they show signs of obvious abuse or broken parts, etc. they look good in the picture, given the age. The pair wouldn’t be worth more than four to $600 tops.

John L

 

[ultralux88]

Well, the set proved to be in good shape, I saw both run and operate properly before I took them too. The guy gave me a warranty as well, and the price was definitely cheap enough that I went for it. I had to drain the water out of the old one. I wasn’t using the WP DD when it spewed water out, I’m not sure if the spin brake going bad made it throw water over the outer tub (I’m assuming that seal there is long since dried out) or if something is leaking. If the wash basket wasn’t starting to rust at the holes, I’d be more inclined to dig in and try to fix it.

 

[ultralux88]

Getting that thing up to the second floor laundry was a fun time, heavy mamzer. Was such a workout that by the time I got the thing leveled, Dad and I decided to wait til tomorrow to deal with the dryer.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

Speed Queen Laundry

You got a good deal on Speed Queen Laundry. What models are these? What are all the cycles and options?

 

[ultralux88]

I'll get a picture of both labels when we get the dryer up there in the morning. The washer's serial starts with 0509, so it's roughly the same age as the sets its replacing LOL. But the machine was gone through, and has a newer pump in it as well. So it wasn't just a used set being sent off, thankfully! I went ahead and threw the load into it that was wet in the old washer when it wet the floor, even though we don't have the dryer up there yet. It shakes just a tiny bit more than the WP did, but not so bad that I fear an issue, the final spin is definitely smoother than the initial ones too.

 

[mark_wpduet]

I've never seen a speed queen like this... and it's a FRONT loader....
at least you got to see it work for yourself.
Hopefully it lasts and there are no issues. I'd be running some cleaning cycles through it and scrubbing all of the nooks and crannies

 

[ultralux88]

It was really clean until we smeared it up with dirty handprints loading them up while it was snowing. The inside is still spotless, the guy selling it has a shop there where he works on tests and cleans them up, had a line up of hookups on a wall that looked like some of you guy’s basements, a huge wall of laundromat dryers too… but I need to wipe it down again, and maybe wax it just to make it look like new.

 

[ultralux88]

Meant to add these. It shows some wear, but I didn’t pay much for the set, and I feel it’ll last long enough to be worth what I paid.

 

[ultralux88]

The one thing I haven’t taken a pic of yet that I find most appealing about this model, having seen them for sale with more pictures before, the inside looks more like one of the hardmount machines than the regular front loader, all metal with the vanes being formed of the same sheet of thick stainless steel as they rolled it. From the inside you’d think it was one of those big bold down machines.

 

[ultralux88]

So far I have them steam cleaned, and running. I really quite like this machine, and its matching dryer. I almost like this more than the newer ones I've used.

 

[panasonicvac]

Very nice set!

I think if you wanted to, take the knobs out and paint them white to get rid of the fade.

 

[ea56]

Re: Yellowed plastic knobs, I believe that I one read somewhere that applying hydrogen peroxide to yellowed plastic you could get rid of some or all of the yellowing. It’s a cheap, easy fix to try and shouldn’t harm the plastic in any way.

Eddie

 

[ultralux88]

I considered retrobrite for the knobs, I'd probably go for the full immersion in peroxide method rather than the paste and Saran Wrap one, but still what a bother, involves a lot of sunlight exposure, or buying some UV lamp. I'll probably eventually just put new ones on, as I can still get, those and the control panel end caps. I'm the ONLY one in the family that cares about this though, Mom's only request was she wanted a from loader again, so she's really happy.

So far, my impression is I quite like it. It actually seems to wash better than the direct drive WP ever did. Years ago, before we moved in 2005, we had a Frigidaire built Kenmore front load set, from 2001 I think. Once mom figured out she had to use the, at the time, special detergent and so much less of it, I remember it did wash much better than the 80s belt drive WP it replaced. I tested how well it does by running whites with Laundersol and just a tiny bit of bleach, just to sanitize everything. They came out cleaner than when I would add a scoop of oxi-clean, and way cleaner than with bleach ever in the top load.

I don't seem to see much about Speed Queen's front loaders on here, seems like a shame, they are excellent machines from what I've seen, from this one and newer models I've used and known people who had.