What made one capacity bigger than the other? Was the wash basket simply wider? Or deeper? Did the outer tub size vary? Or was it just a thinner activator? I've never been able to figure out the difference.
Large vs Extra Large Capacity Filter-Flos
- Thread starter Chetlaham
- Start date
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Good question...
That is a good question. I will forever miss these washers.
That is a good question. I will forever miss these washers.
I'm not going to lie, I find myself missing them too. Especially the cycle sequences. I wish they could have at least kept them into the mid 2000s.
It would be nice to walk into a Home Depot and be able to purchase them as an economy lineup due to smaller tub capacity relative to say Speed Queen or just as being the best pet friendly washer you could buy.
I'd personally would have them be front serviceable, 3/4 HP PSC motor, white porcelain or stainless steal basket, and modify the fill flume to get all the water into the tub.
It would be nice to walk into a Home Depot and be able to purchase them as an economy lineup due to smaller tub capacity relative to say Speed Queen or just as being the best pet friendly washer you could buy.
I'd personally would have them be front serviceable, 3/4 HP PSC motor, white porcelain or stainless steal basket, and modify the fill flume to get all the water into the tub.
cfz2882
Well-known member
filter flo washers were archaic machines by 1975,REALLY dated in '95-kinda like a 1956 design '82 Checker cab was 
I don't know about basket sizes,but I have noticed most FFs had 1/3 HP motors,but some had 1/2 HP-always a 4-vane agitator on the 1/2 HP.
I don't know about basket sizes,but I have noticed most FFs had 1/3 HP motors,but some had 1/2 HP-always a 4-vane agitator on the 1/2 HP.
bradfordwhite
Well-known member
They simply made the tubs deeper as the outer cabinet and its associated hardware was all the same.
Either way, the porcelain enameled wash baskets were H-E-A-V-Y and when it was necessary to change the transmission you had to lift them out...and hope not to drop it anywhere and get your fingers mashed. UGG.
I changed at least 25 GE FF transmissions back in the day. There was always lint build up on various parts. It wasn't rare to find nails, screws, paper clips and other such items laying in the bottom of the outer tub RUSTING away.
But GE FF's always had a distinct smell, as I suppose most machine do. I do kind of miss it. Even a newly cleaned and reassembled FF with all the lint and gunk removed still has the smell. It's not a bad smell, it's just a smell. The GE FF smell.
Either way, the porcelain enameled wash baskets were H-E-A-V-Y and when it was necessary to change the transmission you had to lift them out...and hope not to drop it anywhere and get your fingers mashed. UGG.
I changed at least 25 GE FF transmissions back in the day. There was always lint build up on various parts. It wasn't rare to find nails, screws, paper clips and other such items laying in the bottom of the outer tub RUSTING away.
But GE FF's always had a distinct smell, as I suppose most machine do. I do kind of miss it. Even a newly cleaned and reassembled FF with all the lint and gunk removed still has the smell. It's not a bad smell, it's just a smell. The GE FF smell.
Archaic and Dated
Well, I'd ask by what comparison. 90% of today's washers are copying a 1960/70s design and the concept of a central agitator is about 100 years old. Consider that today the most practical items sustaining all of humanity like wheels, transformers, motors, ect are either 125 year old or centuries old. If you don't believe me have a look at Nikola Tesla's patents many of which are found through out the typical family home absolutely unchanged from when they were drawn up 2 centuries ago.
There comes a point a creation, invention or idea becomes a timeless classic. I will agree that GE should have reduced the space between the inner and outer tubs but other than that GE FFs were overall nice washers that proved themselves to folks who were in need of their unique qualities.
Talking about smells the post FF washers with their meshed wash basket and neutral drain would become hands down the most disgusting washer ever made IMO. Don't get me started, lol.
Well, I'd ask by what comparison. 90% of today's washers are copying a 1960/70s design and the concept of a central agitator is about 100 years old. Consider that today the most practical items sustaining all of humanity like wheels, transformers, motors, ect are either 125 year old or centuries old. If you don't believe me have a look at Nikola Tesla's patents many of which are found through out the typical family home absolutely unchanged from when they were drawn up 2 centuries ago.
There comes a point a creation, invention or idea becomes a timeless classic. I will agree that GE should have reduced the space between the inner and outer tubs but other than that GE FFs were overall nice washers that proved themselves to folks who were in need of their unique qualities.
Talking about smells the post FF washers with their meshed wash basket and neutral drain would become hands down the most disgusting washer ever made IMO. Don't get me started, lol.
GE should’ve dropped the Filter Flow washer in 1972
Of all the major designs of top loading washers made in the United States that Filter Flow was by far the crudest machine.
Not only was it a water hog it was noisy the inner wash basket constantly crashed into the outer tub when the loads became unbalanced.
They were always stinky and moldy because of the way the top was sealed to the outer tub.
You could be sure that they would either leak oil on your clothing or on the floor, they will eat small items and get lodged in the pump on a regular basis.
They We relatively easy to fix but we never sold used ones because you just had too many complaints from customers trying to get them to be satisfied with such a noisy machine that would often walk as well as make noise they were also prone to major floods when the boot came loose releasing up to 25 gallons of water in one second On the customers floor.
John L
Of all the major designs of top loading washers made in the United States that Filter Flow was by far the crudest machine.
Not only was it a water hog it was noisy the inner wash basket constantly crashed into the outer tub when the loads became unbalanced.
They were always stinky and moldy because of the way the top was sealed to the outer tub.
You could be sure that they would either leak oil on your clothing or on the floor, they will eat small items and get lodged in the pump on a regular basis.
They We relatively easy to fix but we never sold used ones because you just had too many complaints from customers trying to get them to be satisfied with such a noisy machine that would often walk as well as make noise they were also prone to major floods when the boot came loose releasing up to 25 gallons of water in one second On the customers floor.
John L
Tub Crashing
Model T washers were the champions in this category. The tub straps would frequently brake causing the outer tub to hit the cabinet while in spin. If the machine went into a heavy imbalance the tub would bang in ever escalating fashion where it would crack and the cabinet would essentially self destruct. FFs would at least survive an imbalance condition.
Model T washers were the champions in this category. The tub straps would frequently brake causing the outer tub to hit the cabinet while in spin. If the machine went into a heavy imbalance the tub would bang in ever escalating fashion where it would crack and the cabinet would essentially self destruct. FFs would at least survive an imbalance condition.
*break
Due to the whole tub and motor assembly violently pulling back and forth 200 times a minute on the straps during agitation. Combining everything then having it sit on springs might not be such a good idea.
Due to the whole tub and motor assembly violently pulling back and forth 200 times a minute on the straps during agitation. Combining everything then having it sit on springs might not be such a good idea.
