Looking for a good used top load machine, advice?

[billiedyer1954]

I believe you should put about a quart of water in the tub before you try it out. when I got mine new, the installer did that, he said the pump would be damaged without some water in there, since yours has not been in use for some time, I think the pump retains a little water between loades.

 

[leica]

Welp it works great. Took off the front cover and beside some dry soap that had to be cleaned up it looks brand new inside. Hooked it up, poured some water in for the pump and ran it through a cycle with hot water and some soap. It sure is quiet compared to the front loader haha. Still gotta run some clothes through it, but I'm thinking it will be fine. I really lucked out on this one.

 

[DADoES]

 
Yay!

 

[DigAPony]

That Speed Queen looks a lot like the belt eating 1990 Amana washer I gave away.

 

[mtn1584]

Alliance built this washer.................

so it may look like the belt eating Amana you gave away, but it isn't/
Mike
GREAT DEAL ON A GREAT WASHER!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[DirectDriveDave]

Belt Eating

From other posts I have seen, I think the Amana-labeled washers didn't have the motor directly attached to the outer tub (or the support, I am unsure of the exact piece) instead it was attached to the bottom, so when the tub would move from agitation or spin, the motor stayed stationary, so it would constantly stretch the belt, which is why they had to be replaced a lot. 

 

[leica]

Need a Dryer

Have done a bunch of loads so far and the Speed Queen works great, however I've realized that I'm probably going to need a better dryer now too. Any recommendations? I'd like to go high efficiency if possible.

 

[pierreandreply4]

for high effency have you look at the duet dryer or a speed queen dryer as an exemple if you look at the set i have the dryer is on the right is a duet dryer very good drying power for a 2004 dryer that is newer models might be a bit more powerful

 

[combo52]

Belt Eaters

All SQ [ since about 1980 ], Amana and Amana-tag derivatives are hard on main drive belts ,it does not matter if the motor is mounted on the base plate or suspended from the tub assembly like current models, as the idler pulley keeps the belt tension constant as the tub rocks on the machines with the base mounted motor.

 

This design is hard on belts because there is no clutch and as the machine struggles to spin while it is pumping out the water the belt gets HOT, to make matters worse when compared to MT DC washers that do the same thing, the SQ belt is shorter than MTs, SQs have an idler pulley bending the belt backwards and SQs now use a plastic transmission pulley that does not dissipate heat like the large aluminum pulley MT used.

 

[leica]

Gas or Electric?

That Duet looks and sounds nice, but a quick search on CL came up with a few that need control boards and I don't want to go down that road. I'm going to try and stick with analog controls.

Also I was wondering if it's worth going gas? I don't have hookups, but I could get a tank from a local supplier, and it would also give me the option of a gas stove which I've always wanted.

 

[DigAPony]

Also I was wondering if it's worth going gas?

I think having gas (propane) is opens up a lot of possibilities. If for no other reason in power outage you can still cook and possibly have hot water as well via a gas hot water heater (with standing pilot).

A gas 29 inch top lint filter dryer would be a nice match to the Speed Queen washer, and they are simple to convert to propane.

 

[pierreandreply4]

my duet dryer is electric 220 volt i am sure if you look on craiglist there a gas version if you went to have a gas version