Managed to get a 2017 Speed Queen

[leelee]

So my 3 1/2 year old GE gtan 4250 HydroWave washer died (tub and bearings). It cost around $450. new so we decided not to repair it.
I’ve long been an admirer of Speed Queen top loaders. Just got a brand new 2017 Electroic control machine last night.
I understand there are some learning curves when it comes to using a new machine. I read the manual. I have previously watched many YouTube videos on this machine.

I have done about 15 various loads (no washer for 8 days!)

So far...I love short cycle times and high water level.
Not so crazy about how it didn’t spin clothes as dry as the old GE, or the whirlpool cabrio agi I had before that. Still using the cabrio gas dryer but it really has to work hard now.

But what I’m most saddened by is how rough I’m finding it on my clothes.
Upon further investigation it seems as though there are rough spots in the tub. I’ve run panty hose against these spots and it snags.

This washer was $1450.00 in Canada. I’m not real happy right now and I dread telling my husband my findings.

Any ideas? I’d love to hear from you.

 

[stricklybojack]

.
Not unusal, or at least I have seen the same complaint here before.
The company says that over time they will go away with use.
You can try to work out the rough spots with fine grade steel wool.
Call your dealer and ask for guidance.

The high cost of this brand makes any short comings that much more annoying.
Sort it out and know the pay off comes in 15 years and you're still using the same machine with still no need to replace. At least that is what's supposed to happen.

Deal with the issue quickly so you can get the new washer smile back on your face.
The company never replaces whole machines, but they do replace as many parts as needed during the warranty period without question.

The problems with my new Speed Queen front loader were so frequent, and my efforts at getting the machine replaced so futile, it will take many years of trouble free use before my "new washer smile" returns.[this post was last edited: 2/3/2018-18:27]

 

[mrsalvo]

I am so sorry this has happened to you also. I have a 2015 model T/L and looking to replace it with a LG or Maytag front loader, something that is much easier on fabrics. SQ tore up an heirloom quilt, put small pin holes in many of my t-shirts, and overall just rough on other clothing, esp. towels. After the quilt incident, that made me sick to my stomach, I was done with SQ. Until I can get a new washer, I don't load it past the second hole in the agitator and ALWAYS use a full tub of water. On top of that I only set the wash cycle between short and normal, mostly short with a soak. So far I'm getting okay results and it has lessened the damage to clothing and they come out acceptably clean...though at times not the very best. For the amount of clothes I can wash, it uses a HUGE amount of water, but that's the trade off. I'm not above going to the laundry mat to wash any quilts or anything I don't want to take the risk of damaging. I am done with top loading agitator washers, with the exception of a few old vintage models (Frigidaire, GE, etc.). I'm not looking back when I let them pull it out.

Don't overload it.

I, too, thought SQ was all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips-too. So disappointed.

 

[helicaldrive]

Easy fix

Just get very fine sandpaper and smooth the rough spots.

Before doing that cover nearby tub holes with tape so the metal shavings do not go into the pump. Vacuum the tub when finished sanding.

Speed Queen told me they replace any tub that snags hose.

 

[rp2813]

I wonder what those scratches are from.  We had a stainless tub Amana (SQ clone) for nine years and the tub never got scratched up like that.  Are you sure the machine you got was brand new?

 

[leelee]

Yes the machine is new. Ordered and unboxed it oueselves. This rough ring runs horizontally around the entire base of the drum where the two parts of the drum were fastened together.

I feel a bit sick to my stomach after reading what mrsalvo wrote in response to my first post.
I sure hope I can learn to like this machine.

I have the electronic panel model. I notice that you can push the spin button and it displays a 7min cycle in the screen. I am hoping this will help spin out my clothing better as I am not pleased with how wet they are. (Funny because I believe the GE HydroWave had a 700 RPM spin like this speed queen)

Also does anyone know if the normal eco cycle and the heavy duty cycle agitate at the same rate? If normal Eco is gentler than heavy duty I think I can work with this too. I’ll just select an extra rinse to compensate for the spray rinse.

Well I don’t know if I should drop the bomb to hubby about the rough ring on Super Bowl Sunday!
Or perhaps let it wait until Monday!

 

[yogitunes]

yeah, I would rub steel wool over the area....all Stainless gets smoother with use...try that, or call your dealer for recommendations....

your machine most likely is not reaching top speed during the spin, a main cause of poor rinsing and extraction...there are a number of tweaks we do to increase the performance of our SQ's

 

[rolls_rapide]

If you can identify a few odd spots on the drum where your lingerie snags, you can use the finest grade of emery paper (or fine sandpaper) to 'de-burr' the problem spots. (I had to do that twice with consecutive Panasonic machines), and it worked.

If, on the other hand, you have a complete ring of burrs, I would complain to the retailer. It might be a manufacturing defect, where something has slipped and scratched the surface during drum forming.

 

[stricklybojack]

.
Now I understand the rough area is actually a ring encircling the wash basket?
That should get you a new wash basket.
Call your dealer and get the ball rolling.
That said the sandpaper/emery/steel wool might still do the job depending on the depth of the ring.
Replacing the wash basket is easier to do for the repair tech than it sounds. They will very likely have to order the part. They can have one shipped direct from Speed Queen as there is a special express parts service for warranty situations like this. I should qualify, at least there is in the States.
Assuming the program extends to Canada, nevertheless you're dealer may not know of it, they usually get their parts from an independent distributor.

 

[Marky_Mark]

Hi there.  Congratulations and commiserations on your new washer!  I can totally understand how disappointed you must be feeling right now.  I'm sure your husband just wants you to be happy and will be as determined as you to get this resolved, even if that means insisting that the retailer take back this washer and sell you another make/model if this machine is not fit for the purpose for which it was bought.

 

In terms of it being rough on the clothes, could you please describe the exact symptoms on the clothes that you are experiencing?

 

[leelee]

So my hubby used a maroon scotch brite pad to smooth out rough spots. Feels much much better.

When I say rough on the clothes I was seeing a lot of fluff and pilling.
I had a sweatshirt that had a gold thread running through it and I feel it was the burrs on the drum that made it all pulled and fuzzy.

Now that I know it’s a bit more agressive I’ve ill be sure to wash things I’m concerned about in lingerie mesh bags! (Teenaged daughter has 100$ lululemon pants!!)

I believe I can experiment with different cycles and run an extra spin to get the results I desire.

I’ll let you know how it goes! I had no dirty clothes to experiment on.....
But it’ll come!!

 

[frigilux]

I have the 9 Series (top-of-the-line electronic control) washer (2017 model). Every SQ top-loader has those "scratches" running round near the bottom of the tub. It has to do with fusing the bottom of the tub to the sides of the tub during the manufacturing process.

At any rate, some machines have deeper grooves/scratches, others less so. My AWN542 had them, as well. A floor display machine (model 432) at the dealership had the worst ones I'd seen. I would have made them replace that particular tub. My new (purchased July 2018) 9 series has relatively light scratches. The chances of snagging are decreased when there is water in the tub.

If you want continuous slow agitation (unlike the brief agitation/soak protocol on the Delicate cycle) use the Bulky cycle. Agitation is slow and spin speed is fast.

Tub leaning is perfectly normal for these machines.

 

[johnb300m]

Like Frig said. It's from the manufacturing process when they join the tub parts.
They're usually not "flush" with eachother, so they grind them down to smooth out the seam.
However Alliance is using a crappy, very course grit grinder to do this, and it leaves the area all rough, and prone to snagging items.

Absolute $h!7 if you ask me, from a company demanding money as they do for their products. Very crude.
Every SQ I used in apartments was like this.
At first I thought it was from high-use wear, like from zippers, jeans etc.
But no, it was on EVERY washer I used.
They make them that way.
#overhyped

 

[johnb300m]

Look how smooth even "crappy, cheap" GE was able to get their stainless tub.

http://www.thecomfortzone.com/appliances/shop/images/10512-51856.JPG

 

[mtn1584]

I own two Speed Queen top loaders

I have the AWN 542 and my newly acquired 2017 9 series electronic washer.
I have never once had an issue with the tubs on either machine. The AWN542 tub is smooth after nine years of use and the tub on the 9 series arrived just as smooth.

Mike

I also have a buddy who bought the new 2018 SQ TR5 and he LOVES it. I think folks expect million dollar machines from Alliance when in fact they are rather straight forward no nonsense machines. The top loaders are still the best built in the market place.

 

[johnb300m]

I don't think people (speculating) expect million dollar machines from Alliance.
But when you're spending 800-2500 dollars on something, you expect a level of refinement.
Ok, ok, I know other major retail brands aren't expected to see their 5th birthday.
But often times a GE or WP DO seem more refined at half the price.

You don't see them with ugly, rough seams, or clunky brakes that need a "break in period" allowing excessive indexing for weeks.

I think it's great, mtn, you got smooth tubs.
That's how they should all be.
But they're not.
I've seen it many times, and so have others.

 

[Chetlaham]

These tubs look rough but aren't in my experience. Maybe the OP's is damaging clothes, but most SQ tubs do not. I can think of many other "refined" machines that have major imperfections.

 

[mtn1584]

johnb300m
I should also mention that my mom and brother both have the AWN 542 and never had any tub issues. My buddy bought a 2016 SQ and no tub issues either. So I’m not the only one who didn’t have issues.
Mike

 

[washman]

I haven't had issues either

Smooth as a ...................well you can figure it out.  In fact, my face is rougher after I shave off a 3 week bearding out in comparison. And I tried all sorts of razors but none of them really get it smooth.  But I digress.

 

Hi Frig!