New Maytag Traditional Belt Drive Washing Machine

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richardlxixxx

richardlxixxx

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Joined
Mar 14, 2014
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Old Westbury, New York
[COLOR=#333399; font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: 12pt]In a word - DRECK.[/COLOR]

 

[COLOR=#333399; font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: 12pt]What a poorly constructed imitation of the past.  Washing ability is great, but I have not owned a top load washer since 1996.  [/COLOR]

[COLOR=#333399; font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: 12pt]If budget had permitted, Speed Queen is the way to go for a new top load washer.  Even used![/COLOR]

[COLOR=#333399; font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: 12pt]This new Maytag is quiet and does provide a full tub of water.  It does have a deep rinse, but no spray rinses during the spin cycle.  What happened to spray rinses?  My old Whirlpool had several spray rinses during the spin cycle prior to the deep rinse.  [/COLOR]

[COLOR=#333399; font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: 12pt]Also, when the tub fills with water, the entire tub assembly drops about 3 inches.  WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!  The gap between the top of the tub and the top of the machine is about 5 inches. What is that?[/COLOR]

[COLOR=#333399; font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: 12pt]Manufacturers need to look to the past when things were solidly constructed and go back to the drawing board.  The government needs to stay out of our laundry rooms.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=#333399; font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: 12pt]I highly recommend that anyone looking to purchase a new top load washer, budget permitting, that they purchase a Speed Queen.  Speed Queen is the only top load washer available that is close to what washers were in the days of yore.  All else is trash.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=#333399; font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: 12pt]If I could figure out how to get the video I made posted I would.  It is on youtube - New maytag belt drive washer[/COLOR]

 

[COLOR=#333399; font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: 12pt]Richard[/COLOR]

 

 
 
The new belt-drive agitator models from Whirlpool/Maytag/Kenmore are most certainly not built like they used to be, however, right now they are the only reasonably priced washing machines that I would willingly ever pay money for. I have the Whirlpool WTW4800, 2012 year model, and though it is very different in comparison to the Maytag Atlantis I have that's at my in-laws, or the KitchenAid top-loader that we had growing up, this washer actually does a phenomenal job once you get the hang of how to use it.

One thing is that the lid locks, but there isn't a machine out there now, besides Speed Queen, that doesn't. That could very well change on SQ's side with the new lineups rolling out next year, but who knows. My fix: I bought the lid latch on Amazon for $15 bucks. All I have to do is pop it into the slot and let it fly should I need/want to have the lid open while it's running.

In regards to the tub assembly dropping, the entire machine is on a floating suspension assembly. In fact, they share the same exact suspension and drive systems as their "higher-end" HE siblings, until you get into the upper models with direct-drive inverter motors. This reduces the surface area on which vibration can transfer to the frame and cabinet. Even with a heavy load that is shaking like a freight train, the machine itself as a whole is sitting almost perfectly still, and it is reasonably quiet as well. With the weight of water and clothes, the springs simply compress completely down to allow the suspension posts to bear the brute of the added water.

As far as spin-spray rinses, sadly those are a thing of the past because of water regulations. I also don't believe that the tiny magnetic induction drain pump can handle water pouring in while the tub is spinning without the water itself pooling and slowing the basket down. These have a digital inverter motor, which relies on torque to the gear box to supply power to the agitator. When spinning, however, the motor's power is almost directly applied to the basket, and any resistance added once it's spinning at top-speed will almost immediately slow it down, and the machine will cut power to the motor to avoid overheating.

Since the machine defaults to "spray-rinses" if a fabric softener option is NOT selected, I always keep the option for a fabric softener rinse set to ON, that way I always get a wash-spin-rinse-spin cycle, just like a traditional machine. To mimic a spin-spray on a final spin, I'll switch it to Fab.Soft ON w/Extra Rinse (on some it may be "2 rinses w/Fab.Soft). It of course does not do two full fill rinses, but it will at least do a deep rinse, followed by a quick spin, then a spray rinse, and proceed to the final spin. This at least gets the clothes mostly drenched again after the agitated rinse, so I use it for extra-soil or heavy loads.

I hope this helps, if only a little bit. These and the SQ's are the only machines left that work just like a traditional washer and use the PROPER amount of water to perform well. I'm glad that at least Whirlpool is keeping the option open to the customer to have something other than the terrible HE machines, for now. I've come to absolutely love mine. I've yet to pull anything out that was anything but fresh and genuinely clean feeling, as well as barely damp because of the faster spin speeds. My dryer only takes 45-50 minutes for a heavy load of towels that before would have taken 1.5 hours or more.
 
I used one of these on holidays in Hawaii recently and cant fault it.

Use the heavy duty cycle with high water level and fabric softener rinse and you get a traditional deep fill washer I couldn't fault the machine in any way performance wise. The Heavy duty cycle actually gives you reasonably hot water as well, so you have options about whether Hot is hot or tepid.

The top hung basket is how the rest of the world has done washers since the mid 80's, it might seem flimsy compared to what the US is used to, but it holds up well and with the variable speed motor means that OOB situations are generally a thing of the distant past.

The only thing that irritated me with the machine, was how long it took to unlock the lid after the cycle finished, when you're trying to go to bed that slow down from the final spin seems to take an eternity.
 
I have a GE GTWN 2800 that I purchased in July 2012. The lid does not lock, it has electromechanical controls with an infinate water level control. There is no ATC, tap hot is what I get when I wash with hot, which is for most of my loads of wash. Speed Queen is not the only top load washer that has a traditional format. When I select the highest water level it fills almost to the top, if I want more water I just hold the reset on the water level switch until I get the extra water I need. But due to the extra large basket I seldom have to do this, only if I'm washing a kingsize comforter or bedspread. It NEVER goes out of balance, and spins every time I wash. I always select Power Rinse and get a deep rinse for every cycle. The only down side for some, but not for me is that there is no slow speed agitation. I haven't found this to be a problem. However, now that Electrolux has purchased GE I imagine that the days are numbered for this model, which is sad. I know that many on this site believe that Speed Queen is the only was to go, but I've been very happy with this machine. I expect that it probably won't have the longevity of a Speed Queen, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. And who knows, maybe if and when my GE gives out there might be something that I'll like even better, at least it would be a vaild reason to get a new washer!
 
I have a newish 2013 ge hydrowave with no lid lock/ although it is not one the washers that will fill to the top of the basket. My mother has a 2011 with same feature set. I was worried about what seemed like poor quality on the new line of washers.I mean my hydrowave basket swings all crazy during wash!!! I am very happy with the ge washer, and I am sure the Whirlpool belt drives are also good washers. If the new GE stops hydrowave production then whirlpool/kenmore/maytag would be my next choice in washer.

Andy
 
We got a whirlpool duet frontloader and we are happy with it. It uses a good amount of water on the normal cycle just almost fills the bottom of the tub all they way. in fact we just washed a load of towels and oddly enough they came out whiter then our old direct drive top load on the normal cycle. The vibrations are very minimal even though our laundry room is on the second floor. It vibrates less then our old washer. But i do agree this entire water saving/energy saving is now starting to get out of hand. Plus when i moved the tub on a VMW it bugged me alot it felt like it would just fall apart. Which is also why we got a frontload insted of a top load. When will they atleast start to losen up on the regulations and start building these things atleast with a little more quality?
 
Maytag Centenial Belt Drive Washer

[COLOR=#333399; font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: 12pt]I did disable the lid lock so that lid can be opened at will.  Lid locks are ridiculous unless you have ill trained children.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=#333399; font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: 12pt]The washer actually washes quite well.  Agitation is great.  However, you must use the rinse selection with fabric softener to get a rinse with a full tub of water.  Still miss the spray rinses.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=#333399; font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: 12pt]My real complaint is the way in which the machine is constructed.  The suspension springs are not strong enough.  The tub should not descend while it is filling with water.  It is very disconcerting.  Maybe I will purchase extra springs and double up the suspension.  [/COLOR]

[COLOR=#333399; font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: 12pt]Thank you for all your comments.  This is a good washer for the price.  I just wish we could go back to the way things used to be made.[/COLOR]

 

[COLOR=#333399; font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: 12pt]Richard[/COLOR]
 
Lots of peple

Richard, want to go back to the "old way". Myself included.

Having worked retail/IT support for 25+ years, I can say that precious few things are made like the old way. Lodge cast iron skillets are a notable exception.

Most of us can remember when appliances were durable goods. Now they are like the latest I-phone; something to feel good about when you buy it 'cause its "eco-approved" but makes you feel like 20 miles of bad road when it breaks, often jusssst after the pissy 1 year warranty runs out.

I wish I had a crystal ball to predict things but alas, they sold out when I went to grab one.

You can blame 2 entities for this sorry state of affairs, in no particular order.
1. Wall street
2. Consumers bred to believe that cheaper is better.

Put them both together and it's fairly easy to see why we have such an abundance of junk these days.

What kills me is how many cheap printers are tossed because it costs more the refil them than it does to buy a new one! I suppose that makes sense to somebody but it makes no sense to me. So much for the "reduce, reuse, recycle" mantra.
 
Springy Suspension

 
I advise against attempting to modify the suspension.  It's designed that way for a reason.  I have two Fisher & Paykel toploaders with similar (maybe very similar) suspension ... the tub hangs on four rods mounted at the top corners of the cabinet and is cushioned by springs.  It also sinks down when filled (of course, it's cushioned by springs and water weighs 8.3 lbs per gallon).  One of the two machines is 15 years old and has had only a pump replacement.  The other is 9 years 11 months and has had no repairs.  Both spin at 1,010 RPM, facilitated by the suspension design and a gyroscopic balance ring at top of the basket.
 
You're exactly right thefixer. While understanding the actual mechanics of how most machines work, I'm still learning a lot about the different classifications of motors and how they operate exactly. A friend that has been in the appliance industry for a while told me that was the type of motor in these, but upon researching I discovered you're right about it being a single phase induction motor. I suppose he may have gotten mixed up with another machine. Apologies :)
 
You got it! That must be what he and I both were thinking, because I knew I had heard of the new motor-controlled agitation washers using an inverter. So in that case, does the WP model not have an onboard computer bolted to the top of the motor like the GE does? On one hand, it kinda takes away from the "cool" factor, but at the same time it seems like there's less opportunity for component failure with the lack of one, seeing how electronics have become in today's age.
 
Hi Richard

Like Dadoes said, the suspension which drops during filling up is just a charateristic of the newer designs of top loader. This top suspended design has been used successfully since the 1970s in Japanese, Australian and New Zealand built toploaders. USA machines have been slow to catch up. The top suspension system is superior, because it much better isolates the cabinet from any vibration of the inner drum.

US built machines have got away with the older, stiffer suspensions because they have tended to have slow spin speeds, between 550 and 650 rpm on the whole. When you increase the spin speed to over 1000 rpm, the suspension of the older desgns becomes almost rigid at that frequency of vibration and machines walk around the laundry. Changing to a top suspension with very soft, longer travel springs gives excellent cushioning of higher frequency vibration. Dropping during fill is completely normal, it causes no drawbacks at all. It is just the soft springs compressing under the weight of water in the drum.

There is no logical reason to be unnerved by the drum settling during fill, it is just something new to get used to.

My parents still have a Fisher and Paykel Gentle Annnie washer from about 1990. It has had only one repair - a new drain hose. It has high speed spin and soft suspension which sinks during fill. It is also one of the most impressive top loaders I have seen.
 
Has water gotten heavier?

When I was learning how to fly we always used 7.5 lbs per gallon of water as a measurement. Gasoline was 6lbs per gallon. This was on the FAA Private Pilot's test too. I checked on the Internet and sure enough they say it's 8.3 lbs per gallon. What happened?
 
"does the WP model not have an onboard computer bolted to the top of the motor like the GE does?"

No, they do not. The triac's used to turn the motor on/off are on the main control board behind the user control panel.

" the suspension which drops during filling up is just a charateristic of the newer designs of top loader. This top suspended design has been used successfully since the 1970s in Japanese, Australian and New Zealand built toploaders. USA machines have been slow to catch up"

GE has been using this design since 1995.
 

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