Is Speed Queen the new Maytag? Seems like it to me. I remember when Maytag pulled that stupid stunt with Neptune.Well, after reading many customer complaints on the SQ website, I get a different view now on that brand.
**Numerous complaints of "burrs" in the tubs, tearing clothes.
**Lid locks failing to unlock.
**delays in getting repairs done.
Among other issues.
And this is from the TOL model, with all those fancy "touch-buttons"
Sorry SQ, I'll never reccomend you to anyone now.
New Speed Queen Models Coming Soon!
- Thread starter mrb627
- Start date
I HATE STUPID LID LOCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The lid lock on my Roper TL isn’t too problematic since all during the fill and wash cycle it remains unlocked so I can add another item if necessary.
The lid lock only locks once the draining begins for the wash portion of the cycle and then is functional throughout the rest of the rinse, drain and spin portion of the cycle. I’ve seldom had the need to unlock the lid during the 6+ years I’ve owned this machine.
Eddie
The lid lock only locks once the draining begins for the wash portion of the cycle and then is functional throughout the rest of the rinse, drain and spin portion of the cycle. I’ve seldom had the need to unlock the lid during the 6+ years I’ve owned this machine.
Eddie
phillymatt53
Well-known member
Lid switches were originally added when consumers who had curious children harmed by putting their hands in a machine while running.
While this initially solved the problem. some liberal-minded goon decided to take it one step further, and make it lock the lid to insure the machine came to a complete halt.
And of course, since everything is becoming digital, thanks to modern technology, the control panels have sported the "touch button" design, in part to look "sexy" and high-tech. - a marketing tool.
That rediculous photo of the machine looks to have more buttons and jazz on it than the keyboard I'm typing on!
So now, as this website's threads confirm, it's another weak spot to reliability when that panel acts up.
The bottom line is, taking something simple and dressing it up just because everyone else does it, isn't the best choice.
It is also about economics. Adding a lid lock has allowed Speed Queen, GE, Whirlpool, ect to do away with a tub brake. Once upon a time you lifted the lid and the tub came to a stop within seconds instead of coasting down in minutes when power was removed from the motor.
GE hydrowave used DC braking so despite the inverter controlled motor and no actual tub brake assembly they still managed to work around having a lid lock.
GE hydrowave used DC braking so despite the inverter controlled motor and no actual tub brake assembly they still managed to work around having a lid lock.
Well, there goes either Maytag's tub brake being the slowest, or the 2-second stop a |N|O|R|G|E| tub brake will do...
Why did they add these stupid lid locks? The tub brakes were better. Stop doing that!
I hate that stupid crap! They're inaccessible for the blind like me, take forever to decide the load size, and just suck at cleaning! Don't even get me started about the longevity! What the heck?
Give me an old school transmission and a tub full to the brim! I can wash at whatever I want! GEEZ!!!!
I am right there with you. If everyone were like me the Whirlpool direct drive, Maytag Dependable Care and two belt Raytheons with EM controls would dominate all washer sales.
phillymatt53
Well-known member
Some blame is on those college kids too.
Getting a job at a major appliance company, and giving the CEO's, design experts, this "new" sexy technology.
They've been pre-trained by tapping on their cell phones, so why not bring that neatness to a washing machine?
Yuck.
God forbid they have to manually turn a real knob, or actually push IN a button.
It's too much work!
How would they survive if they had to get off the sofa or bed, and have to change channels on a tv set?
Getting a job at a major appliance company, and giving the CEO's, design experts, this "new" sexy technology.
They've been pre-trained by tapping on their cell phones, so why not bring that neatness to a washing machine?
Yuck.
God forbid they have to manually turn a real knob, or actually push IN a button.
It's too much work!
How would they survive if they had to get off the sofa or bed, and have to change channels on a tv set?
Eh. Speed Queen does want to build larger models. I talked to a few of their main guys @ ASTI 2025 and they said as much. But their time table isn't close to what Appliance Insider is saying. In order to make a larger model, they need to re-design everything, and the toolig/R&D costs for that are going to be EXTREME for a company of that size. Its not something easy you go into.
phillymatt53
Well-known member
Soon after I moved into this house, I disabled the lid switch on the Maytag washer.
I don't have little kids running around here to worry about.
phillymatt53
Well-known member
Sometimes, it's better to keep things simple, than try to out-do other manufacturers, with their extreme designs.
I think the peak era around the 1970's/80s was when they had designs polished and reliable. - and honestly worth the price.
Look at today's typical offerings - loaded with fancy technology that can easily confuse the average consumer, along with shorter reliability, and costly servicing.
My neighbor got a whole 4 years of use from a Samsung (Samsucks) $700 washer, and its matching dryer.
Both deemed not worth repairing by a technician.
Those units were hauled out for trash, a waste of good money, sad.
But advertizing, marketing and "updating" pressure has been driven into consumer's brains like feeding a drug addict's habit.
A majority of products these days are like "watered down" cheap beer with inflated prices.
I've seen the trend starting as far back as the 1990's.
You think that’s what they teach in college. Haha. Oh boy.Some blame is on those college kids too.
Getting a job at a major appliance company, and giving the CEO's, design experts, this "new" sexy technology.
They've been pre-trained by tapping on their cell phones, so why not bring that neatness to a washing machine?
Yuck.
God forbid they have to manually turn a real knob, or actually push IN a button.
It's too much work!
How would they survive if they had to get off the sofa or bed, and have to change channels on a tv set?
And that’s not how companies work either.
Engineering is subservient to marketing in practically every industry except aerospace. And Boeing tried to reverse that. Didn’t go well for them.
Any of the wiz-bangery engineering comes up with, never sees the light of day unless marketing, the CEO, etc, can sell it.
Matt, larger capacity demands made by customers are what put Maytag out of business and one of the largest drivers behind machine re-designs. People turned their back on many good washers simply because the next newer model could accommodate slightly more.
People have a tendency to let laundry accumulate, do not sort, and often rely on one or two large loads every 5-7 days vs running many smaller loads.
People have a tendency to let laundry accumulate, do not sort, and often rely on one or two large loads every 5-7 days vs running many smaller loads.
They just cram everything in and think everything's clean and doesn't matter to them. They don't care about rollover or cleanliness. All they also care about is gentleness, completely oblivious to the fact you need agitation to get the tough dirt out. This is especially true for most cottons and linens.
Why do you think the cottons cycle has the longest and most aggressive wash/spin combinations of all time?
Most people just don't care! They now want washers and dryers to use wifi to notify them. Why do I need that stupid crap? I don't!
I don't either. Today's appliances are loaded with too many STUPID electronics!
Are you serious? What the heck? Why can't they just leave well enough alone?
And the GE filter-flo would've dominated with upgraded capacity! They should've used a stainless steel tub! Stupid model T!
It's only gotten worse! What else is new? Why are we forced to have tech in laundry being shoved down our throats?Some blame is on those college kids too.
Getting a job at a major appliance company, and giving the CEO's, design experts, this "new" sexy technology.
They've been pre-trained by tapping on their cell phones, so why not bring that neatness to a washing machine?
Yuck.
God forbid they have to manually turn a real knob, or actually push IN a button.
It's too much work!
How would they survive if they had to get off the sofa or bed, and have to change channels on a tv set?
Not sure he's an "idiot" for saying there's a larger model coming out... "hopefully". If anything, a bit of conjecture given there are new model numbers being added. Many of us wish there was one, and I don't think anyone has real insight as to what SQ may be working on. And I don't know if he even provided the image of the stack unit control on a top loader, one of the things that p*sses me off to NO end is the prevalence of AI images on so many YouTube videos. They're so darn concerned about what they deem to be "misinformation", but they're quite happy to let liars post videos with a come-on pic that has nothing whatsoever to do with the subject matter... truth be damned. Nonexistent power tools from DeWalt that defy the laws of physics... etc.
I'm not gonna be in the market right away anyhow, I have a newish TR3 that we're using now, and a commercial stack unit that'll be replacing it once I get the dryer vent sorted out... at the rate I get things done, it'll outlive me by a decade. I would add my name to the list of those who wish the classic transmission design was available with the electronic controls. The boards have been proven to be quite reliable, and for that matter, even the classic machines use electronic controls behind the knobs, if I'm not mistaken. Even the old machines from the 1980's with digital controls lasted well. The only one I had issues with just had cold solder on the motor relay and burned up a track. I jumpered out the missing tracks and it worked perfectly for years. It came with a burnt-up belt, so I imagine someone overloaded it and the belt just slipped until it let the magic smoke out...
I'm not gonna be in the market right away anyhow, I have a newish TR3 that we're using now, and a commercial stack unit that'll be replacing it once I get the dryer vent sorted out... at the rate I get things done, it'll outlive me by a decade. I would add my name to the list of those who wish the classic transmission design was available with the electronic controls. The boards have been proven to be quite reliable, and for that matter, even the classic machines use electronic controls behind the knobs, if I'm not mistaken. Even the old machines from the 1980's with digital controls lasted well. The only one I had issues with just had cold solder on the motor relay and burned up a track. I jumpered out the missing tracks and it worked perfectly for years. It came with a burnt-up belt, so I imagine someone overloaded it and the belt just slipped until it let the magic smoke out...
Jerome, if everyone was like me this washer below would absolutely dominate by a lion's share majority. It would have a GE WH23X42 style pump but re-designed with a pulley and four mounting pegs. The recirculate hose on the other end would terminate to a flume that would spray out into a filter pan mounted on top of the agitator. Ramp agitator to compliment.
Forget capacity, this model is worth the very slight reduction in space for everything it gives. Raytheon knew what they were doing and in my eyes two belt Raytheons are what Whirlpool direct drives are to the rest of the world.
Sadly and tragically or whichever comes first, nobody cares. All they want to do is be on their phones so they're conditioned to think that high tech gadgets they're chasing after are worth it. Why should I chase after that stupid crap? Talk about catch 22!
People just don't know any better, and in large part because they just don't understand. But to me the worst part is that despite the lack of technical understanding people give early breakdowns a pass. The majority are not demanding 30+ year longevity under daily use with a no strings attached 10 year warranty. Speed Queen continues to be an upper end niche market instead of an average player as it was 40 years ago. The Speed Queen washers of today, particularly the classic clean while deemed the creme de le creme of our time were actually average to mediocre when compared to the Whirlpool Belt Drives, Maytag Dependable cares and Frigidaire thumpers of yesterday. Modern manufacturers like Whirlpool, GE and Frigidaire could produce washing machines of such robust quality and performance they could put Alliance to shame renegading it to the WCI of today.
I'd love to walk into a modern appliance store and see Alliances's current design used in BOL intro washers intended for rental properties and cost conscious customers while Whirlpool, GE and Frigidaire would have designs on the floor that would make Maytag of the 1970s blush. They have the technology to build front load and top load washers that could last 60 years as a norm. It is possible without violating the laws of physics.
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Yeah, that's why they have so many ads for products to combat the stench in "laundered" textiles. If people smelled as bad as their textiles, there would be violence, or more violence. If it stinks, it's not clean.
I used two quarters with a 5 cent coin in between them and the whole thing wrapped with tape. It fit perfectly between the lid and the back of the opening. It could be easily removed to allow the tub light to work and it did not mar the porcelain.
phillymatt53
Well-known member
phillymatt53
Well-known member
Ah, the 55 cent fix!
pierreandreply4
Well-known member
honestly lid lock are a pain no matter if the brand is speedqueen whirlpool or maytag you went to add something you need to pause the cycle and wait till the lid unlocks
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