New Speed Queen washers and dryers!

[surgilator_68]

Hi Greg!!

The tub indexes because they put grease on the brake pads to stop the squeal when the machine is finished spinning and also to keep the pads from sticking to the brake drum between manufacture and final sale. It will diminish in time. You can take the brake pads off, take them outside and spray them with automotive brake cleaner. Make sure you let them dry over night before you put them back on. Also wipe the brake drum surface with a cloth that has been soaked in denatured alcohol. You have to be very careful not to get any grease, oil or other substance in, on or around the friction damper or the base plate well. If you do it will not balance properly and will make all sorts of strange sounds. The only way to fix that is to take the entire machine apart, clean the base pan, damper ring and mating surface of the tub support.

 

[gregm]

thanks Jason !!

Hey, thats great info to have and know, thanks very much !!, I think I will just let it "wear" so to speak. I think this seems like a really good quality machine. Take care

 

[gregm]

thanks Jason !!

Hey, thats great info to have and know, thanks very much !!, I think I will just let it "wear" so to speak. I think this seems like a really good quality machine. Take care

 

[mysteryclock]

No cost?!?

Now that is customer service, old school style -- absolutely outstanding!

Once my Bosch finally goes out-of-warranty and dies, I'm now pretty sure what I'll be getting next time. Thanks again for the info.

 

[ryanm]

Hi Greg,

I recently bought a top load Speed Queen washer as well, mine did indexing for the first few weeks, then gradually stopped once the brakes were used a while, I didn't have to do anything. How high does your water level fill on a full load, how many rows of holes are left visible? My machine does not seem to fill quite as high as I would think it should, it leaves about 2 or 3 levels of holes visible, which seems to low for me. I am having a technician come out to look at it.

 

[surgilator_68]

Water level

They lowered the water level to meet energy guidelines. It can be adjusted but I highly doubt it will be covered under warranty. Maybe if you give him a nice tip he will adjust it for you.

 

[mysteryclock]

Hose length

surgilator,

Since you've worked with these FLs before, a quick question. The washer door opens to the right and is not reversible. Since nearly every laundry room I've seen (including my current one) expects the washer to be on the LEFT, are the supplied hoses long enough to reach from a RIGHT position to a plumbing box on the left?

 

[surgilator_68]

That all depends on where the plumbing box is located. Even if they don't reach there are 10ft fill hoses and drain hose extensions.

 

[laundrynut]

SQ OPL STACKED

Wow! Just found this site tonight. I just ordered a new SQ OPL Stack Washer/Dryer LTSA7A. Compared it with the SQ home model, UniMac and Huebsch. They're all basically the same animal, although the wash cycles are shorter on the Huebsch (per the downloadable owner's manual). Ordered it through a local SQ commercial equipment supplier. Should arrive next week.

 

[mysteryclock]

Commercial?

LaundryNut,

Why did you choose the OPL commercial model over the home one? Was it just a case of having a commercial distributer available and no local home dealer? Are the prices and features the same?

I'd love to see some pics when you get them installed. I'm interested in the stack models specifically because my current laundry room is tiny, and any extra space would be a blessing.

 

[lebron]

Welcome Laundry Nut.

 

[laundrynut]

Thanks for the welcome!

The only SQ home model distributer listed near me knew nothing about SQ FL machines and has no service department. They sell mostly high-end kitchens and appliances and have pushy sales people in a swanky showroom. The commercial distributer works out of a warehouse, has current awards on the office wall from SQ and Alliance, gave me 25% off list price, and they also have their own service department who deliver and set up the equipment for no charge. Commercial? I'm the type to choose Bunn over Mr. Coffee, if you know what I mean.
BTW: I chose the stacked for the same reason. I would have had to remove the folding doors on my laundry room to accommodate side-by-sides.

 

[whirlcool]

That SQ LTSA7A washer is exactly the same as the UniMac we have at our shelter. It's a EXCELLENT machine. But you must have paid a small fortune for it!

 

[mysteryclock]

9 or 24 ?

Do you know if the current OPL stacked machines still have the 9-minute wash that got the original home units such bad press or the new, longer 24 minute one? From what I read on the SQ OPL web site it seems like the 9er, but their docs could be out of date.

Other than that, the controls / etc. look the same.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

I have to say that the Speed Queen machines found in the Laundry mats are very attractive, especially model:SC20MN20U60001. I would definitely get one, as their parts are plentiful. The video of the residential Speed Queens has me convinced to buy one. Only if I was not still in college and have a decent job, darn!! The machines That I found was relatively cheap ~400.00 for both.

 

[laundrynut]

user manuals and price

I found the user manuals for the SQ OPL and the Unimac online. Their manuals are identical, copyrighted in March, 2009. They are supposed to have a normal wash bath cycle of 24 mins. The Huebsch OPL user manual (dated April, 2003) stated a 9 min wash cycle. There is a good chance that the latter’s online user manual is outdated and that they’re all on the 24 min cycle now.

The list on the SQ OPL stacked is $2512.00 (US). The local SQ distributor gave me 25% off the list price. The shipping from WI to FL was about $155.00. With the 6% tax, I paid $2162.00. The Huebsch distributor priced the same unit at $2165.00 before tax. The Unimac was priced similar to the Heubsch.

 

[nmaineman36]

Nice machine Greg! I am considering going back to a top load washer once the Maytag/Samsung Neptunes I have here in Mass die. The Neptune washer is starting to have bearing issues and I get the TE code from time to time.
I had the Amana Raytheon version of the Speed Queen back in the mid 90's and I did like the washer and dryer. That FlexVane agitator is more powerful than it looks. I have never had a load not rollover with that agitator. It acts alot like the belt drive Whirlpool Surgilator where with every stroke those curves move the load to the bottom. The bottom vanes act alot like a Maytag PowerFin. The vanes will adjust to the size and type of load and on occasion one can hear the "tick" of the vanes flexing.
What I did notice is that Speed Queen does not have an electronic control dryer. Its all auto thermostat dry. I for one dont care for the auto thermostat dry since its not as accurate and the dryer will heat up high to 160 degrees. Way too hot I think for most loads. I do wish that they would use Stainless steel in the dryer drums instead of galvanized steel.

 

[mysteryclock]

Pics and thermostats

LaundryNut,

Thanks for the update...post some pics when you get the unit please!

nmaineman36,

Can you comment on the real world history / performance of auto thermostat drying vs. moisture sensors? I have a sensor-based dryer now that's slowing going mad (over-drying or leaving clothes wet on occasion) so I'm a bit ambivalent about which is better. From what I understand most if not all the older dryers were thermostat ones and folks around here have some affinity for the older gear, so... are they that bad / inaccurate or just more difficult to implement well?

 

[tlee618]

Yes, please post some pictures when you get these beauties home. Thanks

 

[laundrynut]

Arriving Tuesday

The SQ units are scheduled for delivery Tuesday AM. Won't get a chance to audition them until after work in the PM. Will try to get some pics somewhere along the line. Don't think I'll get any sleep tonight... LOL