New Speed Queens have Arrived

[48bencix]

Zajic Appliance just installed my new Speed Queens. After much contemplation and actually listing to you guys, I decided to go for the SQ TL with knob timer. It is much like what I had to give up in operation.

Cleaned the tub with some 409 and ran a small load, with full tub of hot water and some Roma detergent I think with phosphate. It looks pretty full to me and I probably will leave the water level there, just below the top row of holes.

A little Jubilee Kitchen Wax on the top for now, not the control panel though.

Running very smoothly. I can't see in because of the lid switch and on that I will leave it alone for now. I can always look on You Tube for the action the machine uses.

 

[48bencix]

Here is what happened to my Maytag

My old set. What the agitator drive should look like. What happened is the shaft pulled out. Shaft with worn out O Rings and new O Rings on the shaft.

The shaft would not stay in the transmission. Evidently needs a rebuild.

 

[gyrafoam]

All you need for the lid switch is a clothes pin. No surgery.
That's the model I have. I'm satisfied with it as far as a modern machine goes.

 

[stricklybojack]

.
Nice choice, really happy for you.
If I would have done the same I would have avoided a world of trouble.
I like the tumble action, open basket, and high speed spin of a FL machine...but when you become afraid of flashing lights ruining your day every time the machine pauses...well it's a major buzz kill is what it is.

 

[mtn1584]

Beautiful!
Best of luck!
Mike

 

[supersuds]

I'm a little surprised California hasn't banned traditional toploaders, what with the water restrictions. Maybe nobody thought of it since there are so few available.

 

[48bencix]

Washer and Dryer operation

I have run about 4 loads through both machines, of course excellent results. I will say the dryer is very quiet, much quieter than the Maytag it replaced.

The washer is louder, filling, agitating and spinning. Not loud like something is wrong, but mechanical sounds. Does anyone else mention this? Maybe the overall sound level diminishes after the belt and transmission gets broken in. The Maytag overall was quieter, the orbital transmission and short stroke but especially that helical drive engagement of spin was pretty smooth and quiet. One thing that I think is pretty negative about the belt location of Maytag is with dogs in the house, there was always a mess of dog hair under there. Plus with the older machine a fair amount of grease from the transmission. Easy to change the belts, but how often do you do that with a two belt Maytag?

I hope it doesn't sound like I am complaining because I love these machines and I am very pleased with this purchase. The cost was about the same as when I purchased the Maytags in 2001, if you factor in inflation.

By the way, I already looked up how to change the belt on this machine. Must remove the motor and attached pump.

This model has a closed back near the lid switch that must be removed to allow access to the lid switch. I have not done that yet. Looks like the fill goes up to the second row of holes, about 1" below possible maximum fill.

 

[Chetlaham]

Oh, you did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, the fun has not even started. Be prepared to fall in lover like never before, and get ready for a true laundry experience as it was meant to be. You have the best of the best on your side now. All thats missing is a rob and some hot mocca.

Yup, this machine will make noise. It has its odd quirks, but they are normal. When I got mine the gear case chattered and made some light grinding noises. During full loads the machine would make a squeaking noise because the tub would rub against the Styrofoam pad glued to the front panel. Lots of other small/strange noises but nothing big. True engineering has its own personality, and that character lets itself known.

Anyway, Enjoy. As I said, you will fall in love with laundry all over again. Be prepared, this machine is no joke.

 

[48bencix]

Interesting Video

Interesting video of the 2015 Electronic Control Model. They show how to bypass the lid switch. No mention of raising the water level. Almost one hour long. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4dIANgB9BM

 

[48bencix]

Mystery Solved

Now that I am using this new SQ washer I understand more about it. I thought it made some noises that seemed fairly loud. The motor is louder when running at slow speed, for some reason.

On Heavy Duty Cycle, the one I normally use, the spin after the wash is on slow speed. So that spin is loud. I saw that this was part of the cycle on the Electronic SQ but I was told that on the Knob machine all spins and wash and rinse were on fast speed for the Heavy Duty cycle. This was one reason I chose the Knob machine. It seems dumb to have a slow spin after the wash unless you are doing a Delicate Cycle. For the last spin it is fast and quieter.

I does seem like it is a bit quieter than when first installed. Overall the noise level is OK, and it is important because it is in the Kitchen.

Oh, after a few washes we had a sheet rope tangle. We forgot to load the tub in the 4 quarters, like Frigidaire always suggested. This loading technique aids in having a non tangled load, because the agitation and turn over is quite significant.

I am still impressed with the overall quality of these machines. The tops, although not Porcelain Enamel, are powder coated and look quite durable. I have not defeated the lid switch. With the current model you have to do a bit of disassembly. Take off the front and raise the top. On my 1949 Maytag I put a switch on the back so I could turn it on to watch the action. Easily removable with no damage to the machine.

 

[kb0nes]

Martin,

The lid switch is easily accessible if you remove the two screws that holds the control panel in place. The panel swings forward and the lid switch is in the rear right corner of the lid as you face the machine. I made a little 3" jumper wire with 1/4" male Faston spade terminals and just substituted that for the switch to permanently defeat the lid interlock. It would be easy to add a toggle switch on the rear of the control panel for a switchable interlock defeat too.

 

[mrb627]

Slow spin

The first spin is low speed likely because heavy duty and perm press cycles got combined into one cycle.

Malcolm

 

[washman]

Congrats!

 

[Chetlaham]

Slow spin

I would agree, on my machine (2012 model) the perma press is slow on the first spin, Normal/Heavy fast on the fist spin, so my guess would be that as Malcolm said they combined the two cycles. To be frank it is silly as Permanent press hasn't been needed in over 40+ years. In fact most people don't even know what permanent press really is supposed to be, and most manufactures just include the cycle as a gimmick to sell.

Reason I say that is manufactures for years offered their own version of the permanent press cycle, with some being nothing more than a 10 second spin spray in the first spin without anything else changed, while others were full blown cool downs with shortened, slow spin speeds through out. To my knowledge no one has complained over PP cycles that were basically carbon copies of the normal cycle, and true PP fabrics are rare.

In the few times I have ever washed something I worried about wrinkling I always used the delicate cycle and its often worked out better.

 

[ryanm]

The Top load SQ I have from 2008 does a SLOW spin after wash on every cycle including the normal cycle. The only time a fast spin happens is after the rinse cycle.

 

[mrb627]

Fabric Switch

Ryan, your fabric switch might be in the wrong position.

Malcolm

 

[ryanm]

Hi Malcolm, no the fabric switch is proper, I was told by Speed Queen themselves that all washers do a slow spin after wash no matter what cycle is chosen, as I looked into this shortly after having my machine. I have good knowledge of the features on my machine, it is just the design that Speed Queen put into it. I recently asked again about this when researching the new models, and I was told the same, slow spin after each wash no matter what cycle is chosen, fast spin only after rinse. Since I bought mine back in 2008, this design has been around a while, though I am not sure why they would do a slow spin after wash on all cycles and I don't much like that feature.

 

[mrb627]

Here is one...

This is the model following yours.
It clearly does a high speed spin between wash and rinse.

 

[mgmachine04]

New Speed Queen TL

Mine is almost 5 months old, I replaced a former Amana Speed Queen bought in 1993. Took me a while to get used to the fact this model keeps the wash in balance. Set it and forget it. I have yet to wash in eco cycle. Basically it agitates at first then does does a spin wash. I use unscented detergent and only half the amount recommended by the detergent maker. Great washer.