New SQ Agitator

[johnrk]

Looking through some of the delightful vintage ads offered on this site, I've seen a bunch of agitators that look rather like the SQ new one coming out this next year, with the straight vanes going to the bottom and flaring out the same. I just saw a Thor Automagic ad with the same agitator, only in black.

Certainly, from what I've seen here, the members are quite pessimistic about the washing ability of this new machine. So much of that negativity seems to be aimed at the agitator design.

Was this design abandoned because it wasn't aggressive enough? I know it was used on several brands back in the 'old days'.

 

[combo52]

New SQ TL Agitator [ If You Can Call It That ]

The lower fins are lower than about any other agitator ever used and most of all the agitator is bolted to the SMOOTH wash basket, it does not do much, I watched almost an hours worth of SQ promotional videos of this washer working [ under ideal SQ staged conditions I might add ] and it does not do much.

All the videos were shown at full water level and lightly loaded, they did not show any operation on the Eco-normal wash cycle where the WL would be sensed automatically and probably be much lower, [ maybe it will wash better with less water ? ]

The only good thing I can say about the new agitation system is it will be far more gentile on clothing and the machine is much quieter.

John L.

 

[johnrk]

John L

So why do you think Alliance intentionally designed a machine that wouldn't wash well?

 

[mrb627]

My Take-Away...

In the current 2017 model, the wash action is at the bottom of the tub and clothing needs to circulate there to receive the surge of water.

In the new machine, the cleaning action is all throughout the tub. The water will surge over, around, and through the clothes when the agi-tub changes direction. So, less is more, the clothing should ideally ride back and forth with the agitator and let the water circulate through the load.

Thoughts?

Malcolm

 

[duttyb11]

I don't like it....

I mean come on people lets be honest here...they could have done better and we all know it. They could have put ribs on the sides on the tub walls even small ones or they could have put a reciruclating pump that cascasdes the wash water over the clothing as it is washing in low water levels. I like this machine, but it could have been designed better for better cleaning and still not damaged clothing. It's a shame really. I know time will tell, but damn it pisses me off.

 

[johnrk]

I'm Sorry,

but I don't 'know it'. It's not in my nature to assume bad things about people without sufficient information.

I'm no washing machine expert. I do realize that such things as adding ribs on the wash tub could've been done easily. Etc.

Perhaps Alliance is lying to all of us when they state that their new design washes better than the existing one. However, again, I won't assume that either.

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>duttyb11:  ... or they could have put a reciruclating pump that cascasdes the wash water over the clothing as it is washing in low water levels.</blockquote> I haven't yet watched the Sales Training video.  Does it show an example of low-level washing?  I haven't seen that in the other vids thus far.

 

[foraloysius]

If only I'd get a dollar for every assumption on this site...

Before condemning this machine I suggest we wait until we have seen a full cycle video or hear from some personal experience.

 

[duttyb11]

Yes it does...

the video kirk put up shows low level washing and it is as bad as the whirlpool with a wash plate, and no it does not have a circulationg pump. the wash action is terrible.

 

[mrb627]

Even At Low Water Levels...

The clothing is submerged in the water.
The recirculating pump would be worthless.

I don't think we have seen enough of the washing action to condemn the brand and the rush to judgement is irrational.

Malcolm

 

[johnrk]

mrb627

Agreed. This is a premium-priced product. Any design of the plastic agitator would cost roughly the same amount, so why intentionally design it to not work well? If this were a $300 washer being redesigned, I would view it differently. I don't get the impression, regardless of company propaganda, that these folks intentionally redesigned the machine over a 3-year period to not do as well as their past machines. Doesn't make sense. But, of course, how long did Maytag spend designing the original Neptune? I'm a perpetual optimist, though, and regardless, I have this two-month-old AWN432 that'll be here hopefully until I die.

 

[duttyb11]

Did you not see the one short clip of the clothes with low..

water level before kirk had to take them down? The wash action was terrible it was just moving back and forth...you really don't think it needed a circulation pump then? It was terrible....if thats what autofill does when you select it from the start of a cycle who needs it? It's a shame you can't go view that video again but kirk had to take it down.

 

[johnrk]

I Thought

it was made clear that autofill was part of the Eco thing...am I wrong? I thought the guy said owners could still choose their water level on the regular cycles.

 

[johnrk]

In the end run,

I don't get my clothes or any other laundry particularly dirty. I can't see ANY washer on the market not getting my clothes clean--as long as they get wet and exposed to the detergent. Those plate things still seem to leave too much not getting wet at all, or just to rinse spray. I've watched several owned by friends in a few brands, just not impressed.

Fortunately, we have a choice.

 

[mrb627]

Short video

So you are assuming from a video clip of less than three agitation strokes that this machine doesn't clean at all? And that you could have designed something better? Have you submitted your resume to Alliance yet?

Malcolm

 

[johnrk]

Thanks, Malcolm

Glad to see that everyone on here isn't leaping to conclusions-

 

[DADoES]

 
The vids have been taken down as I expected.

 

[supersurgilator]

"So you are assuming from a video clip of less than three agitation strokes that this machine doesn't clean at all?"

Exactly! thanks Malcolm. while I can't make up my mind just yet, I think it will still clean better than an impeller model ANY day. I agree, I don't think SQ would take all of this time and effort in redesigning and testing a machine this thoroughly if it didn't actually work well

 

[imperial70]

So many people judge so fast. If I had listened to the opinions I wouldn't have purchased my GE front loader that has been serving me well for over 2 years and is excellent at stain removal.

I would say this isn't the "gray water" rinse machines of a few years ago. Just be patient and wait and see.

 

[lorainfurniture]

I got some videos

I took delivery of the new “9” series washer, and watched it through a load or 2. I haven’t ran enough loads to form an opinion yet.

It is really quiet.
It uses plenty of water even on auto load sensing. (Haven’t ran eco cycle yet).

Hopefully I’ll get a video edited and uploaded tomorrow

 

[gelaundry4ever]

new speed queen

I can't wait to see the videos! I'd like for you to put the machine through its paces! I'd like to see you wash a full load of colors on the heavy duty setting with heavy soil setting. I'd recommend you use a premium HE laundry detergent and matching fabric softener for a real life test. I can't wait!

 

[Chetlaham]

Said it before I'll say it again: I'll wait for the final results.

Video being taken down: Sigh. I find that appliance information is often more hard to get then motor vehicle, tax, and infrastructure information. Its ridiculous in my eyes but oh well.

 

[johnrk]

Lorainfurniture-

I wish your business the best with these new machines. There's certainly plenty of hot air circulating around here, mine included, but we don't have money on the line.

 

[Chetlaham]

Thanks Loraine!

 

[combo52]

The New SQ TL Washers

Will be a good machine for many consumers and will solve many of the complaints we get on the current SQ top load washers.

 

Good points

 

It is quet

 

It will solve the linting comlants

 

It will solve the clothing damage complaints

 

It will solve the vibration and occasional walking complaints we get

 

Speed Queen probably has a winner for most homeowners, BUT this is nothing like any real agitator washer that anyone hear has ever used and I think you are very likley to be VERY disappointed if you like watching washing machines turn over loads of clothing. This new SQ TL washer is going to make any HE Impeller washer built in the last 15 years look great by comparison when you watch it.

 

I have watched over an hour of SQ prepared videos of this washer working and it is actually more fun to watch paint dry than watching this thing try to turn over a load of laundry.

 

 

The bad part is it can not and will not wash really dirty large loads clean like the current washer does, this is just plain common sense when you watch it work as I have.

 

Remember FD built a TL washer like this a few years ago that disappeared from the market after barely a year of production, and we posted pictures of really dirty towels that we washed in it and it did a miserable job of cleaning uniformity.

 

When we get one of these new SQ washers we will do a SXS comparison and post results, as always if anyone wants to visit they can help run the tests and help post the results.

 

John L.

 

[Chetlaham]

Do you really need to turn over clothes to get them clean though? The vids I saw posted here (albeit short) did show clothing being sucked in and down the agitator.

 

[combo52]

Yes when washing a heavily loaded machine you need turn over to clean clothing uniformly

 

[appnut]

Like I said elsewhere, reminded me of a Norge Timeline washing.

 

[duttyb11]

Its obvious.....

I feel like they could have done this differently if they had wanted to. They could have made the agitator move back and forth using more energy efficient mechanics much like Fisher and Paykel top loading washers. Even at 1hp it doesn't seem to be enough muscle to really move the tub back and forth quickly enough. I get the long smooth strokes part, but god its weak. I feel badly for the sellers of this machine in the respect that when they sell it to people, people arn't stupid and if stains arn't coming out they are goig to raise all kinds of stink and I hope they give it to alliance big time if this product doesn't do what its done for years on end. People can get mad at me for prejuding all they want, but combo52 tells me all i need to know. I love the look of this new appliance and its quiet operation, but if you notice they sales people in the training videos arn't very enthousiastic about selling it either. I can't wrap my mind around that Alliance would make an inferior product, but when you hear from people who have seen it in action for extended periods of time say that any impeller washer made in the last 10 years makes it look bad by comparison you know this thing has a problem. Time will tell, but i wouldn't be suprised if alliance makes big changes to this product in a few years time.