Our New Laundry and Dishwasher Appliances - U.S Frigidaire and Aus Dishlex

[passatdoc]

I have a five year old 2140. Door always open unless washer is in use. No bleach or softener used. I do add some Borax to help with our hard water situation. I keep a stack of white shop towels and wipe the gasket dry. I also remove the dispenser, dissemble it, and allow it to air at the end of the laundry day (I know it's only water, but I once found black mold on the inner surface of the dispenser lid, so I now I let the dispenser air out). No problems whatsoever. I suppose the spider may crack one day, but otherwise it washes great and has never needed any servicing. It would be nice to see a machine last ten years without any issues.

 

[golittlesport]

follow up to Passat Doc's comment

Well, the 3.1 Frigidaire I bought in about 1998 and later gave to my son gave up the ghost late last year. His girlfriend loved it and will only use a front loader now. She said agitator machines ruin her clothes. He bought a very similar 3.1 Kenmore model at Sears outlet to replace it.

That machine gave many years of great service. Definitely got my money's worth out of it. Never had a repair until it died of bearing failure. Actually, it was still working...just roared during spin. I told my son it was not worth fixing.

 

[appnut]

Matthew, you'll be pleased to know this machine is still being sold/marketed as a  White-Westinghouse product, in the thread--The Brand That Would Not Die.

 

[mattywashboy]

I am thinking this machine has some bearing failure, it makes a low growl during tumbling and a loud roar during spin, much louder than i would have expected but then i don't know.

I wonder how hard it would be to get bearings over here for this machine. Perhaps Electrolux can order them in, since Frigidaire is made by them... will post a video soon to illustrate.

 

[cfz2882]

bearing repair on my '98 "frigilux"

the bearing repair on my frigidaire F/L was a labor intensive but easy job
i "split the tub"in the washer,leaving the front half in the washer.
The bearings are plenty stout in these washers-they were damaged by a worn
seal letting water into the bearings...
This washer design was introduced around 1994 and was the first of the new
generation of north-american made front load washers,the maytag neptune
coming out around 1997.

 

[cfz2882]

bearings

the bearings are just standard ball bearings-6306zz,6307zz-you should be able to
get those locally easy,check any electric motor repair shop or industrial parts
suppler,an auto parts store might have them too-get the "VV"versions,those have
rubber seals for greater water resistance in event of tub seal failure.
The seal is 80x40x10 mm-i got mine at an auto parts store,was same design as
original part.
I can give more detailed "details"on the bearing job if you want.

 

[arbilab]

Thank heaven we got the Frigis instead of the first generation Neptunes which never DID work right. I was leaning toward the Neptune but the solid door unsold me. Blessing.

 

[passatdoc]

Frigidaire obituary

Rich, sorry to hear of the passing of the legendary Frigidaire. It had a good life for thirteen years. Had I known, I would have worn black to the funeral.

 

[mattywashboy]

Here is a video of the machine

There are more on my Youtube site (Mattie17)

If someone could offer me advice on the noise it makes, wether it be bearings or motor that would be awesome.

Enjoy.

Matt

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

http://www.youtube.com/user/mattie17

 

[gmmcnair]

Congratulations on Your Finds...

I really like the dishwasher....I tend to go for the simpler designs after having problems with TOL appliances.

My neighbor and friend has that same (I think) Frigidaire washer. Hers doesn't make noise like the ones I heard in your video. Best of luck getting it ironed out. For what it's worth, hers has been very reliable...now that her daughter got married. She never checked pockets before loading and they were forever retrieving coins out of the pump.

 

[markt5004]

Congrats on the new machines Matt!

I didn't realise the front loader was so big. I always thought the machine was the same size as our / european front loaders. I know the Americans have larger front loaders but I thought that particular Frigidaire model was the same size as ours.

Im still not and never will be convinced of such a short wash time..lol

Mark
xx

 

[westie2]

Matthew in the normal wash/rinse tumble the motor does hum some maybe due to the differenct in HZ.  The spin sound though sounds ok with jet sound.  In my family there are 3 of these a Frigidaire, GE and Kenmore all wash for a family of 2 adults and 3 children.  Our front load is the same as Passtdocs only the Kenmore brand.

 

Bob/Appnut has this machine and I know he will respond to the sounds made also.  Mine is just a guess as normallyh in the wash tumble the machines are quite.

 

 

 

[paulc]

Welcome back........

Mark!!!

Matt, I do like your washer, especially the controls. I did not realize that they were bigger than euro machines either!

 

[ronhic]

Matt

The thunking noise does sound a little like suspension slap

 

[limey]

Bearings

Sounds like bearing failure to me. You only really notice the difference when you hear two machines one shortly after the other.
One other point that does seem to be a lot of detergent and fabric softener.
One way to check to see if the bearings are 'less than good'. try lifting the top front of the drum. Anything more than the slightest upward movement indicates that the bearings are on the way out. The 'slap' also does indicate possible suspension problems, as per ronhic.
From the photographs and video you seem to have plenty of room to work so may I suggest that you pull the washer out and take the back panel off, disconnecting the electrical supply first of course, and then remove the belt and turn the drum by hand. Should the bearings be good it will be almost silent. Turn the motor by hand also and listen to the noise.
Now with one hand try to lift the top front of the drum and with the other note how much the pulley moves. Should there be corresponding movement at both ends it is further indication of bearings failing but just to make sure that the pulley is not loose on the shaft check that the bolt in its centre is tight.
When replacing the screws in the back panel please make sure that you put them all back. the only reason there are that many is because the panel contributes to the structural rigidity of the machine.
Good Luck

 

[limey]

Noise from bad bearings

Here is a link which lets you hear what good bearings sound like.
I think the ownwer had one of these detergent dispenser balls in during the wash cycle.