POD 8-12-19 SQ Commercial Equipment

[tomturbomatic]

John has/had the pulley that made the commercial machines spin faster than their domestic relations.  Would someone please refresh my memory on how these machines shifted from agitate to spin? I know that there was a solenoid and mechanical power went through the little spinning fluid drive, but what happened in the transmission? Thank you. 

 

I don't think I ever saw one of the 20 lb FLs. Does anyone have memories of using one or know who made it?

 

[swestoyz]

The timer controlled a solenoid that would activate during the call for agitation. That solenoid would then pull a shifter rod that would move the agitator shaft collar down towards the transmission, and would lock into the agitator drive once the four forks met during the agitation arc.

After 1970 they went away from the solenoid activated agitation and used a helix on the agitator drive pulley that would drive up the helix and move the shifter downward towards the agitator drive, and visa versa when the motor was reversed for spin.

The '70 reversing models are, IMO, a genius use of what I'm guessing were Maytag patents that were free'd from royalties after a certain period in the late 60's.

I've also wondered the same thing about their 20 pound commercial machines from this period. Anyone know?

Ben

 

[delturner]

There were two solenoids, one for agitate one for spin that engage and disengage. These machines were in my opinion, the best machines EVER made. They were literal work horses that would run 24/7 and never miss a lick and seldom required service. Even better than Maytag for running continuously.

 

[davidblazor]

20 pound front loader

One of our local laundromats here on the oregon coast has 3 of them. I have had the opportunity to use them in the past. The cost is 3.00 a load. The final spin is slow even when using "NORMAL" speed. This laundromat even has a 50 pound washer from the early 80's as well. The dryers in this laundromat take a very long time to dry and cost upwards of 3.00 to dry a load of laundry.

David

 

[mrb627]

Favorite

These are my favorite commercial machines by far.

Malcolm

 

[supersurgilator]

Would there be any way you could take some pics of those 80's machines at that laundromat? Its been forever since I've seen any of those in use, last ones around here disappeared in early 2000's.

 

[gyrafoam]

Those old coin laundries almost always has a wonderful old extractor. It was worth the quarter to spin the hell out of everything so the dryers wouldn't take so long.
Of course, there wasn't the same problem with the old Frigidaire laundries unless you used a front loader.

There was an old coin laundry behind Ansley Mall in Atlanta. I can't recall if it was originally a Norge Village and those were Norge 20# machines or not. I just remember they did a good job cleaning comforters.
The old Speed Queen laundries used to have the annoying habit of shortening the first spin on the top loaders. As soon as the wash water got thrown overboard it stopped spinning and started the Rinse fill. They were very limited in their ability to rinse out those old high sudsing detergents.
Those old machines used to rust out over the years but kept on going.
South Florida was full of open-air laundries with rusty old Queens still working hard.

 

[davidblazor]

I have pics of the speed queens

I cannot get the pics to upload the the site. Can someone please assist me in getting the pictures of the old queens onto the thread please.

David

 

[tomturbomatic]

Be careful of your phraseology.

 

[akronman]

lol

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