Problem with Speed Queen AWN432

[k1rod]

About 6 months ago my sister was looking to purchase a new washing machine and dryer. The salesman at the appliance store had sold her on a GE set and she ordered them. I talked to her that evening and told her I thought she really would have been better off with a Speed Queen set. I explained how they were better built and convinced her that she would be getting something better than a throw away set of machines. So she canceled the GE order and went to the only Speed Queen dealer in her area. She bought ate AWN432 and a matching dryer. A couple of days ago she said she smelled a burning smell coming from the fairly new Speed Queen and then heard a squealing sound and then it went dead. When the repairman came out, he said that a sock had gotten caught in the water pump, causing it to lock up and burning the belt. He came back a few days later and replaced the pump (and I hope the belt) (I can't check these things because she is in Boston and I am in Phoenix). How could a sock get all the way into the water pump? Does this sound plausible? And I am really hoping this is not a sign of things to come. My "recommendation credibility" is taking a bit of a hit here.

 

[llmaytag]

Sock in the pump?

I cannot see how that can happen...I have an AWN432 and the tub holes are way too small for a sock, and I cannot imagine it would be able to get in from under the agitator, and despite the spin/drain I cannot see how something could "overflow" into the outer tub. Though I've never tried, I don't see how could you cram something into the outer tub from the inner...it seems a pretty tight fit.

When mine was new, there was one, maybe two incidents where I had loaded it a bit too much and with the low level of the highest water level from the factory, I think it overheated during agitation and the machine just completely stopped for a few minutes and there was a slight burning smell, but it eventually started up again and hasn't happened for the last few years.

 

[rp2813]

Like what size sock? 

 

Could she be overloading the machine?

 

[k1rod]

As to the size of the sock, I can't say. I am getting all of this second hand. But I don't doubt at all that she may be occasionally overloading the machine. The repairman even mentioned something about that. She has never been one to be careful of things like that. But that was actually one of the reasons I thought the Speed Queen would be better for her. I figured they would stand up to abuse better than most of the stuff made today. Kind of like the old Maytags we had when we were kids.

 

[washman]

Unless it was say a baby sock

I tend to agree it would be very difficult indeed to get something in between the inner and outer tub. The whole assembly itself does not move very easily.

 

[DirectDriveDave]

The most immediate thing I can think of is overloading, and then maybe something working its way in there during the spin drain.

 

[mrb627]

Water Level Switch

I hope she is not a water level switch holder. Maybe she held it too long and the water level was WAY TOO HIGH.

Malcolm

 

[k1rod]

@Malcolm, I don't think she has done that.

Directdrivedave and rp2813 have suggested a problem with "overloading". I still can't envision how overloading (which may be a very real possibility), would create a pathway for a sock to get into the pump. Or perhaps I am not understanding your thought and you are suggesting that overloading was the cause of the burning smell but that there never really was a sock in the pump. Has anybody here known the pumps in these machines to spontaneously fail and cease up? Or any other explanation that makes sense, I would love to hear.

 

[yogitunes]

well, in an unfortunate case, this is not a manufacturer or machine error.....

and I have seen a sock go into an outter tub of a Kenmore DirectDrive. and mind you its a neutral drain, pulling the clothing down before the spin.....it can happen.....in this case they were washing a load of darks, and a white sock was found....without a doubt not from that exact load....

and this may not even be of a chance of overloading......but think about when unloading, sometimes we lift clothing out of the machine, sliding it along the inner tub, and somewhat rolling sock was slipped between the splash guard, and end up in the outter tub area....

for one thing you are not there to see exactly what is happening, and chances are it may not happen again, or be able to recreate the scenario...

we all have heard or seen issues of laundry practices, unlike our own, that would shock the hell out of us....and the operator is always quick to blame anything but themselves....

when asked for advice, we are all to happy to help.....but let something go wrong, and you will never hear the end of it.....sometimes best to not offer....despite our best intentions...

 

[rp2813]

I only recall one similar story which I read in a negative on-line review of a Whirlpool Duet FL back in 2006 when we were considering buying one, and overloading combined with user error seemed to be the culprit in that case.  It was a small child's sock.  The female user expressed additional complaints that provided a clear indication she was operating with a major deficit where common sense was concerned.

 

It's apples and oranges when comparing FL experiences with those of TL machines, though.

 

The reason I asked what size sock is because I can't imagine that a sock for my size 13 foot could possibly work its way into the pump on any machine regardless of how its tub axis is oriented.

 

Don't beat yourself up over this.  It sounds to me like if she had gone with the GE, she would have destroyed it within a month. 

 

[k1rod]

Thank you for the responses. And as RP2813 suggested, I won't beat myself up over this. Now Yogitunes, you said "when asked for advice, we are all to happy to help.....but let something go wrong, and you will never hear the end of it.....sometimes best to not offer....despite our best intentions... "

That's not me man. I consider and respect any advice people are willing to give me from their own experience to be a gift. Nobody owes it to me and if it doesn't work out, I will conclude that they gave me their best insights but perhaps their situations were a little different than mine, or perhaps I didn't describe the situation accurately enough. "You will never hear the end of it?" No, not from me. I sincerely appreciate any and all insight and the effort that went into making the effort to communicate it, even if it doesn't work out for me. The effort alone makes me appreciate you.

"Best not to offer"? Naw, that's when everybody starts to lose. I'll offer what I know. I'll suck up the flames when it doesn't work out and I'll just keep trying to help wherever I can.

 

[Chetlaham]

The belt should be fine, it does not drive the pump as the pump is direct drive. A sock coming over is slim, but it can happen with any machine. One possibility might be an overloaded machine on a low water level causing a sock to slither under up and over. Rare, but I have had it happen to other machines (GE FF for those wondering, and don't ask me how lol I have no idea how it happened but next thing I know torn coupler and a sock trying to crawl out of the pump).  

 

[peterh770]

Known as an "aggressive spin" when the tub acceleration beats the drain... The motor doesn't slide as it should and instead grips the belt and with the speed water goes over the clothes guard, carrying socks and other things over with it...

 

[washman]

How the machine cycles

The cycle begins with a wash fill. The water
temperature is determined by the temperature selector.
While water fills the washtub, a column of air is
trapped in a pressure bulb and hose. The air pressure
continues to increase as the washtub fills with water
until it is great enough to activate the pressure switch.
The pressure switch then causes the wash fill to stop
and wash agitation to begin. However, the loading door
must be closed for the washer to agitate or spin.

The washer uses a reversing type motor, a special drive
belt and an idler assembly. The idler assembly applies
tension to the outside of the drive belt.
During agitation, the motor runs in the
counterclockwise direction. The spring tension on the
idler pulley applies the tension required to reduce the
slack on the drive belt and maintain maximum belt to
motor pulley contact. This eliminates belt slippage and
ensures an efficient wash action, even with extra large
loads.

The belt drives the transmission drive pulley in the
counterclockwise direction. The pulley drives the helix
which is splined to the input shaft of the transmission.
This causes the input shaft to turn inside of a roller
clutch which is pressed into the transmission cover.
This roller clutch acts as a bearing in the
counterclockwise direction allowing the transmission
gears to operate. The transmission’s rack and pinion
gear design produces a 210 degree agitation stroke at
the output shaft of the transmission which drives the
agitator. The brake assembly remains locked during the
agitation mode since no pressure is applied to it by the
transmission drive pulley.

After the wash agitation is completed, the timer
advances into the first spin. During spin, the motor
reverses turning in the clockwise direction to spin the
water out of the washtub. The combination of water,
washtub and load weight cause the drive belt tension on
the idler side of the belt to overtake the idler spring
pressure allowing the belt to become slack on the
opposite side. This reduces the belt to pulley contact
and allows slipping between the belt and pulley.
As water is removed by the pump and the momentum
of the washtub increases, the idler spring tension
gradually overcomes the belt tension removing the belt
slack. This eventually increases the belt to pulley
contact until maximum spin speed is achieved.

The drive pulley turns clockwise riding up the ramps of
the helix, exerting pressure on the brake and forcing it
to release from brake pads. The helix drives the input
shaft of the transmission, and when the input shaft turns
in the clockwise direction the roller clutch locks onto
the shaft causing the entire transmission assembly to
turn. None of the gears in the transmission are
operating at this time. The hub of the washtub is splined
to the transmission tube and rotates with the
transmission assembly. The centrifugal force created
by the spinning washtub causes water to be extracted
from the clothes.

Water is introduced during the first spin to “SPRAY”
the garments and remove suds from them. The initial
spin is followed by rinse agitation to rinse away any
detergent residue. The washer fills and then agitates
like the wash portion of the cycle. Following rinse
agitation, a final spin extracts the rinse water from the
clothes preparing them for the dryer

 

[mrb627]

Pump Out Slow

I assume the slow pump out caused by the sock restriction caused the burning smell of the belt.

Malcolm

 

[combo52]

Socks Stuck In Water Pumps

As Martin pointed out so well socks can get into the water pumps of about any washer ever made.

The part that does not add up [ and also pointed out by a mystery member ] something getting caught in the pump of a SQ TL washer could not possibly damage the BELT, so either the repair guy is nuts or a sock may not even be the problem.

Ben, Washman SQ TL washers do not agitate a full 210 degrees, many times it is not worth repeating everything you read in life without questioning what you are repeating.

 

[washman]

Combo52

thou shalt not take the name of Speed Queen in vain lest ye suffer the effects of error codes, extended wash times, and reboots.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

Migrating socks...

This reminded me of my college days in the early '80's. The washers in the dorm would do this all the time. It became a joke and a source of entertainment. There would nearly always be one or two items in the finished load that were NOT in the original load. The reverse applied as well. Often one would lose a sock. Weird, but it happened so regularly it stopped being a topic of conversation.

Unfortunately, I don't recall the brand of washer.

 

[brucelucenta]

cost?

Only thing I could add is to ask if the service call cost anything or was the machine still covered by the warranty? If it was only 6 months old it should have been.