READ THIS before you buy a New LG Front load washer. LG's New Scam

[maytagneptune]

I went to the scrap yard today and saw a Brand new LG WM3900HW. It was mostly destroyed but I wanted a few parts. The spider arm was broken. I pulled the tub and removed the bolts but the tub wouldn't split for me to remove the drum for a firepit. So now were down another manufacturer with front loads. Only one left is Speed Queen. I hope they don't do this scam next. I knew this tub is sealed/welded because I put all my might on it and it will not split.

This is the problem.

Tub halves are Ultrasonically welded together (Can't change Bearings/seal/spider)

You will have to purchase a new tub assembly ($$-$$$$!)

DO NOT BUY ANY LG FRONT LOAD WASHER 2018-NOW. All Junk. LG is now disposable like everyone else. LG stands for Largely Garbage at this point. They need to make the "TROMM" Models again. I can easily repair those. My Neighbors have a 2016 LG WM3670HV and I can split the tub on that one. what is the point of putting bolts on it if the tub is glued/welded. Screw All front loads except the speed queens. I now hate Modern LG appliances. The top load is also exploding again!

 

[sudsmaster]

Well if you want the best, get a Miele.

 

[maytagneptune]

Miele

Thanks for the suggestion but Miele and ASKO are hard to find in the USA and when you can find them they cost 2 or 3 times as much as speed queen

 

[pinkpower4]

Replacing Bearings and Seal

Out of curiosity, what would a repair technician charge to change the bearings and seal in a SQ residential front load especially since this one is made to be more repairable? Although its cost initially put it out of my consideration, I have done some rethinking. It would definitely be among those I look at if I purchase a front load. I live in the USA, and this brand is more serviceable where I live vs. the other high quality ones mentioned.

I am not sure if this was less expensive for LG to do this or not. Most consumers probably do not replace the bearings themselves. I didn’t, and that is why I no longer have my LG front load. I would have had to take almost every screw, hose, and connection apart to do this. However, I think it’s possible that people that pick these up for scrap and to resell might. It seems like LG would have to go to extra effort to make it less repairable now? I was aware of this change in design, but I had forgotten. Thanks for this information.

 

[combo52]

Major Repairs On Modern Washers

It would cost roughly $500 to replace bearings and seal on a SQ FL Washer, you will also spend about the same amount replacing the bearings and transmission on a new TL WP belt drive washer, A SQ traditional TL washer and probably $1000 to do the same on a Miele compact FL Washer.

 

If you want to do it yourself you can replace bearings on most FL machines for $50-100 in parts and replace the transmission on newer WP BD washers for $250-300.

 

The real question is what sort of washer you want to have, Miele is diffidently the best 24" compact machine, but I will not spent that kind of money for a washer that does not wash my king-sized conformers when I can have a machine that will last twice as long for about the same money.

 

The reality of bearing replacements on most $1000 [ or there about ] FL washers is not even 5% of them would anyone even brother trying to replace bearings on so it really does not matter that they seal the cheap plastic outer tubs together anyway.

 

No ultra long life washer should have anything but a SS outer tub and cast-iron counter balance weights anyway.

 

John L.

 

[cfz2882]

speaking of counterweights...

...on some of the Korean imports I have junked(salvaged the BLDC motors)the counterweights were crumbling and falling apart...

 

[pierreandreply4]

if had the choice would go old fashion with an old school

if i had the choice i would go with an old school washer dryer like this or an eaton viking filter flo washer with matching dryer like this model on top harvest gold of course

 

[perc-o-prince]

Miele is diffidently the best 24" compact machine

Just wondering if you knew that the W1 and T1 Mieles now have similar capacity the Miele SLC models had some 8-10 years ago? We do a set of queen sheets with extra pillow cases and still have plenty of room for more. Could easily do 2 sets of these at once where before you could maybe do 1.

 

Chuck

 

[brisnat81]

Hey Chuck,

I agree, an almost full load of darks in my Duet fits into the W1 machine at a squeeze and washes without issue.

Compared to my 6.5kg Miele there is an extra 4-5 towels fit.

The new generation has barely enough room to get your hand between the drum and the cabinet in any of the four directions, where as the earlier machines, you could slip your arm down each side.

It’s amazing how much fits in a “compact” machine now

Cheers

Nathan

 

[combo52]

The Capacity Of Better Newer 24" FL Washers

Hi Chuck and Nathan, It is always great to hear from you guys.

 

Is quite good, In our testing we find these machines can wash about as large a load as the typical older super capacity US TL washer which makes them quite adequate for most households,

 

BUT like SC TL washers they are still too small to wash King Sized Conformers etc that are common in US households, and most US customers want to be able to wash these larger loads at home now more than ever.

 

[henene4]

Welded tubs

We had them for years on cheaper machines.
They really are nothing new.

Not really much you can do on about that.

Any machine with broken bearing that you do not fix yourself is an economical write of these days.

Labour is just way to expensive to make any sense, be it you replace the whole tub or just bearings and seals.

On a sealed tub labour time is a little less for a skilled tech (depending on design), on a splitable tub or a right away removable bearing cross (like Miele) work time for removing the bearings an fitting the new ones is a little more.

On the other hand, part prices cancel that out then again.
Bearings themselfes plus seals are pretty cheap (a set of bearings and a seal go for like 40-50€ if you just buy fitting replacements from SKF or another reputable vendor; those parts are all normed anyway).
Storage for whole tub units plus shipping are verry expensive.

We had a verry cheap Whirlpool made machine with an extended warranty by Bauknecht (who rebranded the design being owned by whirlpool) and for what ever reason they replaced the tub unit when the bearing went bad during warranty.

The tub unit took 12 weeks to arrive, was a 300€ part, plus 2 tech visits and 3h of work total.

The machine was 360€ new. With the warranty.

 

[sudsmaster]

Check Craigslist. I got four older Miele machines off that for very reasonable prices. I use one regularly for whites, because it does such a superior job on them.

 

[panasonicvac]

I'm not sure if I'm convinced by this or not but...

We've had our LG set for a year now and we've been really pleased with them so far. The whole reason why we got them in the first place was because our appliance technician told us that LG was the top laundry brand that they repaired the least. We haven't had any problems with ours so far and I would expect to at least get another 9 years or hopefully longer with them.

 

[askolover]

Thanks for the suggestion but Miele and ASKO are hard to find in the USA and when you can find them they cost 2 or 3 times as much as speed queen

This place sells Miele and Asko for much less of what a SQ goes for.  But I will give SQ credit for being a larger machine...but it doesn't have a heater...This Asko is 240V while both the Miele and SQ are 120V.

 

[sudsmaster]

Anybody have any more feedback on the new GE Ultra Vent front loader line? I'm interested in the TOL 850 model. Mainly because it's one of the few front loaders with a reversible door, key to placement in the laundry closet here. Actually, it's more of a laundry bay now, since I took off the folding pocket doors .

They seem to be nice enough but also new enough that they don't seem to be much discounted. Although I have seen one at the Hayward Costco.

 

[maytagneptune]

moving to top

people are wanting LG's again so I have to move it to the top

 

[trappn]

?????.................

........top of what? Whish list, or shi* list?

 

[egress]

top of the active topics list. I think this is being a bit overblown, the bearings should last the life of the machine, which is likely designed to be roughly 15-20 years ish. if cared for properly (fabric softener not overused/not used at all, powder detergent & hot water used often, clean washer cycle ran with bleach) the washer should last. and that isn't to say that this is a good decision either. the easier something is to fix the better, which is why right to repair is such a big thing. everyone on this forum who repairs washers or even owns older ones should be in favor of it. It needs to become a law.

 

[aeg03]

LG still make screwed tubs

This is NONSENSE.

I am in the UK and purchased an LG washing machine in 2019 and this machine has a screwed tub. It is made in Poland. I am aware of all the LG washing machine available on the market here in the UK that are made in Poland and China ALL have screwed tubs in them.

LG are pretty good machines and are very reliable as well. I would buy LG again if I needed to.

I completely disagree that Miele are the best. I had one for a week and really did not like the machine. It may well have good build quality - INSIDE - The detergent drawer feels flimsy to me and not worth near £1000. It was Miele WKF311 8kg and I was disappointed in the results for a full load, it did not recognise that it had to add an extra rinse or add water to a full load. I found out I should have selected Water Plus. Sorry but I prefer a machine to know that it needs to add extra water or a rinse.

My LG machine an F4JY5TN3W cost £390 has the ability to know that it needs to add a 3rd rinse with a full load, extra water as well and make its interim spins longer and faster, a well as make the final spin a lot longer with spinning at 1400 RPM for a full 7 minutes on its top speed. The Miele only did its top speed for 3 minutes.