Speed Queen AWN542: I've Joined The Club!

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frigilux

frigilux

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Mar 3, 2007
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12,663
Location
The Minnesota Prairie
I enjoy having a top-loader as a 2nd washer in my laundry room, and generally switch out models every few years to try something new. The Frigidaire Immersion Care has been a fun machine to play with, but all the talk of Speed Queens lately had me itching to get one, too.

I placed an order for an AWN542 only moments ago! My small-town appliance dealer has to wait to amass a larger order before getting mine, so it will be awhile before it arrives. He has an AWN432 on the showroom floor, but I want the step-up model.

Checked the archives and saw how easy it was to defeat the lid switch (thanks, Yogitunes) and raise the water level, so I'm in.

This will probably be the top-loader that finds a permanent home in my laundry room.

Washman, I guess I have you to thank for depleting my bank account, LOL. The power of suggestion at work. Looking forward to owning the last of the old-school spin-drain washers.

Now, some questions for those of you with an AWN542:

1) Is there actually a gentle agitation speed, or is "gentle" actually regular, intermittent agitation?

2) It appears the machine spin-drains and shuts off at the end of the soak cycle; or does it automatically advance to Prewash and the regular cycle?

3) Speaking of Prewash, is that simply an extension of agitation time, or does it drain and refill for the main wash?

4) Does the Perm Press cycle have a cool-down? If so, how does it function?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can reply with helpful information.[this post was last edited: 9/27/2013-13:32]

frigilux++9-27-2013-11-12-56.jpg
 
AWN 542 has the following features.................

Gentle Speed is actually a slower agitation and spin speed.
Pre-Wash WILL advance to the wash cycle...Fill, agitate, drain, fill again for wash.
No cool-down on Perm Press...works great though, I wash all my dress shirts on the PP cycle....Regular agitation for 10 minutes, more if you select the Regular Cycle and Perm Press on the Fabric Selector, and a slow spin speed!
Hope I have answered your questions, and in five years, I have never used the Soak cycle.
Mike
 
Washman takes a bow

and also asks Alliance Laundry for a cut of the dinero for his tireless promotion of simple, USA made, old school, built like a tank washers.

Congrats on your purchase. The 1,000+ dedicated union represented employees in Ripon thank you also. So does the CEO. So does Guvnor Walker.

OTOH, you MUSt keep secret your choice of a water guzzling user friendly machine from Algore and his cohorts lest you be subject to a water tax of sorts that will surely kill your enthusiasm for this fine machine.

Remember, I told you so.

washman++9-27-2013-12-56-3.jpg
 
Thanks for the link JeffG.....but it does not allow the variations I was hopeing for.....there are parts where the timer still controls/defaults the speeds....

I was expecting this to be like the GE FilterFlo.....I could select any speed for wash or spin to any cycle selected, and create my own variations....like using regular speed wash/spin, and use the gentle cycle, which now converts to a short cycle for a quick wash...

or PermPress and fast wash/spin speeds for towels, the extended spin spray is excellent for rinsing....

with the SQ...you can alter some, but not total control as expected...
 
Frocco--- It's a tough choice! For a front-loading washer, I'd go with the Maytag, simply because it has more cycle flexibility, and if you like to wash large items like comforters, the Maytag's large capacity comes in handy.

My "daily driver" (as we like to call them, here) is a 2010 top-of-the-line Frigidaire front-loading washer. I like it a lot, they've not given me a bit of trouble (nor did my 1996 or 2002 Frigidaire front-loaders), and they were reasonably priced for all the features they offer.

I've always preferred front-loaders. I think they clean better; they're gentler to clothing; and you can opt for a very fast spin speed if you want it. Items emerge half dry! They spend substantially less time in the dryer. Great for loads of towels, sheets, etc. They are custom-built to wash large, bulky items like comforters, bedspreads, sleeping bags, etc. I love having an internal water heater to for tough loads of very-stained kitchen whites, and for bed linens.

The top-loading Speed Queen I just ordered will be fun to play with, and it will last a long time. But it will never be my "daily driver".

[this post was last edited: 9/27/2013-16:02]
 
Rich, it's a deep rinse.

Martin, not sure if this is part of what you're looking for, but there's a sweet spot on the timer control (about 2/3-3/4 of the way through the first spin cycle) that, when manually set, forces an extended spray rinse. Basically as long as you want, up to about three minutes. We use it all the time for towels and sheets, and after every washday to clean the tub :) It's not documented in the manual and I have no idea if other washers have the same spot.
 
I stopped by the local LG-Whirlpool-Speed Queen dealer to look at the AWN432 that was on the floor, and honestly, I was not impressed.  The lid was flimsy and didn't sit flat on the bumpers when closed. When I ran my index finger over part of the tub, sure enough, there was the dreaded greasy polishing compound.  Doesn't make for a great first impression, that's for sure.

 

The 432 has a soak cycle and a prewash option in the regular cycle just like the 542.  It appears the only real advantage to the 542 is the speed selector.  Thought I might just buy the 432 rather than waiting for the 542 to be ordered. (Instant gratification junkie!)

 

But after seeing that warped lid and the grease in the tub, I'll wait and hope the 542 doesn't come with the same flaws.

 
 
Mike-- Thanks for the information. I will definitely make use of the Soak cycle when I run a test load of heavily-stained kitchen whites.

Jeff-- Thanks for the detailed chart of speed combinations. Have saved it for reference when the 542 arrives.

Malcolm-- Jealous? You have a freakin' Miele, man! I'm the one who's jealous!

Rich-- The extra rinse is a deep rinse, which can be added to the list of sensible things about the washer.

Louis-- Thanks! There are plenty of videos of SQ top-loaders in action, so I doubt I'll bother with that, but am excited to put the machine through its paces. The Immersion Care has been gifted to a friend's daughter who recently graduated from college. She's renting a tiny but cute little house in town and is thrilled to have made her last trip to the laundromat. Her grandparents gave her their old Kenmore dryer. She's a great kid, and I'm glad to help her out.

Washman-- I'm more than happy to support union workers! Question for you: Is the hot water temp dumbed-down on your 542 or do you get whatever temp is at the tap? (My gas water heater is set at 140 degrees.)
 
Hot water temp is NOT, I repeat NOT dumbed down!! When my brother recently bought his AWN542, the salesman told him it was the last top loader with an actual HOT WASH!! So whatever your water heater is set at ...voila there is your hot water temp!
Mike
 
@jeff....

I was just hopeing the SQ with the fabric/speed selector was gonna allow total control over the speeds and mix/match to the cycles....the variations would have been endless...

I was recommending this to a friend where there is a high pump out height, as long as its set to a high speed spin, these have no issues.....but thats not the case with this machine, for instance, Gentle is defaulted to a slow spin no matter what is selected....

Thanks just the same
 
Martin-- Saw the post you made (archived) about how to disable the lid switch.  Looks simple.  Between the SQ and your help with doing the same for the Immersion Care, you are my go-to guy for disabling lid switches!

 

Ben and Mike-- Thanks for confirming what I hoped would be true.  No dumbed-down hot water setting!
 
Stopped by the Speed Queen dealership again to look at the AWN432 on the floor, and was concerned by one other thing that I didn't notice yesterday.

There are some grooves running all the way around the bottom inch of the tub wall. Ran my finger over them and they were pretty rough. Is this normal, or just another thing wrong with this particular machine?

The young couple who own the store are at a buyer's meeting in Minneapolis, and his mom is watching the store for them 'til Monday. She called him last night and said I wanted an AWN542. He called back this morning and said he might be able to pick one up and bring it back with him tomorrow. Yay!!

Calling all Speed Queen owners: What's up with the grooves I saw in the 432's tub?

Thanks, guys, for all your input. I really appreciate your expertise!
 
all to glad to help.....

the SQ lid switch has to be one of the easiest to override, and return to normal if needed....theres many ways to do it, but with a simple clothes pin, easy as pie.....

your talking to the guy who goes outside the box....other changes I have done are:

drilling out the hot water side of the valve to match the cold side, so warm is actually warm.....a 5 minute job

the fill flume dumps 50/50 water into the inner and outter tub.....I took mine apart, and sealed the back portion, so during the spin rinse, all water is directed onto the clothes....

cutting the funnel/restricted end of the drain hose off for faster flow....

not to mention water level adjusment if needed....

but yeah, my next set choice would still be the AWN542....

the agitators on mine are solid fin versions, not the flex fin of the newer ones....the link is a video by our own DanMan, using a certain model number, was able to purchase these for a very, very low price...just a little more aggressive agitation



yogitunes++9-28-2013-11-05-24.jpg
 
There are some grooves running

The Amana built washer and the AWS52 I recently pick up for a friend, both have those grooves.

It appears to be grinding marks on the weld seam where the two portions of the tub are joined.

* Yogi can you go over the process again to drill out the SQ hot side water valve?
 
The Grooves...

I have them on mine too. I think what you are referring to is the fact that the tub is two piece. The cylinder wraps around the base of the tub and meets. I only feel the one groove IIRC. It has not caused any problems. Be aware you may find polishing compound in your tub. There is another thread that refers to that problem. My machine arrived with this "anomaly" It washed out fairly easily. There was never any issue with any of it depositing on the laundry.

BTW Yogitunes: I use your clothespin trick for the lid switch override. That works great! Thanks. You can practically do it blind (with the power removed) by feeling behind the washer. The machine is so heavy and I'm so weak that I can barely move it. :-)

Hot water valve drill out? Does that require any removal of the valve itself?
 
Glad I can help.....

it's simple changes that make a world of difference...I know, can you believe a simple clothespin takes care of this, and reversed in seconds.....love the old school ways of this machine....

well.....you are gonna have to move the machine away from the wall....

but you don't have to remove the valve itself......I did it while it was still on the machine.....

with both hoses removed, using a tiny screwdriver, or needlenose pliers carefully remove both screens.....you will notice the HOT side opening inside is smaller

locate a drill bit that will fit the COLD water sides opening....you want to make them both even...

using that bit, carefully and slowly drill out the HOT water side, the shavings should come towards you, of the few that there are, don't push hard with the drill, you don't want to go all the way thru, your just drilling out that little opening

if you feel the need, squirt some water in there to flush out any debris, but there really should not be any....

replace the screens and using the tiny screwdriver make sure they are seated in place.....or use new washers with the built in screen.....I use both for safety, but the screened washer is placed at the faucet end for ease of cleaning...

hook up water and test...your WARM should be just that!...WARM

not even ten minutes to do this......

let me know if you run into any problems or how you make out....
 
The "grooves" I'm talking about are actually deep scratches that run horizontally around the entire bottom inch of the tub wall, near where the two parts of the tub are joined.

I think Douglas may be right---the scratches look like something leftover from the grinding process. My question: Why are such defects allowed to get past inspection?

I'm concerned because when I ran my fingers across that area, it felt very rough. Wouldn't want fabrics rubbing against it. If the 542 has the same issue when it arrives, I'm not accepting it. I don't care if the thing is a tank under the cabinet; if SQ sends out machines with roughed-up tubs (full of greasy polishing compound, no less) and warped lids, they're not helping the cause for high quality US products.

I'm excited to get a new washer, but were it not for all the enthusiasm from members here, I wouldn't go near Speed Queen given the machine I saw on the showroom floor.
 
ok+

Our AWN542 and matching elec dryer were installed 8/14/12. I like how the washer sounds like a belt drive KM/WP at times washing on reg speed and overall a good-not excellent-washer. Is VERY fast-under 30 min cycle at 'norm' wash.

Spin WAS super smooth. In last 30 days it is getting noisier with a buzz and slight erratic booming if load isn't perfectly balanced. Still quieter than our KM DD on spin was.(It's in the basement,I'm 'gonna' replace wear parts & it MAY go back in service some day.)

I don't dig the main tub seam nor the seam at tub wall to tub 'plate'. For a little more $ the tub could be smooth. No problems noticed,but feels wrong.

The KM's were better at removing lint,drying time slightly shorter,with less pilling/small wrinkles. Alliance rep on phone admitted Heat inlet grill design could be better.

Would I purchase again? Yes. If our 1996 KM 90's were available new at similar $,I'd be torn. Love the SQ's old school wash action,but the KM's 3 speeds were great. The SQ could use a wash speed between slow and reg,IMO.

Still the coolest/best tl avail right now.
 
Congrats on the new washer! It sounds like it will be a fun machine to play with. I hope yours arrives without any manufacturing issues.
 

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