Speed Queen AWN542: I've Joined The Club!

[frigilux]

Gansky-- Except for brief flings with a belt-drive Whirlpool (1985) and a button-eating KitchenAid circa 1989, all my washers have been either WCI or Electrolux-made.

1985- Whirlpool (only had it a few months before it went with house sale)
1987-- Frigidaire top-loader
1988-- Frigidaire front-loader (last of the old-school WCI/Westys)
1989- Kitchen-Aid top-loader
1990-- Gibson front-loader
1996-- Frigidaire front-loader (first of the Frigilux models)
2002-- Frigidaire front-loader
2006-- Frigidaire top-loader (agitator/indexing tub)
2010-- Frigidaire front-loader (first of the redesigned models)
2013-- Frigidaire Immersion Care
2013-- Speed Queen top-loader

And that's only the washers! No wonder the local appliance dealers love to see me, LOL.

 

[retropia]

What was that 1990 Gibson front-loader like? I don't believe I've even seen a photo of one of those.

 

[frigilux]

Doug-- The Gibson pair looked like this Westinghouse set. Gibson was one of several off-shoot brands owned by WCI in the 1980s.

 

[frigilux]

Update: The Speed Queen arrives at the local dealership today and will be installed tomorrow or Friday. Yay!

The dealer agreed to adjust the water level. As long as he adjusts it the warranty is not voided. Also took a look behind the AWN432 on the showroom floor and saw the flat metal bracket the clothespin is clipped to in the photo below, defeating the lid switch.

CALLING MARTIN/YOGITUNES-- The dealer said "I won't defeat the lid switch for you, but I'll let you do it before I put the washer in place."

1) Is the clothespin simply clipped to that flat metal bracket/brace? There's nothing else to it? Is the clothespin also clamped to something else that I'm not seeing in the photo?

2) Does the lid need to be in a certain position (open or closed) when I put the clothespin in place, or doesn't it matter?

 

[washman]

If you look carefully

right above the drain hose there is a small hole. I used a piece of wood pushed in to hold the switch down. I did this while the lid was down.

 

[jeffg]

Eugene, the top half of the clothespin acts as a wedge and pushes the lid switch rod down far enough to engage the switch. Most anything else (a wad of paper etc) will work too. We found whatever is there tends to move over time, with vibration of the machine, so instead of a wedge we used a 32" bungee cord, with one end over the rod shown and the other end to the bottom rear edge of the washer. The downward pressure is enough to engage the switch and it's basically impervious to vibration.

 

[yogitunes]

Sorry for arriving to the party late...but as the others have explained, the clothes pin is just clipped over that flat piece, keep the lid closed, and slide it on, actually it the upper half of the pin that is holding that flap down....from there on, it will operate with the lid open...easy as pie

but anything would work as a wedge, a piece of wood, a rolled up wad of paper, a pencil, or even the bungee trick.....what ever you have around......I like the clothes pin best, easy on and off if needed....it must be at least 3 or 4 years that mine has been on there, and has not popped off yet....

yeah, some dealers/service men will increase the water level at the customers request....without vioding the warranty.....or you can do it yourself.....no harm done....

as for the lid switch, its basically at your own risk......just take the pin off if you have to call for service....

 

[frigilux]

Thanks for the clarification, guys! I appreciate your patience with my stupendous lack of technical ability.

Think I'll start with a clothespin...but that bungee cord idea sounds like a keeper, as well. I have a couple of bungees in the garage; will have to see how long they are.

What I wasn't understanding: I thought the flat metal piece the clothespin clipped to was a brace. It's actually a lever that moves up and down depending on whether the little box right above it is engaging it or not.

Oy vey. You'd never know both my father and stepfather were consummate do-it-yourselfers. My dad built our freakin' house back in 1955 (four years before I was born). My stepfather was a farmer who did all his own electrical/plumbing/woodwork/machinery repair. Guess none of it rubbed off on me.

Fortunately, neither of them were musical at all, so I can retain some self-worth knowing I hold the aces in that particular corner, LOL.[this post was last edited: 10/9/2013-14:51]

 

[yogitunes]

My father and brothers are mechanics...then again so am I.....I just prefer washing machines first...

no biggie though, we can talk you thru this stuff, add a few pics if needed...and your on your way....one helping and sharing ideas with the other, thats why were here...

can't wait for yours to arrive....we at least want pics in it's new home spot!

are you going to drill out the valve for a true WARM wash?.....some guys just let it fill 1/3 with HOT water, and then select WARM for the rest of the fill...