Speed Queen FF7005WN excessive shaking going into a spin

[thinker1920]

Hi Everyone,

This is the Speed Queen FF7005WN I recently purchased. It shakes excessively when its going into a spin even when nothing is in it. I took a video of it going into a spin, there's nothing in it, it's level, and it's sitting on 2x4's that run perpendicular to the floor joists (a suggestion from a local speed queen tech, once it is in a full spin the 2x4's greatly reduced the vibrations) Any thoughts on why the tub is shaking so much when it's starting to ramp up? below is a link to a YouTube video of it.

 

[thinker1920]

Maybe that is normal operation?

After watching some videos by Kirk Rivas of the same machine and reading that the FF7 doesn't load sense I'm wondering if this more aggressive shaking as it ramps up is the machine operating normally? I just don't want to use it if it is shaking excessively and potentially have it damage itself. What do you all think?

 

[vacerator]

Looks normal, and

at least it isn't dancing on the floor.

 

[DADoES]

 
I'm not a SQ expert but it seems normal.  Frontloaders tend to have an individual lower RPM range at which the (empty) drum/tub exhibits a maximum oscillation that settles down as the RPM increases.

Some (newer?) SQ models have a balance ring partially-filled with ball bearings that adjust on each load (or an empty spin) to counter the oscillation.

I recall mention of some brand (LG? Samsung?) that ran an installation calibration for the electronics to determine what is the RPM at which max oscillation occurs so the machine can quickly accelerate past it when running a load.

 

[combo52]

Newer SQ FL Washer Virbration

This is completely normal for machines that have active vibration damping, with no load they are often worse at certain lower speeds with no clothing.

 

Many here have noticed even plain WP DD TL washer vibrate with no load at all because of the water filled balance ring.

 

Hopefully the 2 X 4s will help your weak floor, it is usually a good idea to glue and screw a heavy sheet of 3/4" plywood the size of the washer [ and dryer ] if it is sitting next to the washer into the floor joists to reinforce the floor, you could also screw the 2 X 4s into the joists but the problem with the 2 X 4s is the machine may fall off of them.

 

John L.

 

[thinker1920]

Flooring / tech response

I know the floor is contributing some but I'm not sure to what extent. The house is a ranch built in 2006, the washer sits next to an exterior wall, and the old Bosch front loader sits on a 14" pedestal and doesn't shake nearly as violently (The Bosch is slightly slower though 1,000 RPM vs the SQ's 1,200). This is a 2019 SQ and I believe it does have the ball bearing balancing ring.

I was able to reach the local SQ tech and told him that the 2x4's improved the vibrations once it reached the full spin (you can see it hardly shakes at all in the video at full speed) that it was still banging against the door as it was ramping up. He told me that empty the machine should be perfectly balanced and should not do that, that I probably have a bad spring or strut and to call the closest full service tech (his store only services SQ's they sell).

I'm thinking about beefing up the floor regardless of the outcome since I do believe it could be more ridged. I was thinking about tiling the floor since I would have to add a layer of cement board and the tile, that should help make it more rigid no? And I was going to nail in some joist blocking under the floor too.

 

[jben]

I have the prior generation SQ FL (2013 model year) and don't believe it is this bad and that is without that newly added "balance ring" that I thought was suppose to address some of this.

It appears to me someone has already replaced one of the shocks because I can see that the two front shocks have different color uppers. I wonder if there is a now a mismatch with one or more new shocks with the original ones that is contributing?

My SQ FL had one failed shock in the front and after replacing just that one it made a big difference. I actually purchased four new shocks intending to replace all, but the others were so strong I could not get them compressed enough to remove them so just left the other three alone.

Have you checked all of the shocks and especially make sure that color mis-match is the correct shock for this application?

 

[thinker1920]

I was able to find a Speed Queen dealer that was willing to service it. They ended up replacing the front and rear balance rings along with all four shocks. They also commented that the machine looked very clean inside when they disassembled it (they were surprised to find no soap residue). The previous owner did tell me that it was in their summer home and was only used for two summers.

I am hoping that we'll be able to get many years of trouble free use out of it.