Speed Queen Front Load Washer Help

[davidblazor]

Hello to all at aw.org. My name is David and I have a couple of problems with a Speed Queen Front Load washer that is less than 2 years old I could use and appreciate any advice before calling a service call on the washer.

I purchased the front load speed queen washer to replace a top load Speed Queen less than 2 years ago as the dryer I had with my first washer went belly up so I replaced the whole set.

The Queens are used in my home but I have 2 severly disabled young children and these machines are used equally to that of a assisted living facility. In my family we average 25-30 large loads of laundry a week.

Last nite as we were on about load 12 or 13 the washer started making this weird noise like popcorn popping and then started making a weird banging noise as it was accelerating into the final spin . When the machine got to the high speed the noise went away and as the machine slowed down the banging noise returned. I don't think that the machine was over loaded as it was the pg 13 load ( blouses, bras, underwear church sweaters etc).

The model# is AWN50R, is this machine a belt driven machine or a direct drive machine. In my family's situation is Speed Queen the best brand for durability and longevity? I have been really happy with the machine, it actually uses an enormous amount of water for front load washer and I don't get the bad smell as with other machines in the past.

Any advice in this situation would be great fully appreciated.

David

 

[rp2813]

John "combo52" is the resident Speed Queen front-load booster around here.   He may be able to advise you on what may be causing the noise your machine is making.

 

Based upon what John has said in the past, you would have a tough time doing much better than Speed Queen for build quality and longevity in a front-loader.

 

[davidblazor]

This machine holds more than it looks like it might hold. We have NEVER encountered any problems until now and it suprises me that we are having problems with it now. When our other Speed Queen dryer went out we were told that if we had any other brand of machines we would be replacing them on a yearly basis and that Speed Queen was the only way to go for our home and the enormous amount of laundry that MUST be washed. I was just curious to see if there was a better brand of machines. The original reason for buying Speed Queens is that it is the most popular brand among coin/card laundries and they are built like tanks. We have been pretty impressed with both the washer and dryer this far; I am not sure what model # is on the dryer I just know it has 3 auto cycles, timed dry, four temp setting end of cycle alarm and extra tumble. The dryer is electric

 

[rp2813]

Don't the SQ front-loaders come with a longer-than-two-year warranty?

 

[davidblazor]

There are different parts of the warranty that are longer than others and I am not sure what is going on. There is no extended warranty on the machine as we were told when we bought them that Speed Queen does not offer a extended warranty. Would this problem be covered under warranty with the amount of laundry that the machine is doing. The machine is in a residential setting but doing the amount of laundry for a small commercial laundry. Can any of the Speed Queen enthusiasts chime in on this subject. I am not wanting to replace the machine and don't know how expensive it would be to fix if the warranty has expired. The Laundromats around here are extremely expensive and out of the family's budget.

Are theses problems bearing related or balance issues?

 

[joe_in_philly]

Could there be a coin or other object that found its way into the outer drum or in the rubber boot?

 

[rp2813]

Your machine is being used in a residential setting.  That is all that should matter.  Less than two years even with as much use as your machine has had still isn't enough for it to be failing already.

 

I think Joe is onto something.  If you've been running full loads, and considering how often you've been doing so, the odds are pretty decent that a coin or button could have worked its way into the outer drum.

 

[davidblazor]

How do I access the outer tub of the machine? I haven't seen anything in the rubber boot of the machine. There is no screen/trap on this machine for fallen items such as on my mom's LG's. If I continue running the machine in it's condition could I possibly damage the bearings. If it is something caught in the outer drum will it eventually wash out and down the drain or would I be looking a plugged pump issue? From the noise that I hear it sounds mechanical like a bearing I am just not sure because once the machine hits the highest speed for that cycle the noise disappears until the machine starts decelerating and then it starts again until the cycle stops.

 

[rp2813]

Any chance you could record the machine making the noise and post it here?

 

[mrb627]

Similar issue

I had a similar issue with my imperial washer. It turned out, in my case, that one of the rubber foot pads had cracked from becoming dry and brittle. I replaced all four foot pads and re-leveled the machine and it is now fine again.

I would start be checking the foot pads.

Malcolm

 

[davidblazor]

Sorry for the long wait for replies to be awnsered

So I was asked to work extra today and was not home to video the machine in action. I washed a couple of loads of blankets on the delicate/ bulky cycle and know the machine literally sounds like it is going to blow up. I noticed that the drum seems loose and that I can make the machine make this noise just by turning the drum by hand. I attempted to video the machine in action but the sound would not come thru on the video and then I couldn't get the video to upload onto the site.

Before coming home I stopped at the Speed Queen dealership and asked who they used for their service repairs and the guy at the store gave me a card of a repairman. I called the repair guy and he told me that he doesn't service Speed Queens if they are still under warranty. Can any one tell me why a repair guy for the Speed Queen brand would not service a machine under warranty?

The guy at the dealership said it was time for a new Queen, I sure hope that that is not the case.

David

 

[rp2813]

Of course the guy at the dealership wants to sell you a new machine.  He clearly is not at all familiar with the product, or thinks you're not.

 

I suggest you contact SQ directly by phone -- not one of their dealers.  The number should be provided in the literature that came with the machine, or on line.  SQ will dispatch a certified repairman in your area as part of your warranty coverage.

 

If the guy the dealer recommended won't work on a machine that's under warranty, that strongly suggests he's not a SQ authorized repair man.  In other words, if he touches your machine the warranty is void.

 

From what you've described directly above, I wonder if one of the tub's springs has broken.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Definitely

call Speed Queen!!

You would be amazed at what you can achieve by calling the manufacturer if you have a problem, *especially* with Speed Queen. I used to never do this. If something broke, I threw it away and got a new one. It never occurred to me to call them and complain (nicely)

 

[combo52]

Speed Queen FL Washer Problems

It sounds like something might have gotten stuck in between the tubs. This is often something like an under wire from a bra. If you cannot find the problem easily call the local SQ repair service, your machine has a THREE year warranty that should cover all failures for both parts, labor and service calls, however if you got a foreign object caught in the machine this might not be covered, but a service call just to remove a foreign object should not be that expensive.

Your washer should last 10 years or more even with this heavy use, we have an installation where a pair of these machines has gotten 15-20 loads a day use for over 6 years now with no major failures. However when you use a machine so much and depend on it for daily service you should have a 2nd washer as a backup as things will go wrong from time to time.

 

[davidblazor]

Top Load or Front Load

In the event that I have to replace the machine do I go with another Front Load or do I go back to the Top load Washer. Our last Speed Queen washer was running great and was only replaced for cosmetic purposes; the control panels on the 1st SQ was silver and blue and the new ones are black and white and the model of that washer was 2nd from the top of the line.

Thanks again for all of your replies and HAPPY TURKEY DAY TO ALL!!

 

[rp2813]

Considering your location, I'd guess water usage isn't much of a concern.  A SQ top loader would be far less expensive even if you went with the top of the line model, but the top loaders do still have a tendency to eat through drive belts, which could become a nuisance considering how much laundry you do.  I also maintain that rinsing is sub-par on SQ top loaders.  I had an Amana, which at the time was a SQ clone, and it sucked at rinsing, particularly towels.

 

Be advised that the newest SQ machines for 2015 will have electronic controls, so if you prefer knobs and dials, now's the time to shop.

 

I still think your front loader can be repaired and that it will provide you with many more years of service, but if you've found you prefer a top loader, that's understandable.

 

 

 

[pierreandreply4]

your better off throwing your front loader in the trash and buy a good old fashion topload washer

 

[whirlcool]

So you have a Speed Queen FL machine that is less than two years old and the dealer told you to buy a new machine? That's the last time I would ever darken the doorway again of that dealer! What is he, nuts?

That is not typical of most Speed Queen dealers that sell their washers. Do as the others have suggested, call Speed Queen directly.

 

[pierreandreply4]

Whirlcool,

Whirlcool that is mostly how dealers function today they no longer went to repair older washers and dryers they will suggest to customers buying a new set instead