Speed Queen Residential Going The Way of Maytag

[windrivers]

Like Jerome I wear sturdy cottons and not fabric specially made for CR.

There may be a place for gentle washing machines or cycles, but as for what I expect out of my machine and my clothes, gentleness is more of a selling point than a practical consideration.

 

[tolivac]

In my case wearing the clothes is harder than the washer.-Lets see-grease and oil from transmitter tune drives,and cabinet edges that snag the clothes-better the clothes than me.I go thru many T-shirts a year.

 

[petek]

Testing and comparing how aggressive different models of machines are on fabrics may not be important to you but it's not all about you. Its about the thousands upon thousands of other people to whom it may be an important consideration. They're compared using each machines "regular cycle" which most people use,well, regularly. Obviously they have the option of ratcheting things up to a heavier cycle for really dirty/work wear etc. if need be.

 

[windrivers]

So I don't trust CR, and I do clothes my way using my own knowledge and understanding of what's best for me, but since millions of other people do clothes using the regular cycle trusting the manufacturers and CR to have their best interests in mind, my opinion doesn't matter?

 

[ryner1988]

I do agree that if people want to consider gentleness on fabrics in their buying decisions, they should be able to do that. However, I will say I don't remember that being a major selling point before the current generation of laundry machines took over.

 

[qsd-dan]

If gentleness is a concern, buy a front loader. Speed Queen TR series washers are a complete waste of water and recourses for such mediocre performance. Again, buy a front loader and save a bunch of money on water and detergent for gentle washing action.

 

[ryner1988]

Reply #44

Completely agree with this. In my opinion there are two types of washers that are worth a damn: traditional top loaders and front loaders. If I had to get a new machine, it would be an SQ TC5 or perhaps an LG front load with turbo wash, although I have concerns about the LG being too touch screen-oriented for me to realistically use non-visually.

HE top loaders with the impeller are a waste and should not exist because they try to be both a top and front loader in one package and you just can't do that. The VMW traditional agitator top loaders are ok but their reliability is horrible.

 

[john76]

My 2004 Maytag VMW machine was replaced a few weeks ago with a SQ TR-5003. I’ve been interested in this machine since its introduction. It fits perfectly in the spot where the Maytag was and is pretty much the same size. I have cabinets above the washer and dryer so the height of the lid when open was a factor. Most wash cycles are 35 minutes, the machine is much quieter than the Maytag, 43db in agitation mode. I use the auto fill option which seems to get the right amount of water for the load and doesn’t appear to increase the time it takes to do a load. The lid lock doesn’t engage until the agitation mode so additional clothes can be added if need be.

I rarely need to wash heavily soiled clothing so I think this machine will suit me just fine. It does have a heavy soil option which adds an additional 21 minutes to any load. Come Spring when I have some dirtier clothes from working in the yard, I’ll see how it does. I like the idea that the wash action might be easier on clothes. So far it’s done a great job with all the loads I’ve thrown at it.

I expect this machine to easily last as long as the Maytag as it has a strong motor and fewer parts than the Maytag or TC-5.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

wash video

I'd like to see you do a video of this machine running with a real load of colors on heavy duty and with laundry detergent and fabric softener please. Thank you. I would like to see it really put to the test.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

The last time I checked...

Extra heavy sturdy cottons and linens are notorious for getting really dirty and smelly, especially everyday fabrics like above. They need intense wash/spin speeds and the proper amount of water and time. Nobody has time to be coddling dirt-caked clothes! People need to realize that if they need to use cold water, they should also consider using warm and hot water as well. Cottons cycles can use all three temps.

 

[john76]

“ Extra heavy sturdy cottons and linens are notorious for getting really dirty and smelly”

What are examples of those? The label on my bath towels says warm/gentle cycle. Bedding, gentle cycle. My heaviest cotton pants says cold water. Most of my athletic Under Armour clothing says cold water, gentle cycle.

I figured out to wash my towels in permanent press mode to get a medium spin cycle as the delicate cycle is low spin.

 

[qsd-dan]

Most junk clothes today have both cold water and gentle cycle recommendations as a CYA for their shitty quality merchandise. Doesn't matter, I ignore their recommendations and wash them in hotter water using the regular cycle.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

dual action agitator and transmission

I wish Speed Queen Home would've just upgraded their transmission and used a dual action agitator for increased wash action like Whirlpool did in the 80s, even if it's fast agitation. Just saying. I'm okay with the slow agitation as long as the strokes are long.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

qsd dan

Very well said. My washer usage is not the problem. It's the quality of the clothing that is. Why would I wash everything on cold and gentle cycle? Sturdy fabrics like cottons, denim, terrycloth, and linen can handle "extra heavy" agitation. That is what the old normal cycle used to be. That's what the heavy duty cycle is on Speed Queen Laundry. My clothes are just fine on all three temperatures depending on color.

 

[ragnboneman]

A question of timers electronic or mechanical.....

The image I am about to post is from a Modicon industrial controller.
This one is a good example of excellent build quality and reliability.
Its from the 800 series that were developed in the 80s. ( called the 984 family)

Iv'e seen these keep on running covered in filth and dust in hot or cold environments for years without missing a beat.
Build quality gold plated contacts, large heat sinks, lots of screws and bolts to hold parts together conformal coatings to prevent corrosion.
This could run for decades and did ( and some still are ).
Quality industrial controls for commercial applications can and are made reliable and long lasting.

https://shop.metallogics.com/products/modicon-lr32678-800-series-10-slot-plc-rack-with-modules

Here is another old timer.
A KB drive motor drive form 30 years ago.
Same build quality robust heat and dirt tolerant and long lasting.
Also a product of the 1980s still made today.

https://sbindustrialsupply.com/shop/new-kb-electronics-kbic-120-dc-motor-speed-control-kbic120/

Quality long lasting electronics and motor drives can be made.
How many of you had a SONY Trinitron TV set?
Lasted and lasted with good picture and it did not meed the TV repair man to come to your home and tune and adjust it like an RCA or other contemporary.

All these companies ( some like Modican no longer exist ) made good electronics designed to replace electro-mechanical or non solid state devices.
They owned the market because people knew what to expect and would pay a premium for it.
But also there was competition to apply pressure on the manufactures to up their game if they wanted to keep that market.

Now ?
How many manufactures exist to build appliances ( I don't mean brands )?
What do you pay for a durable good now compared to decades ago?

Could you build a 30 year life into a washing machine using yes but what would it cost and if you could still charge the same would you bother because you had limited competition?
How hard are they working to compete?

I don't know what to tell you.
I work in heavy industry and I see modern industrial controls now are built like washing machines.
We replace and scrap them out all the time.
They have features I really don't want or need and do things that do not significantly improve productivity ( but the computer geeks like them, I think the rapid churn of technology is what gives them job security)

So I have no answers
But like I said good stuff was out there.

This silly little PLC I have to grudgingly respect.
Its small modern, and does seem to last.
Why are they not built into washing machines?
They are not expensive and they were designed for these kids of applications ( used in vending machines as well as industry )
This is a very basic version but there are expansion kits and versions with more or less options...

There is no excuse for bad electronics in washers unless that was part of the plan.



So as much as you like the idea of transmission, drives can eliminate all those gears and oil and simplify the tasks of moving the drum and what ever means you like to wash.
Quality bearings and seals that are cheap and easy to change are available.
Inexpensive corrosion resistant steel where needed and plastic where its not can keep costs low.

Still not a cheap, but quality easy to fix machine with parts you can buy for the next 30 years is completely possible and in reach of that was what the market asked for.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

extra heavy cottons and linens smelly and dirty

Things like BO, ground-in dirt from working or playing in the yard in jeans and overalls, football practice in football jerseys, etc. maybe some sweaty linens. etc. etc. I use the real normal or heavy duty cycles if normal is eco. I use heavy duty cycle which is the old normal cycle on Speed Queen Home models.

 

[ragnboneman]

I'm going to ask some pointed questions about use.
What exactly would you want in your machine?
Everyone talks about short of long stroke, water levels detergents.

Would you as the end user want to fully control this?
Would you want a machine that can do a slow short stroke for a delicate wash that can be steplessly turned up up to a very vigorous aggressive action for heavily soiled laundry?.
Since most machines use liquid detergents now how about automatic dispensers of detergent and fabric softener that match the water levels and wash action selected?

The reason I ask is these are not difficult things to do at all with today's tech.
Think about all the Apps available for cell phones.
It would be easy to design a washer that has connectivity to a device that lets you select EXACTLY what you want.

Why we don't have this, inertia from the industry?
Its not expensive at all to add features like these to allow the end user to have full control of their own appliance.

Why are we still getting appliances that look like older ones and do the same things when we could have truly flexible and adaptable appliances that do save energy and water as we as last and wash well?
I think people are simply excepting this situation as is...

 

[gelaundry4ever]

I agree...

I agree with you. There should be a reservoir for chlorine bleach that only works on the whites cycle in addition. Just saying.