Speed Queen TL the same as "bad" Amanas?

[dnastrau]

Greetings:

I had a quick question on the current Speed Queen top loaders: Do these share parts/designs with the "bad" Amanas? I know that Amana machines do not seem to have a good reputation here (leaky tub seals, hard to work on, etc.) and wondered if the Speed Queens were the same design since they used to be owned by the same company.

Thanks in advance!

Andrew S.

 

[whirlcool]

Back when Amana and Speed Queen were owned by Raytheon those machines were of pretty decent quality. It's when Maytag bought the Amana division after Raytheon sold the brands off is when you started seeing those horrible "Amanatag" machines. I believe Amanatag model numbers start with "SAV"

Here is a link to a video which features an Amanatag in operation. I think another member or aw.org put it up there.

 

[volvoguy87]

Yup.

That was my SAV-515DEWW Amanatag I had while I lived in Savannah. It never leaked, but it did have a weak tub brake, hence the squeak as it indexed. It also had major suspension problems on spin. I replaced it with a Maytag A208 which is now owned by Classiccaprice in Hampton, VA. The A208 was better in every way except for capacity, but I can live with that.

How did that washer ever get to market?
Dave

 

[laundromat]

the machine posted looks more like a Norge than a Speed Queen

 

[whirlcool]

No it's an Amanatag, not a Speed Queen.

 

[queeny77]

the sound that you are hearing are the tub brakes that have worn the brake pad grease off,yes the new speed queens will do that after awhile,as for the motors going out on them within 5 years,the motors and water shield on top of the motor remain the same so it will probably happen.and as for the tub seals i am keeping my fingers crossed because my speed queen is over a basement apt on wood floors.

 

[whirlcool]

For some reason I was under the impression that the Speed Queens of today (built by Alliance Laundry) are of a better design than they were when Raytheon had them.
Can anybody clarify this?

 

[queeny77]

but actually amana was getting bad in 1997 when raytheon got sold to goodman and they started making all these changes,like bigger lid opening,different tub ring,control panel went to plain white instead of green dotted panel,knobs were different,an easy acces panel was put in front,and an oval"stainless" emblem was put on the control panel. i have had my share of amana problems over the years because i was always drawn to them.once i bought a leaking amana touchmatic electronic control washer and dryer from craigslist,and it ended up needing a hub and seal kit that was over $100 just for the parts,and it also needed a bearing because it sounded like a dump truck on spin.but luckily i found someone who could put the parts in for cheap,as for that washer and dryer they are still running at a coworkers house.

 

[mrcleanjeans]

Today's Speed Queens ARE the good ones-and are the BEST TLs today.

 

[surgilator_68]

Before they were even bought by Maytag they were having seal, hub and bearing issues. After Maytag bought the Amana line, Alliance reworked the outer tub to have more of a slope away from the center and redesigned the center seal. Since then just about all seal/hub/bearing issues are gone from the Alliance built units.

 

[dnastrau]

Thanks for the information everyone!

Andrew S.

 

[ryanm]

I recently bought a new Speed Queen top loader, and it is very well built and the best performing machine. My friend who owns an appliance store has taken classes from Alliance, and he claims the seals on these machines are really tough and indestuctable, unlike the 'Amana' machines. I think Alliance is putting out the very best top loader on the market these days. I am so very surprisingly impressed with this machine. Absolutely never out of balance, gentle to the clothes, and so very quite compared to my last machine (a Kenmore). The matching dryer is great too. I just can't say enough good things about this pair, very glad I made this choice.

 

[dnastrau]

Michael, that is great to hear. At least one company still makes a quality top loader...

Andrew S.

 

[gyrafoam]

Those Amanatag's sucked. Lucky if the spin bearings lasted a year. POS.

The new SQ's are great machines. The people I know in the appliance repair business love them and think they are the best (new) machines available today. I would agree.

As mentioned in another post, Lefever is an authorized SQ dealer and if you live here in the northeast it would be worth a ride to Maryland to get a new set.

 

[pulsator]

All the SQ models are available with the different colored knob inserts!

 

[pulsator]

oops!

wrong thread!