speed queen TR5 noisy in spin only if lightly loaded

[cten]

Hello,

I have a 15 month old speed queen TR5. machine cleans awesome and love its performance. here is the issue - if lightly loaded during spin it makes a rhythmic noise that can come and go. service was here and thinks is bearing and has ordered parts. He also wants to replace the shaft which is on back order. I had baarings fail on my old maytag neptune and replaced those myself twice - they made a continuous roaring sound. the fact that this noise goes away on heavy load makes me think the bearing itself is actually fine. the noise is coming from near the lower bearing but I am wondering if the bearing could be moving ever so slightly in its housing in the upside down milkstand. I would think bearing noise would be worse under more load. both bearings look fine with no rust present. I will say it started at about 8 months. any thoughts? If I can attach short video with noise I will. please change the extension of the attached file to .mp4 then you can play it. I renamed as can only attach jpg

View attachment cten-2021020618565604409_1.jpg

View attachment cten-2021020618565604409_2.jpg

 

[keith]

Tub drive pulley nut loose

Sounds like the same thing that happened on our TR5. There’s a thread about it. The tub drive pulley nut need to be torqued to an updated spec. There’s a Bulletin for it through speed Queen. No parts required, just set to the proper torque spec. If they DO NOT torque it with a torque wrench it will make noise again on 4 months (ask me how I know). It’s gotta be very, very tight. The machine is still under warranty so have the tech come out. Make sure they use a torque wrench or it won’t stay fixed.

Keith

 

[keith]

Video

BTW this is what ours sounded like after the nut backed off....
With the nut torqued it’s dead silent.

 

[cten]

Thank you for the reply.  my sound is different.  I have a video but not sure how to upload.  I did rename it to .jpg and attached to first post.  if you right click the icon and save to your pc, then rename to .mp4 instead of .jpg you can see it.  if you can tell me how to upload video direct I would appreciate.  seems only pictures allowed.

 

Anyway the point you bring up was the first thing suggested by the servicer. he came out and tightened with an impact wrench, not a torque wrench,  the nut did move some but a torque if that is what speed queen calls out is what should be used.  he tightened it and the noise was still there before he left the house.  so he went to the bearing thing then.  Do you have the torque rating that is recommended or a copy of the bulletin.  I have not been able to find it.  and again heavy load is quiet as a mouse, happens small load, only in final spin and can come and go randomly within seconds, or can stay for the whole spin.  and the noise you hear is when the pump is NOT running so no linkage to that.  thanks again

 

I just posted video to youtube - here is the link

<span class="video-url-fadeable style-scope ytcp-video-info">https://youtu.be/1saMG8fWtm0 </span>

[this post was last edited: 2/7/2021-09:24]

 

[DADoES]

 
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[keith]

Torque

It’s amazing how ...err....I’ll hold off on using the term I want....some techs can be. Why doesn’t anyone carry a torque wrench!? The torque MUST be between 700 and 1000 in.lbs. He likely overtorqued it with the impact, which will lead to other issues, like the nut or tub shaft threads stripping out (thow I’m imagining a cordless impact wouldn't have enough strength to do that). At any rate, that noise is definitely different, I haven’t heard that one yet on ours (fingers crossed). The machine can be run with the front off, and since it’s duplicateable, have the tech use a mechanics stethoscope to narrow down the source of the noise (if he doesn’t have a torque wrench he should at least have that, they’re cheap from harbor freight). It should be almost silent on spin loaded or not (other than the pump turning on and off and the wind noise). Ours is a bit over 2 years old, 4-5 loads a day, 4x a week. After retorquing that drive but it’s as quiet as the day we bought it.

A member Combo52 is a Speed Queen tech with tons of experience, and really knows his stuff, he helped me with mine and I’m sure he’ll chime in on this thread at some point too.

I’ll be following incase our TR5 starts making this noise at some point.

Keith

 

[cten]

I agree that the service guys should be using proper tools and specs not an impact gun though it was a battery powered one.  So I just went at that bolt with a 1.5 inch socket and torque wrench.  I did not loosen it but it is at or above 80ft-lb as my wrench clicked without anything moving.  I was hoping maybe his impact was low an battery and it was still loose.  no such luck.  the service guy is waiting for shaft which is on back order. he says they have to pound on the shaft to get bearings so wants a new one one hand.  I replaced bearings myself in my old neptune and never had issue with shaft sticking but so be it.  either these are different or he is being extra cautious.  aside from this the machine washes much better than our old neptune did.  the noise is definitely coming from the area of the lower bearing or seems to be. with all the metal sound travels easy.  I did send my video to speed queen - they thought something between the tubs or if worse with heavy load bearings.  something between tubs was ruled out by service guy as he took it apart.  so if it is the bearings I just wish the shaft would come in so the guy would get here and fix it

 

[keith]

I’m a mechanic, my wife is a hairdresser and my daughter occasionally helps on a farm. We also have 5 cats and a dog, so lots of pet hair on top of all that. Never an issue not getting clothes clean. So many people on this forum discount the TR cause it washes differently, though none of them actually daily drive one. To each their own, but for us better warranty than the TC, fully selectable water levels on every cycle unlike the TC, no transmission to fail unlike the TC, quieter running than the TC, less electricity use than the TC, costs less than a TC, and it cleans great! Not like we don’t put it through it’s paces. My wife has 0 complaints (she’s had Maytag TL’s ,a Kenmore and an LG FL, and now the TR since 2018). So that’s really what matters to me.

 

[cten]

Keith,

since you have it does the service manual recommend either having or replacing the shaft when changing bearings?

thanks

 

[keith]

Service manual

Unfortunately the service manual I bought doesn’t come with actual repair instructions. Go figure. It has diag flow charts, parts lists, trouble codes and different test modes. I’d expect John L (Combo 52) to have the full boogie ‘inside info’ on this repair. It takes a few days but I’m sure he’ll be adding to this thread soon. He’d know for sure what the repair procedure should entail for parts (and what can go wrong).

Keith

 

[cten]

you will not believe this.  the tech servicer 2 was just here and we could not get the machine to make the noise.  tried 5 different times completely empty tub and even a light load (light or no load always worse)  it has been so consistent in doing the noise that am not sure what to think.  I played the video for him - he did not think it sound like a bearing but.  so anyway he left without doing any work as wants to hear it himself first based on the amount of work to be a bearing.  I cannot blame him there. this guy says a new shaft not really needed for this (his boss says rarely needed) so am on the fence of keeping the shaft, returning, or exactly what to do.    servicer 1 wont touch it without a new shaft and servicer 2 says not needed.  servicer 2 says he has only replaced bearings once on a machine like this and it was because the seal leaked and water got in bearings.  no leakage of any kind on mine and bearings have no rust.  even with the rust he got the bearings off the old shaft.  Part of me is thinking I should just ignore the noise when it happens.  when the noise does happen it makes it all the way down to no ratation and sounds like a once per revolution click.  could it be a flat spot on a bearing (not sure that even makes sense).   just wanted to update you - thanks for your time.

 

I had found a shaft at reliable parts and bought.  speed queen said would reimburse me if needed and I should return it otherwise.  I had suggested to servicer 1 that he could get from reliable parts.  he said they did not have it but I ordered it myself 5 minutes later and had 2 days later.  $100 - I could keep it just in case or send it back less shipping

 

decided to send shaft back.  yah that noise is not a classic bearing rumble or roar - if bearing would have to a flat on one ball - that rotates in and out of noise region. is that even possible - I dont know

[this post was last edited: 2/16/2021-16:42]

 

[keith]

Thanks for the update. Sorry its turned into such an intermittent thing. I agree it doesn't sound like bearings to me either, never heard a bad bearing suddenly sound fine. The 'buzzy' nature of it almost sounds like something inverter-related and just echoing through the tub. I also agree if I was the second guy id want to hear it for myself, so as annoying as it was that it was quiet i do understand his position.

We had a strangely similar "first tech with a boatload of parts ready to replace but said they were on backorder" story with ours, we found that to be concerning so we called the second tech, who came out and found the parts the first tech claimed were bad are perfectly fine, and knew about the bulletin and fixed it with no parts. Granted he didn't torque it correctly, but at least he knew the fix.

the first tech was about to order a balance ring (Claimed that was the noise), drum (Claimed it was out of round), bearing and seal kit (Claimed they may be damaged by the out of round drum)....claimed the drum was on backorder (we called speed queen and they said it was not) so we got suspicious....

Needless to say I'd see if, when it starts making noise again, you can get the second guy back out there. Luckily there's a 5 year warranty so no need to worry.

 

[cten]

thanks for the post Keith. yah the warranty makes it much less worrisome. and if it truly is not bearings probably not much to worry about. servicer 1 did think inverter at first as it does have a harmonic sound but the fact that pulling the power cable from motor and it will make the noise while spinning down means it is mechanical not electrical. was also thought of motor bearing but again bad bearings dont suddenly go quiet and it is more in line with rpm of tub not motor. at least that is how it sounds on the slow down. I DO agree with guy 2 wanting to hear it that is for sure. If it never happens again I would be happy but not counting on that. I agree that with all the metal in there the sound can travel - that does complicate finding the source for sure. owner of servicer 2 suggested I wait till / if the noise is constant then call him. to be honest had thought it was as has been so consistent under light load for past 4 months. was completely shocked when the thing was quiet as a mouse

 

[cten]

New update.  so yesterday wife was doing wash.  first load noise is back but not near as much as it had been.  So again I am scratching my head and convinced again not bearing as again it came and went.  Never thought of before but I thought "what if machine not level?'  got my level and it was way off front to back.  got the manual out and they mention that the front leg lock nuts need to be tight or will not stay level.  the appliance store that delivered in 10/19 never tightened those.  So I followed the instructions for leveling and tightened the nuts.  since then wife has done 3 or 4 loads of various sizes (5 items in load was the smallest) all the way to full.  been quiet as a mouse.  I am in no way claiming a fix here but am cautiously optimistic.  she is done with laundry for week now so will see what happens.  Definitely check your lock nuts on front feet