Spider Arm woes....

[aaronfitzy]

I was just sitting here, and thought..."why don't these manufacturers keep the aluminum arm, but before installing them...coat them with some sort of plastic?" I would think this would solve the failure of the spider arm on alot of the FL's. Hmmm....either that or they want it to fail in 5 years.

Aaron

 

[iheartmaytag]

My guess is they plan for them to fail.

 

[tolivac]

Why don't they make the spider out of the same material the drum is made off-say a stainless steel drum would have a stainless steel spider-problems solved!And that expensive FL machine would then last longer than 5-7 yrs.This is something about FL washer builders I just can't understand.This is one of the reasons I am not buying one.You can buy a lower priced TL washer that can last longer.

 

[logixx]

Of course, there are manufacturers that use better materials like cast iron. But Miele washers are also among the most expensive ones.

 

[passatdoc]

Which manufacturers make non-aluminum (or coated aluminum) s

I thought someone posted here a month or so ago that Miele or Electrolux use stainless steel spiders. Does anyone know for sure? I agree, coating an aluminum spider with a protective layer would solve the corrosion problem, or just make it out of something more durable like steel or iron, even if it raises the cost of the machine.

What I can't stand to see is a machine in perfect working order, except the spider, being tossed out into a landfill and not recycled. When the motor wears out, it wears out, but it seems as if the majority of FL washers that are put out to pasture involve spider failures.

One thing is certain: before I bought my next FL, I would call the manufacturer and ask to speak to a product specialist and inquire about the spider. If aluminum, I'd avoid the product. I have a great Frigidaire 2140 that has given four years flawless service, but I know one day I will hear the clanging sound that comes from a broken spider. For that reason, I keep up on the latest models so that, if necessary to replace the current washer, I have already done my research BEFORE it's time to replace the washer.

 

[vacfanatic]

Miele Spiders

As a matter of fact, I just recently inquired about my W3033 with Miele. I asked them what the spider arm was made out of that is on the inside of the drum attached to the basket. (Miele's have the 4 arm cast iron drum support on the outside that houses the bearings, this is not the spider).

They advised:

Thank you for your interest in Miele laundry products.

The bearings for the W 3033 are made of hardened steel. The spider which is on the back of the inner drum is made of a cast metal combination of aluminium and magnesium.

For more detailed information please visit our web site at www.mieleusa.com or to speak with one of our representative call 800-843-7231.

I wonder how well the Miele spiders hold up to bleach etc? My reason for the inquiry was because I am still nervous using bleach in my Miele as it was very expensive and I don't want to mess up the spider.

Andrew

 

[favorit]

26 y.o. still alive and kicking after years of LCB addiction

My poor old dog had his SPA treatment once a week. Once a week dog towelling was boilwashed and LCB doped.

Dog passed when he was 14 y.o. That old beast of a miele is now still alive and kicking (although she's retired and works as "volunteer" in the role of 2nd washer)

 

[passatdoc]

@vacfanatic

I would never use chlorine bleach in a FL, mainly because I don't know anyone in Europe who uses it, out of maybe two dozen European friends. They seem to all use oxygen bleach if needed, but never chlorine bleach. The fact that US FLs have a bleach dispenser may be a concession to Americans used to using chlorine, even if it bad for the machine (hey, they get to sell you a new one sooner....). In particular, out of a dozen or so friends in Germany (in whose houses I have been a guest and used their washing machine when I ran out of clothes), no one has chlorine bleach in the laundry area.

But they have LOTS of Persil!!

I am not a metallurgy expert. However, from what I've seen posted here and on other forums, the two worst things for an aluminum spider seem to be softened water and chlorine bleach.

Board member golittlesport had a Frigidaire 3.1 washer which he gave to his son after he upgraded to the 2940, and as far as I know, the 3.1 washer is still going strong after ten or more years. No repairs. So whatever golittlesport did or did not use over the years would appear to be the right way to go.

Apparently the 3.1 models as well as the 3.5 models are prone to spider failure. Evidently so are WP/Kenmore/Maytag, though not sure if other companies make you buy the spider and tub assembly as a unit, as does Frigidaire.

 

[mark_wpduet]

I don't think I could stand the thought of not using LCB in white loads....But I only use a very small amount

 

[favorit]

"two dozens of european friends ..."

aren't a representative sample of millions of Europeans

"The fact that US FLs have a bleach dispenser may be a concession to Americans used to using chlorine.."

Jim, my country produced and still produces millions of FL that are mostly exported abroad : Zanussi-Electrolux, Whirlpool Europe, Ariston-Hotpoint/Indesit, Candy/Hoover to name a few. Most of the models for our internal market DO have the LCB dispenser.

Those models exported in northern Europe DON'T have it. Models exported in UK/IE were mostly hot and cold fill, while here they were cold fill only. Each market has its own requirements

Also commercial frontloaders DO have LCB dispenser.
This shot comes from current Miele commercial models PW6101/PW6131 manual. The rear compartment is LCB one.
It looks very similar to residential Miele FS compartment

 

[alr2903]

Why i are we reinventing the wheel, what in world are the spiders made out of in the old westy's, bendix', Now i realize their drums were porcelain over steel. What are the vintage spiders made out of? These working baby bendix are over 60 years old, what were they made out of kryptonite? alr2903

 

[chestermikeuk]

Vintage

is the same, combination of metals & aluminium, in machines over here anyway, which is interesting because water softeners arnt a big thing here and so the powders would have to act as the water softener...the other thing we dont use is LCB...all of my vintage FL`s are running fine with no spider issues except for two 1970`s 18 series Hotpoint, which where particularly thinly made, & more likely to have been the stress of a fast spinning poorly balanced machine causing extra vibrations & stress on this particular spider..

Makes you think it more likely to be LCB without enough flushing rinses to clear away residues, I also wonder if its got to do with higher ambient temperatures and humidity levels over a longer period of time etc..(which freezing rainy snowy UK doesnt have..LOL)

 

[favorit]

Kryptonite ....

Also go figure :

- why those dexter, wascomat and other makes in laundromats that are daily abused with overloads, overdosing of detergents and LCB can outlast most of residential frontloaders ?

- What's the price of same sized commercial vs residential frontloaders ?

The answer is : stronger designs/materials are more expensive

Here we say "non si può avere la botte piena e la moglie ubriaca" meaning "one can't have a full wine barrel and a drunk wife in the meanwhile"

Cheap appliances can't be everlasting. Which was the price of a washer in the fifties ? Often more than a montly salary. Today here in Europe we have even disposable frontloaders that cost round 200 euro = 270 dollars. You get what you pay for, can't expect these machines are evrlasting. A fix is more expensive than a brand new machine.

One has to be wise, cause often poorly built machines are decorated with LCD screens, steam things and other lovely features that raise prices but not quality built ....
Too many frontloaders are marketed with these bells and whistles to the point one gets far less than what he pays

 

[dj-gabriele]

FAVORIT: 200€?

Look what I found today! I've never seen a machine so low priced!
A new tray set for my mother's oven costs more than that!

My bet is that it's going to auto-disintegrate within 2 years and a month, just past the compulsory warranty if not earlier!

This jewel can be yours for only 149€ (199,99$)

 

[favorit]

LOL

Soon we'll be given appliances as gifts when buying magazines, instead of DVD and books

 

[vivalalavatrice]

Soon we'll be given appliances as gifts when buying maga

Less than the PC Hard disk I bought few months ago... 199euros!

 

[favorit]

Washer Impossible

"........after you'll have heard our message this washer will self-destroy within ten seconds" LOL

 

[passatdoc]

or an even bigger disaster than when Lucy made pizza....

This episode was filmed during the 1956-57 season, AFTER they had supposedly returned from a European tour, and thereafter after the infamous grape vat (grappollo pungente...) disaster.

Now they are back in New York City. An Italian man whom they met in Italy is now in New York and visits them. He is working as a pizza maker in an Italian restaurant. He becomes ill and will lose his job if he does not arrive at work, so Lucy steps in and tries to save his job by acting as his substitute.

Enjoy! While you're at it, prepare the pasta of your choice and mangia beni, bambino.

(Optional: eat the pasta in a dining room with a copy of Michaelangelo's "Last Supper" hung on the wall. Maybe people in Italy don't have these, but EVERY Italian-American family I knew as a child had one. Usually in a gold frame. Most of these people were Napolitanos or their descendants)

 

[passatdoc]

ps

The presence of the "Last Supper" on the dining room wall seemed to correlate with being Italian-American, as opposed to being merely Catholic. There were three Irish-American families who were quite religious on our street and none of them had the Last Supper in their dining room. All four Italian families in our neighborhood had them, though, including one family that wasn't devoutly religious (they pulled their children out of the church-run school and placed them in the public school, where class sizes were smaller and education seemed better; in 1964, this was against church rules, technically speaking).