The Queen is Sidelined...

[angus]

Well, here we are closing out the year with no functioning washer. My Speed Queen top loader is not quite 5 years old, but yesterday while trying to wade through the table linens from three dinner parties this week, as well as bed linens for some overnight guests and a mountain of towels, dishcloths and so forth, we stopped functioning. Here is how it went. Loaded and started the washer. Water going in and went downstairs to put some things away. 15 minutes later I come up and hear nothing. Thinking I either left the lid up or forgot to pull the timer knob out - but wait, do I smell something like "hot machinery" or almost a burning smell? Indeed I do!! Tried the timer dial on several different positions, and nothing. Completely dead. By now it is 4:15pm, so I called for service and unfortunately, no one can come out until Tuesday, but the owner of the service company thinks it is a belt. If that is the case, then it isn't a big deal, but I am not running a commercial laundry here so thought I could have gotten more than four plus years before that happens or is that unreasonable?

So I bailed out the machine, wrung out the towels and this morning headed to the coin laundry with everything. Must be something about New Years' Eve - the place was packed and I had to wait 30 minutes for a few washers...Very bizarre. Still drying

 

[kenmorebd]

Oh no it is never fun not haveing a working washer, Im not tech guy but it sounds like maybe the motor went bad? Or maybe the winding im not sure if speedqueen motors have that part or not?

 

[yogitunes]

First question....does it pump out?.....as in does the motor run, but no agitation or spin...this would indicate a broken belt.....you could have that put on yourself in less than 30 minutes

also...after a cool down does the motor now run...overheated maybe?

 

[nmassman44]

Wow it does sound to me that the motor is dead and not a belt. If it was a belt the washer would be able to drain since the pump is a direct drive right off the motor. And the motor has only a 5 year warranty on it and it looks like if your machine is 5 years old you may have to cough up for a new motor. Not to mention the labor involved.
Oh that just plain stinks.

 

[angus]

Well, we haven't hit the 5 year mark yet. The machine went into service in May, 2006 so if it is the motor, we may have just made it under the wire. I should have mentioned that on one of the earlier loads, when the machine was in the spin cycle, it "sounded" like it was taking a long time to reach full spin speed and the clothes emerging from the cycle were too wet. Not sopping, mind you, but I could wring some water of the dish cloths. Now this was not a full or particularly heavy load. Then it was the next load where the machine stopped dead in the middle of the wash cycle and put forth that odor.

Now for some real confusion. Yesterday, the machine would do nothing -not even pump out the water that was in the tub. I just tried now, and whatever water was in the tub that I couldn't bail out pumped right out and the tub spun.

So now I am thoroughly confused - belt or motor? Who knows???

 

[nmassman44]

Could be that the motor just overheated or it could be dying a slow death. I had that happen to a washer years ago and it was a solid tub SQ washer that was bought in 1975. The motor died on it about 6 months later and did it stink. Nothing like burnt motor smell.

 

[cfz2882]

might be belt

could be a worn belt-if the fabric "slip"coating has worn through,the
belt might not have enough slip causing the motor to overload and trip
the thermal protector when tring to spin.
'81 and newer speed queens are one of several washer designs that use a
special"clutching" belt.

 

[magic clean]

Don't

overlook the power supply to the washer. Check to make sure there is a consistent 110-120 volts to the machine while it is running under load.

Sometimes an outlet, circuit breaker or fuse holder can deteriorate; creating intermittant trouble.

 

[alr2903]

Oh no, Angus i think you and I had the Amana twins, with the center seal leak.
IMHO the Amana and SQ are pretty similar machines. I hope its a cheap fix. My craigslist tags are older than many of our members.Please keep us posted on the outcome. The "New" SQ's have been in service long enough now, to see just how great they are. I know many here like the machines. We will now see if they are all they claim to be. alr2903

 

[mtn1584]

CALL ALLIANCE

I also have a SQ washer, I would call Alliance and let them know, if there are any out of pocket expenses, I bet they will cover them! Let us know what happens, and I wish you good luck.
Mike

 

[kqkenmore]

Speed Queen

Oh I so hate to hear this because I just bought a Speed Queen washer today it is going to be delivered tomorrow. I hope that Aliance treats you right check them out on facebook.good luck

 

[danmantn]

Call Alliance as mentioned--they've always been a class act on even the smallest of my concerns.  Basically if it's under warranty, you can go on their site, locate an authorized servicer and they take care of what's still under warranty.  I would call first to make sure if your warranty is still in effect though.

 

[mtn1584]

LET'S NOT GET HYSTERICAL NOW!!!!!!!!!!

Ok people, let's not get hysterical LOL. Everything, and I mean everything sooner or later will need service, if it is a motor, or a belt, Alliance will cover it.
I had the VP of marketing at Alliance personally call me when I let Alliance know how much I liked my machine, that I went out and bought one for my mom. I would feel a million times better dealing with an American company, and English speaking customer service reps who I can understand. ( No offense to anyone out there in the Middle East ) Try this with Sears, Whirlpool, and GE or LG. It just sucks waiting to get your machine looked at. Best of luck.
Mike

 

[angus]

Well the technician from the local authorized company (Ted's Appliance Service in Shelton, CT) came and he diagnosed my problem as a "stuck idler pulley". Unfortunately I was on a conference call when he arrived so i couldn't watch the whole thing, but apparently the pulley wasn't putting enough tension as the tub was emptying so it couldn't reach the full spin speed. So he cleaned and adjusted the pulley and the machine seemed to be working fine after that. Now regarding the issue where the machine simply stopped working, he couldn't find anything specifically wrong with the motor. So he advised me to "keep an eye on the machine". He surmises that the motor may have overheated as a result of the other problem and stopped.

Of course, I am no technician so I have no idea whether the idler pulley should have been replaced as opposed to cleaned and adjusted and as to "keeping an eye on the machine" for future motor issues, well I find that kind of silly. But under the circumstances, was that a reasonable approach? And for the record, I emailed customer service at Alliance to ask the same questions.

I already know that the machine is past it's three year warranty, but the motor is still covered under the 5 year limited warranty until May, 2011. And by the way, as Alliance pointed out to me, only the motor is covered, not the labor. Anyway, I will report back on how they answer my questions. I am not looking to scam anyone or get something for nothing, but if a motor problem surfaces after the 5 years is up how will I know it wasn't something that had its origins while still under warranty?

 

[mtn1584]

Alliance is a reputable company................

It's all in how you deal with Alliance, listen, you have this repair on record, sounds minor to me, glad it is, so don't worry about it. If something happens to the motor, I am sure they will replace it at no charge due to the circustances. Let us know what Alliance says. By the way how is the new ShopRite in Shelton?
Mike

 

[mrb627]

Cool

Sounds like your Speed Queen just needed a little TLC.  Makes me wonder about annual maintenance on any washing machine.  Sure seems like we ask a lot of our machines to run without ever tending to them.
​
​Malcolm

 

[nmassman44]

Well this thread had me thinking...is your washer in the basement and is the basement a bit coolish? I am doing laundry today with my SQ washer and its not extracting like it usually does. My washer is in the basement so I am wondering if its too cold down there for the washer to function properly.

 

[djmjlcst]

SQ in the cool......

Our SQ washer is also in the basement and the air temperature hasn't affected performance at all. Our basement is a bit on the cool side, but not uncomfortable. We have carpet runners in front of the washers and dryers to keep your feet warm instead of standing on the cold concrete. I don't wear shoes in the house when home from work so I just go around in stocking feet. So far since the washer and dryer were purchased in 2007 no problems whatsoever.

Mike L.

 

[angus]

Well, so far we seem to be OK after 7 loads so i am not going to obsess over it - I am banking on Alliance's reputation that if something does go wrong they will be honorable and do the right thing.
To answer your question, Mike, the machine is and has always been on the main floor so it hasn't been in a damp or cold basement. It's funny, but I thought I was so observant. I realized a little while ago that after hearing the machine spin now, it must have been several weeks that we weren't spinning at full speed. The change was so gradual, it took a while for me to notice, Oh, well back to the laundry.