The top loading neptune was the best HE washer

[maytaglover68]

I love the Maytag Neptune TL. It’s so unique and it is a very good design. I with all H.E. washers were made like the Neptune TL’s. They were awesome machines, I don’t get the hate for 2000s Maytag or the hate for the Neptune.

 

[qsd-dan]

The hatred didn't come from the design, it came from serious reliability problems. Very few exist in working condition.

 

[cfz2882]

I have never seen one, but is cool modern classic that i would add to collection if one presented itself.. Calypso is another,found a battered one at the dump in 2004, took motor,pump and control panel, then discovered pump was locked up from stringy material wound up in it...
Haier liked the TL Neptune enough they copied or licensed the design for sale in certain markets-unknown if Haier version was same size or downsized version.

 

[DADoES]

I love the Maytag Neptune TL. It’s so unique and it is a very good design. I with all H.E. washers were made like the Neptune TL’s. They were awesome machines, I don’t get the hate for 2000s Maytag or the hate for the Neptune.

The Neptune TL has some issues. I've stated in the past that some types of loads don't turn over very well, if at all. I once watched a load of twenty-one shirts not rollover AT ALL through the entire wash period. I kept watching, did not assist, hoping the tumblers would eventually get a grip, but nope. I canceled the cycle when drain begin, restarted and helped the load rollover several times through another full wash period.

It has trouble distributing some types of loads for a balanced spin. It tries distribution tumble three (or four) times on the interim spins, gives up and resorts to a drip-drain. It tries more diligently on the final spin, multiple distribution attempts, will refill and repeat the final rinse, I think twice, before giving up and beeping for help.

 

[phillymatt53]

The Neptune TL has some issues. I've stated in the past that some types of loads don't turn over very well, if at all. I once watched a load of twenty-one shirts not rollover AT ALL through the entire wash period. I kept watching, did not assist, hoping the tumblers would eventually get a grip, but nope. I canceled the cycle when drain begin, restarted and helped the load rollover several times through another full wash period.

It has trouble distributing some types of loads for a balanced spin. It tries distribution tumble three (or four) times on the interim spins, gives up and resorts to a drip-drain. It tries more diligently on the final spin, multiple distribution attempts, will refill and repeat the final rinse, I think twice, before giving up and beeping for help.

That type of operation is not something that I'd want in a washing machine.
And what you described is beyond silly.
The repeated (and pathetic) of the machine trying to manipulate a load of laundry is idiotic.

 

[DADoES]

Neptune TL is a worthy pursuit for collectors in terms of being unusual.

The best HE toploader thus far in terms of performance, IMO, is the Calypso ... and it's also a unique, unusual design.

I have both of the above.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

I love the Maytag Neptune TL. It’s so unique and it is a very good design. I with all H.E. washers were made like the Neptune TL’s. They were awesome machines, I don’t get the hate for 2000s Maytag or the hate for the Neptune.

How was the tub shaped?

 

[gelaundry4ever]

That type of operation is not something that I'd want in a washing machine.
And what you described is beyond silly.
The repeated (and pathetic) of the machine trying to manipulate a load of laundry is idiotic.

It's not just silly. It's stupid! Maytag replaced them with Bravos which was even worse. Clothes didn't get covered in water. They just sat there with full loads.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

Neptune TL is a worthy pursuit for collectors in terms of being unusual.

The best HE toploader thus far in terms of performance, IMO, is the Calypso ... and it's also a unique, unusual design.

I have both of the above.

I wish I could get my hands on one in person just to have one to start a collection.

 

[DADoES]

I washed a queen-size quilt in the Neppy TL this morning. I didn't check the first spin (after wash), can't say if was successful. It achieved spin to an early low speed for a brief time after the first rinse drain was initially complete ... but then the item shifted (after the spray) and spin aborted, finishing with the repeating drain/pause/drain/pause sequence. It added more water in the second rinse during the pause after the last (second) tumble period ... and didn't tumble again after adding the water, so what was the point? It achieved the final spin. Final spin speed is limited on the Bulky Items cycle. I spun the quilt again in an AquaSmart at 1,010 RPM.

A queen-size comforter is in the Neppy TL now. Extra rinse is selected. I'll report later on how it goes.

 

[DADoES]

Allrightythen. Queen comforter on the Bulky Items cycle with Extra Rinse selected. I missed the after-wash drain and spin, if there is a spin at that point on the Bulky Items cycle. It's possible there's only a drain after the wash and the cycle proceeds into the first rinse w/o a spin, not much time had passed from when I'd last checked it during wash and when I found it tumbling for the first rinse. There's no cycle logic chart on the tech sheet or in the service manual and I don't keep notes or recall details of every time I run a load.

Spin after the first rinse was successful.

The second rinse did a couple top-off fills after tumbling began. Spin after the second rinse failed on the first attempt. It did one redistribution tumble, tried to spin, failed again (no cabinet impact on either attempt) and went into the repetitious drip-pause/drain sequence. Aborting spin after only one redistribution attempt is unusual. It usually does three redistributions before failing but maybe Bulky does only one for interim spins.

The third/final rinse did one top-off fill after tumbling began. Final spin was successful on the FIRST attempt so no redistribution tumbles occurred.

Water usage 47.8 gallons. I have a meter on the bathtub faucet.

Short video is during the wash period.

 

[combo52]

Maytag Neptune top load washers

I got one of these early on and it was a fun machine, but it had a lot of limitations as Glenn has demonstrated. We used it for about two years just to wash loads of rags as it was much too hard on clothing and tied it in knots as I wear a lot of long sleeve shirts.

I have two of the top-of-the-line touchscreen versions of this machine. I’m going to fix one of them for the museum. That’s where it belongs. I don’t consider a very useful washing machine. Overall Maytag rushed this to market way too fast.

Thanks for posting the great video Glenn. It definitely brought back memories of the pathetic turnover these machines can exhibit.

Glenn, do you have a front load washer? You really need one to do large items like that comforter.

I just did our mountain of laundry that I do every 3 to 4 weeks for the two of us late this afternoon and I decided to use the old Lady Kenmore with Suds saver and I had two huge loads of bath towels and it really shows how inefficient top load washers are at washing things like towels. I have two Speed Queen front loaders 1 20 years old and the other 5 years old and I really think I’m about to get rid of the Frigidaire one to 18 which is a neat machine but fairly useless and put in a second new Speed Queen front load machine when I have mountains of laundry to get done. It just is so efficient with the 1200 RPM spin it saves so much time on the drying.

John L

 

[Ultramatic]

I remember Jeff Lefever had one in his collection. It was fascinating to watch.

 

[maytagmike]

I have a FAV6800 that was manf in March of 2005, still runs like a charm, no issues !!! ❤

 

[DADoES]

Mine is S/N December 2005. I purchased it new-in-box via eBay on 5/17/2008, shipped from NJ to TX. $325 incl "free" shipping.

Here's the discussion that brought it to attention. The eBay link/sale is, of course, long-gone.
HEADS UP!!! Maytag Neppie TL...

 

[bajaespuma]

I'm not sure about this but didn't CU Check-rate this machine":