Uh-Oh: The Dreaded Bearing Roar Has Commenced!

[whirlcool]

I'll probably be flamed for this, but I was pretty impressed with the Samsung FL machines we looked at recently. They looked like they were built from decent quality parts, well at least the exterior & drum appeared to be.

 

[frigilux]

You are completely safe, here, Allen. I agree about the Samsung machines---they do seem to have a more solid build quality than, say, a Frigidaire.

While I admire vintage washers, I'm not inclined to work on them, so I get my "washer fix" from viewing all the beautiful machines many others at AW have lovingly restored.

Aside: My sister and I were in our home town of Watertown, SD over the 4th, and we located the houses we lived in, our schools (go Immaculate Conception!!), and the houses of family friends, etc. We moved from Watertown to Minnesota in 1967, when I was going into third grade. My sister was in her 2nd year at college.

As we located houses, I'd say "They had a '59 Maytag." "They had a '63 Frigidaire." And so on and so forth. Finally, after about 8 or 9 recitations, my sister looked at me and said "You're messing with me, right? You don't really remember what kind of washer all these people had!"

Oh, ye of little faith. Of course I remember.

 

[limey]

Well I see combo52 is attempting to perpetuate his, in my mind, false ideas again.
Thank you sudsmaster for the excerpt from the Bosch manual. Incidentally I tried pouring chlorine bleach straight from the bottle onto the old stainless steel drum from my old Frigidaire built Kenmore, it didn’t appear to touch it, just evaporated and left a very slight residue which easily wiped off with no apparent damage, and I used a 6x magnifying glass to look.
I tried putting one drop of bleach, straight from the bottle, onto a previously undamaged area of the spider removed from my above noted machine. A picture of the result is shown below.
I have answered all of combo52’s arguments, and similar ones from like-minded people, on thread number 29110 so I am not going to do it all again here. Anyone sufficiently interested, pro or con, can visit that thread ‘Spider Corrosion And Foul Odours in Front Load Washers’.
One thing I will add here is that anyone wishing to see what chlorine bleach can do to aluminium can easily take a piece of tinfoil (aluminium) about two inches square, fold it in half then in half again, put it in a suitable small container (I used a plastic pill ‘bottle’), cover it with fresh chorine bleach (bleach does loose its strength over time) and wait 48 hours and see how much of the tinfoil is left.
[this post was last edited: 7/17/2010-10:24]

 

[combo52]

NOISEY FL WASHER BEARINGS

Usually when you can hear the machine all over the house the machine is not long for the world, some times its shot in a month. I would look most seriously at a new SQ FL washer ,they are made just one state away. LCB is corrosive if miss used but its not used full strength in laundry. In talking to the other repair techs here yesterday no one could come up with a single example of any SS part of a washing machine that was ever replaced because of corrosion. Yes you don't have to use LCB to keep a washer mold free, but its one good way to help do so. Using proper water temps and detergents and LCB all help keep the gunk from growing mold on the aluminum spiders, I have never seen a clean spider break they are always covered with slime and I have never seen slime that can grow in a LCB solution. Even my new SS sink had a label on it suggesting the use of LCB to clean it and keep it pretty. Bosch and others that have washers that can heat water to nearly 200F have always suggested not using LCB in thier washers. However you will now notice that now that they no longer have these 200F cycles on the new models that they have added LCB dispensers to thier washers. Poring full strength LCB on something to see if it corrodes is like taking 50 aspirins to see if they are safe,its not the correct scientific way to test something, in fact its just plain stupid and doesn't merit a response.

 

[coldspot]

I just got me a new ge front loader a few weeks ago there new one. It is small but it is built well. One thing I like about it is you can open the door an not have to wait 5 minutes for it to unlock. Just hit pause in spin and the door can be open right away. Only time it will not open is if there is water above the boot it will drain then open.

also it is super low noise I can not hear it running until the pump kicks on. The door is metal with a plastic inside liner. Direct drive motor. Also built in heater. Door latch is also metal.

http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/WCVH4800KWW.html

 

[huebschman]

Nice run

I agree, 8 year run on bearings for a machine that is pre 2004 is good. I've heard so many horror stories in my surroudings. Heard of people who have them changed every 2/3 years!

If you decide to replace, consider SQ. They offer a 5 year warranty on bearigs and door seal.

 

[limey]

Corrosion In Front Load Washers

To combo52
Thank you for your input.
I found an owners manual for a Bosch Axxis on the web. At the beginning of that manual it stated that the use of chlorine bleach could result in the production of poisonous gas, I presume they mean chlorine. A nephew of mine with a Masters degree in chemistry tells me that is what is given off when sodium hypochlorite (bleach) reacts with aluminium. Further into the manual is what 'sudsman' has quoted verbatim. Makes sense to me.
Now should what you say about the latest Bosch machines having a bleach dispenser be true, and I have no reason to disbelieve you, it begs the questions, what have Bosch done to remove the potential for poisonous gas production, and what components have they altered so that they are no longer corroded by chlorine bleach?
I have sent an email to Bosch asking what components are corroded by chlorine bleach as per their manual, and have asked them what material is used for the spider in their machines? Should I receive a response I will post it.
Regards

 

[jetcone]

Case in point

10 years old

 

[jetcone]

Have always used

LCB

 

[jetcone]

No mold

Bearings still good, creaks on wash tumble so there is an issue but 10 years in a rental property is gud numbers!

 

[limey]

Got To Agree - Gud Numbers

To Jetcone
Just wish I had been as lucky