Video of new speed queen (ad)

[gyrafoam]

Interesting collection of people's "pet rocks" assembled to judge the two. I wonder what kind of anesthesia they used on them?

I think John Lefever made the best description so far. He would also be likely to think along the lines most of us do when making a comparison, taking into account, of course, our individual prejudices.

I'm quite happy to keep my (now, old-style) SQ.
If I HAD to get a 2018 it would likely be the "Commercial" Maytag based on what I have seen at this point.

 

[appnut]

Thank you for making this available for no FB users. 

 

I imagine this was slanted to make the SQ look much better than the competition.  Very much like the 1957 "sand test" of the Westinghouse Laundromat vs. the solid tub top loaders with the timed fill and no0t getting adequate water to wash the clothes plus sand disposal of sold tub machines is nil compared to the perforated Laundromat.  Bet everything was chosen on the "label" of the cycle rather than what/how the cycle executes its function.  I mean I don't use "normal" for any of my laundry or dishes as it's the cycle intended for energy star regulation passage vs. more appropriate cycle performance for better cleaning.  I use the cycle that gives me the needed higher performance results.  Whether that be jean, allergene, bulky items, whites of laundry and auto wash with high temp or pots and pans on the dishwasher.  I would imagine the test purposely chose an inappropriate cycle on the Whirlpool for a load that has jeans and towels and sweaters in it.  Besides, I'd never put all those various fabrics in the same load anyway.  I'm not stupid when it comes to laundry.  Bulky would have probably been far more appropriate for that load. 

 

[frigilux]

I doubt the SQ's Normal Eco cycle was used on the load with the sweaters. Those few items were floating around in an ocean of water.

As for the dry spots in some of the items that emerged from the Whirlpool: That happened regularly with my Frigdaire Immersion Care---not because the items weren't fully saturated during the wash/rinse portions of the cycle, but because of air currents during very long, high-speed final spins.

It's great that the redesigned SQ will most likely be even more trouble-free without a transmission, etc., and I'd love a washer that operates at 43 decibels...but as John L. mentioned, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if users find that cleaning ability has been compromised when it comes to heavily-soiled BobLoads.

I'm glad my sister and I have 2017's.

 

[iowabear]

Thanks to Keith for finding the video and Richard for making it available on YouTube.

 

I thought one of the new 2018 requirements is that the machines had to use less water.  So are they thinking that this design will look the same to the average consumer (still has the agitator) but can actually fill with less water given the gentler action?

 

I would guess that it could still clean OK as long as the longer cycle times are selected.  Of course short cycle times are one of the big advantages of the old school top loaders.   There are a lot of people these days who never get dirty (office jobs, hiring out yard work, etc.) and they may not even notice!

 

Jury is definitely still out for me...

 

[infusor]

The rep in kirks video did say washability was 8 percent better thsn the outgoing model, even though it is an "agi tub" it did look like the agitator was still doing most of the work.

 

[infusor]

Another new video from kirk, more in depth explaining wash action.

http://https//youtu.be/XIdhFJ08krA

 

[gelaundry4ever]

new speed queens

I'd personally go for the tr7 and dr7 matching electric pair. I can't wait until Kirk puts this washer through its paces! I have volunteered with Kirk in 2009 when I was in high school. One thing they could've done was to add the water circulation pump for even more superior saturation. Just saying.

 

[peteski50]

Speed Queen 2018 top load!

I did watch the video and had a few various thoughts, The wash action doesn't look to be very powerful for a big heavy duty load of towels jeans etc. I would want to get the TOL model if I was going to buy this type of machine. For heavy soiled loads you would probably need the prewash / soak and extended wash time! I think they could have made this same design with a more powerful water force maybe with fins on the tub itself and or a better restyled agitator to give a more forceful wash action! As for all these new top load design machines - I think the LG washes the best but the speed queen is the most durable of all!

 

[iowabear]

Keith, thanks for posting that link, great video, answers a lot of questions.

 

For those most interested in the wash action change explanation, go to the 34:00 minute mark.

 

19% less fabric damage and 4.7% better wash quality in exchange for "slightly longer" cycle times.

 

Now...who do you believe...?  LOL.

 

Jury still out...

 

 

 

 

[gyrafoam]

The Alliance people are certainly pouring out the money to "sell" the new product. Of course, the easiest people to sell something to ----are sales people.

Now that I've watched this video, I am convinced that they are willing to jeopardize all they have worked for just to shake-down the public in what most certainly will end-up their last hurrah in top-loaders.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

speed queen quality and energy star

I believe speed queen was forced to comply with the energy star compliant guidelines for 2018, while at the same time keeping the same design with different changes including the auto load sensing, motor and lid lock as well as eliminating the transmission. I hope they do a side by side comparison of their newest models compared to their older models like GE did.

 

[huebschman]

Wash agitation

Satisfactory agitation from the videos that I've seen but I fail to see how this machine will bring my big winter coat , will all the air pockets that are generated with the fill of the machine, down in the bottom of the tub as it does now. Like with a dual agitator, a big part of it will float at the top throughout the cycle and not get washed. The agitator they have been using has been around since the 60's and pulls clothes down, Now the largest laundry equipment manufacture lets it down. A shame. Can"t wait to see it in action with these types of clothes... hope I'm wrong,,,

 

[lakewebsterkid]

Miss ingredient

Quite honestly, I feel that this machine requires a catalyst-esque pretreatment phase. This would push down the clothes and remove all air from clothes. This also should improve cleaning and would be a nice option. It would be worth adding to the machines.

 

[appnut]

Watching some of the demo videos form training and such, the action reminds me of how the clothes were moved with Norge Timeline washers in the 1950s.  Not much rollover but managed to clean very effectively based upon testing from CR.  But I still think a front loader is better than this. 

 

Also noted they suggested using liquid detergents.  I personally thinhk powders are better.  Plus liquids are extremely difficult for me to see the markings in the little cap.  I end up over or under dosing I am sure. 

 

[thefisch]

Watched all the videos but got the most out of the sales video. The variable speed motor is impressive - I have one of those for my pool pump motor and they are quiet and last a long time. The only thing that concerns me is that they made it 'smarter' and rely on sensors more. Will be interesting to see the feedback on washing performance after this gets into consumer's hands.

 

[washman]

Interesting

I will withhold judgment until it gets in the hands of actual users.  Still, if I had one, I would figure out how to defeat the lid lock so I could film and upload to youtube.

 

At any rate, I'm keeping my AWN542 until the cows come home or I pass away, whichever comes first. I love it more than life itself.

 

Finally, this whole redesign just solidifies why I detest the meddlesome DOE.

 

At some point they'll go after dryers................

 

[maytag85]

All the EPA/DOE does is solve one problem, and creates a hundred others in its place.

 

[Chetlaham]

Who's fault

At no point in this will I fault Speed Queen. They did their best IMO and kept the longevity. As for wash-ability, what ever happens, happens. There is nothing you can do when the government starts breathing down your neck. From the sound of it these changes are indeed mandatory. And as such Speed Queen is forced to pick the lesser of several evils. While reduced cleaning might be an issue, I am sure they have weighed all the pros and cons of other alternatives such as a total design rebuild or mod shifters and brakes. Yes these will produce better cleaning, but there is the added cost of R&D, and something as simple as a mod sifter or break is a massive gamble especially when you need to heavily dismantle the washer for anything other than a motor or belt. Remember these washers aren't just for resi- but commercial where they will take massive amounts of abuse. Yes there is the rumor transmissions will stay for the commercial and foreign market, but I can't see that lasting for ever. Having two designs is more burden then just one, especially when that one design is using parts from front loads like the motor and inverter.

They know they are making many hard painful decisions, as did Whirlpool and GE. Trust me, I am certain manufactures hate these mandates as much as we do. No one wants to deal with consumer complaints, bad publicity, or 'oh, we should have done it this way instead'

As much as I LOVE toploaders, and as much as top loaders have several distinct advantages over front loads (such as speed), soon or latter we will all switch to front loaders. There is only so much you can do with limited water. I hate saying that, but DOE regs are basically forcing it.

 

[Chetlaham]

@maytag85: I agree 100%. Take the light bulb mandates. Mercury that is supposedly saved from coal burning plants is now much closer to our bodies than ever before. Recycling them? HA! Do you have any idea how many people around here throw them out in regular trash? Vacuum them up when they break because thats actually how they fail at the end of life? The fall from anything always takes years to show up. There are people already advocating for toxin exposure in sanitation workers.

If they really wanted to save the environment, mandate a machine that lasts 50 years at not 5. Keep the landfills clean. Invest in education that will produce a workforce to tackle the real issues at hand.

Best Leave it here for now. There is so much I can say about those feel good DOE mandates.

 

[henene4]

The inverter board

Got mixed feelings about that. They used the same board setup as in their frontloads where all the controlls for valves, pump and motor are located on the inverter board.

We heared of cases where the pump went out and took that board with it. Part is pretty expensive IIRC.