Fixed my washing machine problem!!! Bought a good one!!

JD Seller · Sep 19, 2014

I torn into the Maytag Bravo washing machine we had. It was only 5 years old. The seal had started leaking which let water down into the transmission. Then this slowly rusted up/wore out the bearings. Then when the bearings wore enough they let the sprag drive separate and strip the teeth off of it. The total cost of the repair parts would be right at $400.

I decided that I was not going to put that much money into a washer that only lasted 5 years under light use. I bet the repaired machine would not last another five years.

So I went to a local appliance store. They also do repair work. They recommended a Speed Queen commercial washer, with an agitator. I bought it and hauled it home. It does not have any computer controls on it. You have 4 knobs on the control panel that you use to set the washer cycle like you want it to be. They told me it would not be as quiet as the Maytag machine. They where mistaken about that. The Speed Queen is not any nosier than the Maytag was.
The Speed Queen is much faster about washing the cloths. I ran a load of work cloths through it this afternoon. They where way cleaner then they would have been out of the Maytag. I think the main reason is the agitator. Also no longer any need for the High "Efficiency" soap.

I do not see how the new washer uses more energy than the old HE one. This washer is done way faster. The old one would mess around for over an hour on a large load of work cloths. The new one takes less than 45 minutes. I could care less about water usage. I have a DEEP and good well and my own leach field so what if it takes a few gallon more for each load.

Also the smell that I had in the colored cloths is not there any longer. I was blaming that on the anode rod in the water heater. I think the water heater is fine. So there is more money "saved"

So Thanks for the heads up on the Speed Queen brand.

Graham from New Zealand · Sep 19, 2014

Those modern washing machines with no agitator are absolutely useless for anything resembling work clothes. They simply spread the dirt etc from one place to all over the garment. We use a New Zealand made Fisher & Paykel with a little computerization for programmes and it has performed faultlessly for around 20 years. Did need one minor electrical fix when almost new and under warranty. These are the machines with no gears, just an electric motor which goes backwards and forwards. Simple AND IT WORKS!!

RayP(MI) · Sep 19, 2014

Glad you like your purchase. Report back in a year, five years. See how you like it then!
We got an Amana about 6 months ago. So far so good. But it does behave strangely when it starts a cycle, apparently tries to balance the load with several false starts. We will see if the honeymoon is still on in a year, five years.....

VicS · Sep 19, 2014

Glad you are satisfied. We changed all the appliances for energy star. From Sears. Did all the bulbs also including the shop. Some LEDs in house. Plus a 13 seer air conditioner- heat pump. Cut Elec bill 100 to 150 dollars. Even got a heat pump water heater. Don't know if will ever pay off. But got rebate from Elec coop and help on taxes. Our washer does as good a job as the old one. A may tag! The new washer spins the water out better so drier just runs for 30 minutes average.

Bob Bancroft · Sep 19, 2014

Haven't heard that name in years. I had forgotten it existed! Our family had that brand in my youth. The local electrician/appliance guy sold them out of a warehouse right up the road. It's a house now. Kind of a unique building with a drive in basement facing the road. I believe it was originally a wagon/carriage shop.

Then five miles down to the village where the bank/grocery store, etc. were, was the Chevy dealer where my family bought all their vehicles, and their Zenith TV's too!

We didn't have to go far for anything!

Mark6005 · Sep 19, 2014

Sad thing our local sears announced closing after 90 years here. Escaped many closings but knew it was coming . K mart still open but think the pharmacy keeps it going. Hard to believe no sears, but then again I hear most craftsman stuff from china and not like most of us are used to. Lots of craftsman tools in my tool boxes likely if you've been around for awhile yours too

Mark-Mi · Sep 19, 2014

Our Fisher & Paykel lasted almost 9 years. Liked the idea of no transmission, direct drive. But after one 300 dollar repair and was going to need another. Out the door it went. They put a water valve directly above a electronic component in the top section. So when the valve leaked there went the electronics.

Wife loved the Fisher & Paykel top load drier. But that took a dump even sooner and was not worth the cost of repair.

fixerupper · Sep 19, 2014

Speed Queen is mainly into the commercial washer business so they haven't bowed to the cheap fashionable gadget crowd yet. When our washer dies the next one will be a Speed Queen for us. Ours is a 20 year Maytag that has been worked on a few times but I'm expecting to not be able to find parts sometime in the future. Jim

1948CaseVAI · Sep 20, 2014

It has been quite a long time since I repaired Speed Queens in laundromats but in those days you could service every wear part through the front panel. Main bearing, spin clutch, water pump - the whole thing, right through the front panel That was so you could overhaul one in a laundromat without having to pull it out.

I hope yours is like that, although since it is commercial grade and you are using in your home it will not likely need repairs for many years to some.

BTW - every "Laundromat" back in the day had to have Speed Queen machines because Speed Queen copyrighted the word, and you could only call your coin laundry a 'laudromat' if you had Speed Queens.

Congratulations on a solid purchase.

Gary from Muleshoe · Sep 20, 2014

Since we are on the subject of appliance repair I just wanted to say I have had good luck with getting parts through partselct.com. Very reasonable prices and fast shipping, you can also get parts for lawn equipment from them as well.

rustyfarmall · Sep 20, 2014

(quoted from post at 17:16:25 09/19/14) I torn into the Maytag Bravo washing machine we had. It was only 5 years old. The seal had started leaking which let water down into the transmission. Then this slowly rusted up/wore out the bearings. Then when the bearings wore enough they let the sprag drive separate and strip the teeth off of it. The total cost of the repair parts would be right at $400.

I decided that I was not going to put that much money into a washer that only lasted 5 years under light use. I bet the repaired machine would not last another five years.

So I went to a local appliance store. They also do repair work. They recommended a Speed Queen commercial washer, with an agitator. I bought it and hauled it home. It does not have any computer controls on it. You have 4 knobs on the control panel that you use to set the washer cycle like you want it to be. They told me it would not be as quiet as the Maytag machine. They where mistaken about that. The Speed Queen is not any nosier than the Maytag was.
The Speed Queen is much faster about washing the cloths. I ran a load of work cloths through it this afternoon. They where way cleaner then they would have been out of the Maytag. I think the main reason is the agitator. Also no longer any need for the High "Efficiency" soap.

I do not see how the new washer uses more energy than the old HE one. This washer is done way faster. The old one would mess around for over an hour on a large load of work cloths. The new one takes less than 45 minutes. I could care less about water usage. I have a DEEP and good well and my own leach field so what if it takes a few gallon more for each load.

Also the smell that I had in the colored cloths is not there any longer. I was blaming that on the anode rod in the water heater. I think the water heater is fine. So there is more money "saved"

So Thanks for the heads up on the Speed Queen brand.

Yes, I also want to say thanks for the heads up on washing machines. Wife bought a brand new Speedqueen washer and dryer set 19 years ago. Just about 2 months ago the washing machine began throwing little hints that it was getting tired, and then about 3 days ago the seal let go and we had water on the floor. 19 years of washing heavy, denim, bib overalls finally did it in. We bought another new Speedqueen set.

Gary from Muleshoe · Sep 20, 2014

partselect.com

Texasmark1 · Sep 21, 2014

In raising 4 kids I repaired several. Usually the water pump went out or the timer. However, it was obvious that the rest of the machine had taken a beating also so it was just a wait and see what will fail next.

Well they are grown and I am older and we have the big box stores around now that have great prices and competent service/installation contractors.

I'm a whirlpool guy and have noticed how they have improved their machines over the years. The last one I bought, about 10 years ago, is going strong and no sign of wavering. You can tell by looking at the running gear they are built to last. I was especially impressed with their heavy duty water pump, improved transmission and their open winding motor.

Mark

Fixed my washing machine problem!!! Bought a good one!!

JD Seller

Well-known Member

Graham from New Zealand

Member

RayP(MI)

Well-known Member

VicS

Well-known Member

Bob Bancroft

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Mark6005

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Mark-Mi

Well-known Member

fixerupper

Well-known Member

1948CaseVAI

Well-known Member

Gary from Muleshoe

Well-known Member

rustyfarmall

Well-known Member

Gary from Muleshoe

Well-known Member

Texasmark1

Well-known Member

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