Washing Machine Built Like a Tank?

[RDCanecutter 26,454]

After a mere 29 years, our toploader washer has burnt out, seized up, thrashed on the ground, died.

My job in the family is to research new ones, but fuck that, I figured I'd hang out on Surly instead.

We are looking for sturdy, simple, reliable, if such exists in this world of child-labor. 2 people, so bulk washing marathons are unlikely.

I personally like the idea of a bucket and a stick, but that would have me sleeping under the deck.

[Gil Bang 25,981]

speed queen is your answer

[PilotsError 2,310]

Get on Craigslist and get a used Kenmore or Whirlpool, the white ones.  Everything nowadays is shit.

[thunderlounge 7,875]

2 hours ago, Gil Bang said:

speed queen is your answer

 

^ this

I have them in my short-term beach rental.

[jimmyjazz 45,995]

We got fed up with 3 consecutive front loaders that couldn't make it a decade, so we bought a top loading Maytag.

It's also a piece of shit.

[fattyflattie 4,639]

15 hours ago, RDCanecutter said:

We are looking for sturdy, simple, reliable,

Speed queen. 

[RDCanecutter 26,454]

Woman says she read that Speed Queen will eat your clothes. Any experience with that?

[Pato del Muerto 52,531]

55 minutes ago, RDCanecutter said:

Woman says she read that Speed Queen will eat your clothes. Any experience with that?

Best to buy their commercial line if you can find a store that sells them. The ones that go in laundromats, but without the pay function. Or with, I guess. 

[thunderlounge 7,875]

59 minutes ago, RDCanecutter said:

Woman says she read that Speed Queen will eat your clothes. Any experience with that?

Nope. Never heard of it happening. This is the 6th or 7th season with them. 

[Quagmire 2,147]

We got fed up with 3 consecutive front loaders that couldn't make it a decade, so we bought a top loading Maytag.
It's also a piece of shit.

I’ve got a Maytag front loader that’s in its 10th year , hopefully it doesn’t jinx it

[dcbc 14,492]

I've got an LG that's built like one of those Russian tanks that breaks down in the Ukraine.

[Gil Bang 25,981]

3 minutes ago, dcbc said:

I've got an LG that's built like one of those Russian tanks that breaks down in the Ukraine.

LG is just total dogshit.  Across the board. 

[tx 3 putt 77,180]

I bougbt my mom a no agitator Maytag series X or something, 12 or 14 years ago. One small service call last year and zero issues 

washes great 

[tx 3 putt 77,180]

I have whirlpool front loads (gas dryer)

zero issues, washes great 

they frequently get me laid 

Edited August 22 by tx 3 putt

[royiv 9,326]

On 8/20/2024 at 5:13 PM, Gil Bang said:

speed queen is your answer

You have a meth ho do your laundry?

[dcbc 14,492]

9 hours ago, Gil Bang said:

LG is just total dogshit.  Across the board. 

Our first one didn't last 8 years.  I was dead set against another one.  But there was a top end floor model with the control set in the door for $600.  I rolled the dice, and it has been rock solid for years now (no jinx).  The dryer, which outlasted the original washer, still is going strong well over a decade now (again, no jinx).  We've got two teenage boys and run the machines constantly.

[SurlyGator 867]

We have the Speed Queen front load washer.  Bought it after our old Maytag finally died in unrepairable fashion, after multiple repairmen told us to keep fixing it and not replace it because it was better than anything else available.  Everyone I talked to suggested Speed Queen.  Had it for a few years (family of 4), no issues at all.

EDIT:  Dryer went out around the same time, and chose NOT to get the matching Speed Queen because it is actualy more expensive than the washer.  Ridiculous.  Got something cheap and if I have to replace it two more times over the life of the washer I'll still be better off financially.  Wife was not gruntled over the look of a mis-matching set.  She got over it.

Edited August 22 by SurlyGator

[Gene Parmesan 4,008]

Get something with minimum settings.  Much like everything else it's probably something in the electronics that is going to have issues rather than a mechanical component.

[Incredulity 11,678]

We went through Samsung, LG, and Maytag in about 15 years.  Had the best luck of those 3 with Samsung.

Ended up with Electrolux when the Maytags shit the bed during the great appliance shortage.  They were expensive and came from a local dealer not a box store, but have been great for the last 3 years.  Not a huge timeline, but haven't had any issues yet.  **knocks wood

[Pato del Muerto 52,531]

Electrolux is Frigidaire. I wonder how many components they share. 
 

Same with Maytag being under whirlpool along with kitchenaid, jennair, amana, and hotpoint.  
 

haier owns GE appliances now too. 
 

Are they really using such different parts across lines to account for the price difference?

[HOOKEM4 5,039]

I read this stupid thread for some reason yesterday. Today I get a call from my wife that the washing machine is broken and wont drain. 🤬

[Incredulity 11,678]

2 minutes ago, HOOKEM4 said:

I read this stupid thread for some reason yesterday. Today I get a call from my wife that the washing machine is broken and wont drain. 🤬

[Pato del Muerto 52,531]

3 minutes ago, HOOKEM4 said:

I read this stupid thread for some reason yesterday. Today I get a call from my wife that the washing machine is broken and wont drain. 🤬

Changing a water pump is easy and cheap. 

[HOOKEM4 5,039]

1 minute ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Changing a water pump is easy and cheap. 

Yeah, researching now. Likely culprit.

[Incredulity 11,678]

1 hour ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Electrolux is Frigidaire.

It looks like its actually Frigidaire is Electrolux.

I did ZERO research as it was pretty much take it or leave it being directly in the middle of shortages.  They cost more than I really wanted to pay, but I appear to have lucked into quality.  Again a bit low on run time, but they clean and dry really well and have had no hiccups.

[Pato del Muerto 52,531]

4 minutes ago, Incredulity said:

It looks like its actually Frigidaire is Electrolux

As far as corporate org chart, yeah. I just don’t know that it makes a difference, as I assume inventory harmonization would take place regardless, and generally for the cheaper part. 

Edited August 22 by Pato del Muerto

[HOOKEM4 5,039]

4 hours ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Changing a water pump is easy and cheap. 

Definitely a bad pump issue. Draining this thing is impossible without total chaos or ingenuity. Good thing I am an agent of chaos and ingenuity.

Solution, pinch the drain pipe between two 1x's and a clamp, then stick it into a shop vac. Have plenty of towels. There will still be leaks.  Worked like a champ. Waiting for the pump delivery from Amazon. 

I really can't spend more money this month after paying for 2 kids select baseball, yearly home and auto insurance and a 20x20 concrete pad and metal cover at the ranch. I am not 1%. Thank God I can fix this for 50 bucks. 

[Pato del Muerto 52,531]

6 minutes ago, HOOKEM4 said:

Definitely a bad pump issue. Draining this thing is impossible without total chaos or ingenuity. Good thing I am an agent of chaos and ingenuity.

Solution, pinch the drain pipe between two 1x's and a clamp, then stick it into a shop vac. Have plenty of towels. There will still be leaks.  Worked like a champ. Waiting for the pump delivery from Amazon. 

I really can't spend more money this month after paying for 2 kids select baseball, yearly home and auto insurance and a 20x20 concrete pad and metal cover at the ranch. I am not 1%. Thank God I can fix this for 50 bucks. 

I cyphoned with a garden hose. But at the time, my washer was in the garage so it was easy to get the water outside. That got everything out to the bottom of the drum and made it light enough to move. 

Edited August 22 by Pato del Muerto

[HOOKEM4 5,039]

I tried that but it kept losing prime. I really need to get a pump to keep at the house. 

[Pato del Muerto 52,531]

2 minutes ago, HOOKEM4 said:

I tried that but it kept losing prime. I really need to get a pump to keep at the house. 

Maybe I’m just better at sucking. 
 

 

Wait a minute…

[Mother mopar 3,320]

Definitely a bad pump issue. Draining this thing is impossible without total chaos or ingenuity. Good thing I am an agent of chaos and ingenuity.
Solution, pinch the drain pipe between two 1x's and a clamp, then stick it into a shop vac. Have plenty of towels. There will still be leaks.  Worked like a champ. Waiting for the pump delivery from Amazon. 
I really can't spend more money this month after paying for 2 kids select baseball, yearly home and auto insurance and a 20x20 concrete pad and metal cover at the ranch. I am not 1%. Thank God I can fix this for 50 bucks. 

If it's an Amazon part, you will be doing it again in a matter of months. Got burned so many times by fake parts from them on cars, dishwasher and even stove late last year.

[royiv 9,326]

41 minutes ago, Mother mopar said:

18 hours ago, HOOKEM4 said:

Definitely a bad pump issue. Draining this thing is impossible without total chaos or ingenuity. Good thing I am an agent of chaos and ingenuity.
Solution, pinch the drain pipe between two 1x's and a clamp, then stick it into a shop vac. Have plenty of towels. There will still be leaks.  Worked like a champ. Waiting for the pump delivery from Amazon. 
I really can't spend more money this month after paying for 2 kids select baseball, yearly home and auto insurance and a 20x20 concrete pad and metal cover at the ranch. I am not 1%. Thank God I can fix this for 50 bucks. 

If it's an Amazon part, you will be doing it again in a matter of months. Got burned so many times by fake parts from them on cars, dishwasher and even stove late last year.

Very much this. Amazon has become a cesspool of counterfeit shit over the last few years.

[Incredulity 11,678]

1 hour ago, Mother mopar said:

18 hours ago, HOOKEM4 said:

Definitely a bad pump issue. Draining this thing is impossible without total chaos or ingenuity. Good thing I am an agent of chaos and ingenuity.
Solution, pinch the drain pipe between two 1x's and a clamp, then stick it into a shop vac. Have plenty of towels. There will still be leaks.  Worked like a champ. Waiting for the pump delivery from Amazon. 
I really can't spend more money this month after paying for 2 kids select baseball, yearly home and auto insurance and a 20x20 concrete pad and metal cover at the ranch. I am not 1%. Thank God I can fix this for 50 bucks. 

If it's an Amazon part, you will be doing it again in a matter of months. Got burned so many times by fake parts from them on cars, dishwasher and even stove late last year.

seconded.

I've given up on Amazon for parts.  So much bad information on parts fit/cross reference.  There was a golden period of like 15-19 that was so awesome.  In hindsight its not surprising that sending $15 parts cross the country in 2 days wasn't sustainable.

[HOOKEM4 5,039]

11 hours ago, Mother mopar said:

On 8/22/2024 at 5:08 PM, HOOKEM4 said:

Definitely a bad pump issue. Draining this thing is impossible without total chaos or ingenuity. Good thing I am an agent of chaos and ingenuity.
Solution, pinch the drain pipe between two 1x's and a clamp, then stick it into a shop vac. Have plenty of towels. There will still be leaks.  Worked like a champ. Waiting for the pump delivery from Amazon. 
I really can't spend more money this month after paying for 2 kids select baseball, yearly home and auto insurance and a 20x20 concrete pad and metal cover at the ranch. I am not 1%. Thank God I can fix this for 50 bucks. 

If it's an Amazon part, you will be doing it again in a matter of months. Got burned so many times by fake parts from them on cars, dishwasher and even stove late last year.

 

10 hours ago, royiv said:

Very much this. Amazon has become a cesspool of counterfeit shit over the last few years.

 

9 hours ago, Incredulity said:

seconded.

I've given up on Amazon for parts.  So much bad information on parts fit/cross reference.  There was a golden period of like 15-19 that was so awesome.  In hindsight its not surprising that sending $15 parts cross the country in 2 days wasn't sustainable.

We will see. It was the same part number from Samsung and looked identical to the original when I held them next to each other.  Printed numbers,  fasteners and all.  I will report back if it fails immediately. 2 cycles done since I fixed it.

 

I will say there were several offers at half the price but they seemed off in the listing so I went with the more expensive version.

[Mother mopar 3,320]

We will see. It was the same part number from Samsung and looked identical to the original when I held them next to each other.  Printed numbers,  fasteners and all.  I will report back if it fails immediately. 2 cycles done since I fixed it.
 
I will say there were several offers at half the price but they seemed off in the listing so I went with the more expensive version.

I work on enough mechanical stuff, it will fail and it will be at the most inopportune time. Murphys law and what not.

[Pato del Muerto 52,531]

27 minutes ago, Mother mopar said:

12 hours ago, HOOKEM4 said:

We will see. It was the same part number from Samsung and looked identical to the original when I held them next to each other.  Printed numbers,  fasteners and all.  I will report back if it fails immediately. 2 cycles done since I fixed it.
 
I will say there were several offers at half the price but they seemed off in the listing so I went with the more expensive version.

I work on enough mechanical stuff, it will fail and it will be at the most inopportune time. Murphys law and what not.

We know, because you have mopar in your handle. 

[Mother mopar 3,320]

We know, because you have mopar in your handle. 

If that was the case, it would be mothergeneralmotors.

[HOOKEM4 5,039]

12 hours ago, Mother mopar said:

On 8/23/2024 at 9:33 PM, HOOKEM4 said:

We will see. It was the same part number from Samsung and looked identical to the original when I held them next to each other.  Printed numbers,  fasteners and all.  I will report back if it fails immediately. 2 cycles done since I fixed it.
 
I will say there were several offers at half the price but they seemed off in the listing so I went with the more expensive version.

I work on enough mechanical stuff, it will fail and it will be at the most inopportune time. Murphys law and what not.

Rooting for my shit to fail? What is the solution then? Enlighten me.

[Paco 1,934]

Rooting for my shit to fail? What is the solution then? Enlighten me.

I replaced the heater in a Samsung dryer three times with Amazon parts. Same part number, looked exactly alike, etc. all three failed in a month or so. Finally bought the Samsung part on Parts Direct (I think) and it's lasted almost two years now.

[Pato del Muerto 52,531]

32 minutes ago, Paco said:

1 hour ago, HOOKEM4 said:

Rooting for my shit to fail? What is the solution then? Enlighten me.

I replaced the heater in a Samsung dryer three times with Amazon parts. Same part number, looked exactly alike, etc. all three failed in a month or so. Finally bought the Samsung part on Parts Direct (I think) and it's lasted almost two years now.

Not a faulty part situation but I had a dryer have an issue with the electrical relay from the thermocouple, so it didn’t moderate its heat. If left on too long, it would overheat until the thermal fuse melted and killed power to the heater. I didn’t want to deal with it or pay for a $200 wiring harness and rewire the whole damn thing, so I bought a 5 pack of thermal fuses for like $10 on Amazon and if we accidentally melted one I’d just replace it.  
 

Sold that house with all appliances and I couldn’t leave that for the new owner, so that’s when I bought a new one. 

[Mother mopar 3,320]

Rooting for my shit to fail? What is the solution then? Enlighten me.

Buy OEM parts.

[Gil Bang 25,981]

FML.  Our Kenmore  dryer started making serious noise.  I bought a roller kit from Amazon for 40 bucks, and it included a belt and idler pulley.

I spent a few hours this morning taking the fucker apart, cleaning it thoroughly, installing the new parts, and re-assembly.   I must have taken out 75 screws.  I put 71 screws back in.  4 left over.  But it's as quiet as a church mouse now. 

One of the rollers seemed to spin OK, but there are two big flat spots on the wheel, so it was seizing up for sure.  Maybe when it got hot? 

[Gil Bang 25,981]

also, I discovered that it has a light that I never knew about.  I replaced the bulb and it works.  I don't remember it ever having one, and neither does the GF.   But, it's got one now.

[Okie State 3,821]

Third year with Speed Queen top loader and electric dryer. Highly recommended. Kind of loud, but whatever.

[tx 3 putt 77,180]

On 8/22/2024 at 10:31 AM, Gene Parmesan said:

Get something with minimum settings.  Much like everything else it's probably something in the electronics that is going to have issues rather than a mechanical component.

 

all of this

 

[RDCanecutter 26,454]

Mrs. Canecutter has ignored all Wisdom of the Tribe, and has her heart set on some sort of LG dryer-stacked-on-top-of-washer creation.

I am reduced to brute labor shoveling a small mud slide away from the basement door we don't use but that the washers will move through. Guess I need a dolly or a burro or Pyramid builders or whatever.

[jimmyjazz 45,995]

If you just resign yourself to the idea that you'll have to replace one or both in about 10 years, you'll be fine.

[RDCanecutter 26,454]

1 hour ago, jimmyjazz said:

If you just resign yourself to the idea that you'll have to replace one or both in about 10 years, you'll be fine.

Wash bucket and clothes line ftw!

[Gil Bang 25,981]

RD, if you're buying LG, buy the extended warranty. 

[Gil Bang 25,981]

Here's my LG experience, chronicled here (or TOS) at the time:

LG washer takes a shit.  I know, based on the symptoms, that it's the motor.  There's a "10 year Warranty on Direct Drive Motor) sticker on the front of the fucking washer.   So, I call LG.  "Hey, this washer's busted and I think it's the motor".  

OK, we'll come out...our fee is $240.00 

OK, but if the motor is bad, is covered under warranty and there's no charge, right?

We will repair the unit.  The fee is $240.00 

Yeah, but the motor is still under warranty, so it's covered at no charge, isn't it?

We charge $240 to come out, regardless of what is wrong with the unit