I used to have an old Speed Queen washing machine. I did many loads of wash over the 10 or 15 years I had with that machine. After I'd given up trying to fix it again, I traded it in for a refurbished Kenmore Series 80 top loader. This is the story of the Kenmore washing machine and how it's been a huge work horse that I often take fore-granted. The kenmore is an extra large load machine and I can fit a lot of clothes and other washables in. than set it and forget it until the wash cycle is finished. Well after acquiring the Kenmore I must have done 100 loads before the machine decided to stop agitating. It wasn't too difficult to figure out why everything seemed normal, all the sounds were normal, the machine filled but it didn't wash or spin. I found a motor / transmission coupler and ordered the heavy duty version with metal inserts where the two plastic pieces of the coupler slide onto the motor and transmission drive shafts. After another 100 or so loads I had the same problem with the coupler, but it was an easy enough job to replace it again, so this time I ordered a 3 pack of couplers and installed one of them as soon as it arrived. I decided to reduce the size of the loads to reduce the stress at the machines weak point. Or what I thought was the machines weak point. What I didn't know was that I was not installing the coupler correctly. The metal insert in the coupler needed to be pressed onto the transmission shaft so that is wouldn't slip out during the wash and spin cycles. Probably done a 1000 loads since I figured out the correct way to install the simple coupler. tags: appliance repairs household appliances chores washers dryers electrical carpentry plumbing painting siding roofing foundations dirty laundry utilities
I read some ratings a while back that stated that Speed Queen made the most reliable washer. Just my 2 cents.
It sure was a good machine. I put new friction brakes on it during it's last repair and tried to picture how the clutch worked without dismantling it. It just had been overloaded a few too many times and I couldn't get the suspension reassembled correctly so it would spin evenly any longer.
we've had great luck with whirlpool top loaders. cheap, reliable, efficient. we're on our third in 42 years, the first one was used. we were told they don't make the low end model anymore, and replace with speed queen when necessary, if speed queen still makes one. when the time comes, we'll probably look at kenmore as well. i think they used to be made by whirlpool.
That's exactly why I bought used. They don't make un like that anymore. I fixed the speed queen so many times, it seemed back than, I thought I knew enough to fix a newer bigger model. And that old speed queen clutch looked crazy. I've got pics and vid somewhere too, on an old HD, DVD or thumb. When I first got the kenmore, I took it apart completely. painted the few rusty parts, ordered new adjustable feet, fixed the cross suspension rear feet so they actually moved and centered. Little did I know that the machine could still throw a monkey wrench at my ego. Than I found out that although most parts listed for the model are easy to identify. but some are not so easy, like the timer switch. The model I have must have shipped with 2 or 3 different timer switches and the differences are only visible after the switch is removed from the console. I've heard the same, that most washing machines sold under different brand names are made by one company. Under the current state of corporate acquisitions I wouldn't be surprised.
@tochatihu thank you for the complement.. I've heard that experience can be a fickle mistress... The most difficult way to learn and not easily forgotten.
sure are... gotta love the diagnostic LED's and the hoops needed jumping through to make um lite up. And the pcb's printed circuit boards behind the console. One / Some needs to be an electronics wizard at times with those things. I can't wait until the video hardware get enough power to lite up an interactive hologram from a tiny projector that replaces the cell phone screens. Think Derek Zoolander sized cell phone with a holographic projector that envelops Mugatu Hansel and Derek while all three are looking around for the interactive easter eggs hidden in the hologram. Don't laugh, we might see that before we see fossil fuel gone the way of the horse and buggy. Or laugh if it suits your mood as you read ..... Yes, we are carbon based too.
Or, if you watch "Bubble Fiction: Boom or Bust" (2007 Japanese comedy) you can turn your washing machine into a time machine...
The Time Tunnels theme was recreated in Austin Powers The Spy that Bagged Me. I've been waiting 15 years for those holographic projector thingies and a long long time for octophonics which is 9 channel discrete surround sound, much like what Dolby calls spatial sound, except it's 9 discrete channels instead of software controlled surround. I guess they just don't want the masses to know how easily sound can alter the minds preception of reality.
