Thread Number: 41036  /  Tag: Major Appliances
Not-so-new Laundry Set
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Post# 435588   11/28/2020 at 17:54 (1,215 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

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When I bought my house, it had this LG "smart technology" washer and dryer set. I never cared for it, but I didn't have a set to put in when I moved, so here it stayed.
Over the thanksgiving holiday, a friend mentioned they were looking at getting a new washer and dryer. Nothing wrong with the old, but they had upgraded all their appliances except those during a kitchen remodel.
I offered them a trade, my newer set for their Kenmore set. They agreed.

It may not be a vintage Maytag set, but it's a step in the right direction!

Next time I switch appliances, I need to get some help! Lugging these up the steps into the house by myself was no small feat!


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Post# 435594 , Reply# 1   11/28/2020 at 22:44 (1,215 days old) by Electroluxxxx (……)        

Excellent machines there! Mechanical and reliable, none of this computer crap. Parts are cheap, and easily replaceable. Congrats on the not so new but new to you!

Post# 435597 , Reply# 2   11/29/2020 at 07:14 (1,214 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

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Thanks Mike! As much as I would live to have some more vintage machines in the house, I'm trying to exercise self control and not let any of my hobbies overtake my house. 1000 square feet may be a lot for one person, but it fills up quick when you bring too many toys home!

Post# 435614 , Reply# 3   11/29/2020 at 11:02 (1,214 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        
Nice set!

human's profile picture
I've got essentially the same machines but mine are Whirlpool branded. Very reliable and easy to work on in the event something does actually go wrong. I honestly think you got the better end of that swap.

Manufacturers have successfully engineered all the reliability out of today's newfangled, circuit board driven appliances. What used to last 20 years or more now might last five. And consumers get dazzled by all the pretty blinkies on the front and blithely buy into the high tech hype, not even thinking once about what they're trading away.

And I know what you mean about filling up space. My house is 1,300 sq. ft. and I can hardly move in it.


Post# 435618 , Reply# 4   11/29/2020 at 14:13 (1,214 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

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For sure you got the better end of the deal! That is some of my favorite machines, what I wouldn't give to have them again. My brother just bought a fancy house in Vegas with a very elegant looking front loading Samsung set, I told him keep an eye on them make sure they're not leaking or vibrating and check to see what they smell like. The next day I got a message I'm going out to buy a top loader what do I get to which I replied speed Queen and he bought that day. No thanks on overcomplicated front loaders here.

Post# 435626 , Reply# 5   11/29/2020 at 16:44 (1,214 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

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Yes, I would certainly say I got the better end of the deal! Now I just need a chance to do some laundry, and familiarize myself with the setting of this washer. As much as I didn't like the LG smart washer, i was familiar with setting it to wash

Post# 435628 , Reply# 6   11/29/2020 at 17:46 (1,214 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

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You probably already know this, but be sure and check the agitator dogs

Post# 435629 , Reply# 7   11/29/2020 at 18:08 (1,214 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

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The agitator was actually repaired a year or two ago, and the dryer had a new belt around the same time. Glad it was all fixed before I got them!

Post# 435665 , Reply# 8   11/30/2020 at 14:16 (1,213 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

vacuumlad1650's profile picture
Well, the Kenmore set is now onto its second load of laundry in the house, and I'm definatly pleased with them. They tried telling me I wouldnt want to listen to it running "with that noisy agitator" in my kitchen...it's music to my ears!

Post# 435671 , Reply# 9   11/30/2020 at 15:38 (1,213 days old) by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)        
Kenmore's

Mom bought that same set in the early 90's. Very reliable.They were rated 1st and 2nd place in Consumers magazines. One year Kenmore placed above the same model Whirlpool who as you know makes them. Go figure! Does your washer have a second rinse setting on the dial?

Post# 435675 , Reply# 10   11/30/2020 at 16:34 (1,213 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        

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I dated a lady a few years ago who had a Samsung front loader set that she just loved—at least when they were working. We were together for about a year and during that time she had to have the repairman out twice for warranty fixes and had had to have them out at least once before that. Each time, the repair involved replacing circuit boards. I tried to tell her my theory about circuit boards being little more than self-destruct devices but she didn't want to hear it and would go on and on about how "efficient" they were, whatever that meant. Efficiency is a moot point if they're just plain not working.

Post# 435685 , Reply# 11   11/30/2020 at 18:37 (1,213 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        
Kirbykelekter

vacuumlad1650's profile picture
Yep, thankfully second rinse is on this model. Does a much nicer job washing my work clothes than the LG set ever did!

Human, I was leery giving these tona friend because of the circuit board trouble that would be ahead, but they insisted it would be fine. They were leery giving me a 25 year old laundry set for fear it would crap out in a month!


Post# 435692 , Reply# 12   11/30/2020 at 20:43 (1,213 days old) by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)        
There's a little trick

you can use if you need to ad more water to either wash or rinse cycle. After the machine stops filling and starts to agitate just take hold of the water level dial, assuming you already had the machine set for large full loads, and gently give the dial a little twist to the right as if you were setting it for an even larger load. It will fill as long as you hold the dial in that position. It will stop filling if you get to close to overflow.

A repairman showed me this and also said that as these machines get on in their years they can sometimes not fill with as much water on any setting.One reason is the mechanism(float?) can get clogged with heavy mineral build up from hard water. He recommends once a year to run a full cycle, no clothes, and pour a cup of CLR,calcium lime rust at the start of the wash when it has filled with water.

Let the machine agitate for a couple minutes, stop, drain about a gallon, hit stop and let it sit for half hour or so,then dial back to wash cycle and let it run it's course. It may want to add more water to fill to previous level and that fine.

This can help clean your pump and other places that come in to contact with water where mineral build up can occur. I disabled the lid switch that cuts the machine off if the lid is lifted during use since their aren't any kids at home anymore.Makes for a more user friendly washing machine!


Post# 435693 , Reply# 13   11/30/2020 at 20:56 (1,213 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        
Acceptable Risk...

human's profile picture
I guess everybody views acceptable risk differently. You and I see less risk in appliances we can repair ourselves for the cost of parts and your friends perceive less risk with appliances that are newer and more 'up to date'. Whether they are accepting of those machines' inherently shorter lifespan or are merely in denial is open debatable. One thing's for sure, those LG units won't still be in service in 25 years. Still, everybody's happy with what they got in that exchange so it's all good.

Post# 435733 , Reply# 14   12/1/2020 at 19:52 (1,212 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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Congrats Andy! I love these older Kenmore sets, they're my personal favorite! I'm all set on getting myself a new Speed Queen TC5 washer along with it's matching DC5 dryer since based upon my research, they're one of the last GOOD laundry sets on the market today. But if I were to go for a used set, there's no doubt on my mind that I would look into these Kenmores.

Post# 435931 , Reply# 15   12/5/2020 at 18:16 (1,208 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)        

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Congratulations, Andy!
I find myself in the unfortunate place of having to replace the only washer we've ever owned.
We have a 2001 Amana, built by Raytheon. Very similar to the same year Speed Queen in a lot of ways, as they were built by the same company then. The seal and bearing were the weak link, and mine just started going.
I'm leaning towards replacing it with another "older" machine, but something for which parts are still available.
A Whirlpool or Kenmore, just about exactly like what you have there, is at the top of my list.
Again, congratulations! Nice score!

Barry


Post# 436372 , Reply# 16   12/16/2020 at 21:18 (1,197 days old) by Jo (Dallas,TX)        
I’ve had these

Had several come and go but for me it’s the Newton factory built Maytags....much quieter, more sturdy, less plastic parts. My sister had so many issues with her 2001 Whirlpool that last year she finally found a nice 1997 top of the line Maytag set on craigslist and bought them to replace it and took the Whirlpools off to the dump for recycling even though they were still working. Hers started stinking real bad like mold finally and she is highly allergic to mold so that was the final straw after several repairs by her husband over the years that actually started early on...lid switch, agitator, 2 pumps, top wouldn’t stay down anymore properly, lid was rusting at the edge seams, bleach dispenser plastic cup would fall off all the time, and the timer was super noisy. It also leaked water onto the floor on the highest water level setting so they couldn’t use that and couldn’t ever figure out why...sometimes it leaked, other times not...that always remained an annoying mystery. I suggested the Maytag Newton set because my Mom has her Mother’s from 1979 and I have two, one from 1985 and another from 1995 and my Brother has a 2006...all of which have been wonderful trouble free machines for the most part. My 85 the agitator seal wore out and was an easy fix and the water fill solenoid went bad and that was easy. The 79 needed belts about 5 years ago finally and the year before last the hose from the tub to pump cracked but was still available so I fixed it for Mom. All others still no issues ever! Those repairs that were necessary were easy and cheap.

Hence, if you ever get the chance to get a Newton built Maytag set (my 85’s were my first and replaced 88 Kenmores) jump on it. I’m glad I did when my friend offered me the 85’s in 1997...and I sold the Kenmores. So much quieter too!

Meanwhile good luck with the Kenmore’s...I’m starting to see that era of those all running into issues now as they reach the 20 plus year mark. Just depends on how heavily they’ve been used.

Jon


Post# 436395 , Reply# 17   12/17/2020 at 14:51 (1,196 days old) by Ultralux88 (Denver, Colorado)        

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Nice! We have a Whirlpool DD set from 2005. I’ve made a few small repairs to the washer over the years, but it’s been a good set, and does wash well. Better than most new machines!

Post# 436693 , Reply# 18   12/26/2020 at 04:49 (1,188 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)        

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I had the exact same washer and dryer set. Bought in the early half of the 2000's maybe? The washer died in 2013, the motor burned up and smoked out. The motor was layered in rust so it must have been leaking somewhere for a time and never knew it. The dryer is still going but it feels like it is slipping, and the door is held shut with a door lock latch because when cleaning it out I leaned on the lid and that was enough to bend it down.

The washer was replaced with a Maytag Epic Z which was already 7 years old at the time, and now it is going out. I just replaced the door seal myself (never again will I do that - took 2 hours), but the buttons on the control panel are rotting off from wear and tear now and you have to stick your pinky finger through the holes in the fascia to hit the button.

Hoping to find a matching pair of older appliances later in the future when I get a van. Maybe 80s or early 90's.

I love those new washers they have with the clear lid and lights inside - but I just know they are programmed with anti-soaking controls to "conserve water" so I know they are terrible at cleaning. I tried to mess with the water cycle timers on my Maytag but I didn't get anywhere with that idea.


Post# 436695 , Reply# 19   12/26/2020 at 06:43 (1,187 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

I want VINTAGE laundry machines,too-washers that use a full drum of water-NOT just a few teacups of water.And YOU can adjust the water level and temp-when I want HOT JUST that-HOT not dumbed down hot.This water and energy saving is getting RIDICULOUS keeps you from getting CLEAN clothes!!

Post# 436732 , Reply# 20   12/27/2020 at 04:03 (1,187 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)        
@ tolivac

huskyvacs's profile picture
Yep. I learned this the hard way. Not that I have expensive clothes - all mine are from Goodwill - but I am just not happy how my clothes come out of the wash still smelly or still have stains on them and they just won't come out. It took me the last few years to realize it's the washer that is the problem, the clothes are not getting cleaned good enough. I can't do anything now about it until I get my basement cleaned up more, but I'll be on the lookout for an old washer and dryer, preferably as a set. Also those big tall front loaders seem to cut off all the light in the room, it makes the room look dark.

Post# 436783 , Reply# 21   12/27/2020 at 23:52 (1,186 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        
Rex

panasonicvac's profile picture
You should look into the Speed Queen TC5. It still uses the old school motor, transmission, and agitator separated from the tub. Plus it would give you straight hot water from the hot water tank. And it can fill up water to the top. This is the washer that I'm planning on getting for myself here soon.

speedqueen.com/products/home-pro...






Post# 436785 , Reply# 22   12/28/2020 at 00:22 (1,186 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

The Peed Queens have been on my mind.Do want just that one shown.Also DON'T want circuit boards in the timer-mechanical timers can last a few decades without problem.Often a mechanical timer is still good after the rest of a machine has been scrapped.I beleive if I am not wrong the TC5 was no longer made-only offer the "agitub" model.I do look for them in swap shops-can see why you don't find SQ-folks KEEP them!!!New SQ is VERY expensive.But cry once!Just have to find a dealer in my area.

Post# 436788 , Reply# 23   12/28/2020 at 01:34 (1,186 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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As far as I know, the TC5 is still being made. Also, I read that the TC5 is SQ's best selling residential top load washer as of today. I honestly think it would be a HUGE mistake if SQ or Alliance Laundry Systems discontinues that model anytime soon. SQ went through trouble when they came out with their TR series and the TC5 they later launched was definitely a game changer for them. I even read that SQ claims their electronic controls are more reliable than their mechanical ones. And honestly, I myself would prefer to have electronic controls over mechanical. But that's just me. You get cool sounds and lights coming out of it, you can have more features, and you can get longer warranty.

Post# 436804 , Reply# 24   12/28/2020 at 15:56 (1,185 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

suckolux's profile picture
My brother just got a new set of speed Queens top loader mechanical dials that might be the model you're speaking of I'm not sure. He loves them of course it was my recommendation he was tired of front loaders


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