OT front load washers

pat sublett · Jan 26, 2016

Beware, Front load washers are engineered to self destruct. All common brand washers have an aluminum yoke attaching the stainless drum to the motor. These cast aluminum "Spiders" are bare, untreated aluminum, which anyone with a basic knowledge of the metal, knows that it would not withstand the corrosion that it is subjected to in a washing machine. Typically they will last 3 to 6 years. If you catch it when it first breaks, It is repairable though expensive. I coated the new part with self-etching primer and epoxy paint.

chuck2015 · Jan 26, 2016

nothing like a little built in obsolescence and self-destructing parts to boost sales.

Ron-MO · Jan 26, 2016

Reminds me of a pump I recently replaced in my outdoor wood furnace. Noticed that hot water was not nearly hot as it normally is, and later that evening, it continued to get worse. Checking everything yielded that pump was indeed running, just no circulation of the water to the house. That next day I pulled out the pump, and took it apart to find that the pump impeller had started to dissolve. Keep in mind this is a pump that is intended to be used in hydronic heating systems. Since I had it apart, and had a source for another pump, I decided to run and pick up a new pump and replace, but I did choose a different manufacturer to hopefully avoid similar failure. I decided to email the manufacturer of my findings to get their opinion on why a pump impeller was failing in roughly 7 years. They advised that the impeller was manufactured from a "composite" material rather than a metal such as brass or bronze to save cost, and that the life expectancy was about what I had experienced, and other manufacturers had similar materials. Ironically, I found out after the fact that the new pump I just put in, also has a composite impeller in it. Guess this means I will pick up a spare to keep around for the next failure.

pat sublett · Jan 26, 2016

It would probably cost less than $10 to properly coat this part. probably less for a decent impeller for your pump.
Like your pump, It is obvious that all the manufacturers get together and come up with a part that will cause a catastrophic failure.

RayP(MI) · Jan 26, 2016

Another good reason to steer wife towards conventional washers when time for new one comes. Front loaders haven't gotten much good press around here (yt) lately.

Ron-MO · Jan 26, 2016

From what I saw of the impeller, I have my doubts that coating would prove effective over the long haul, although it would likely prolong it a bit. The impeller literally seemed to be saturated, much like if it was made of cardboard. It was literally falling apart when I touched it or tried removing it from the shaft. Not sure what it is manufactured from, but obviously enough to last a few years, but eventually fail, and it was obvious that the manufacturer was aware of the catastrophic failure, and his response basically told me he was surprised it lasted that long.......so perhaps they will redesign for less life. Amazes me that a part designed to be submerged in water is designed to fail in a wet environment. I should have asked if he also designed boat propellers or - better yet, heart valves using this material.

GeneMO · Jan 26, 2016

Ex wife thought we had to have the newest, latest, greatest fad, so we spent $1400 on a pair of the new front load junkers.

Wouldn't get the clothes clean. I got the damned things after the divorce, current wife thought they were much newer and better than her old conventionals, so she sold hers, took the front loaders. After about 6 months she was complaining that her clothes smelled.

The damned high effeciency things dont use enough rinse water, and the soap stays in the clothse.

We sold the damned things for $200 and bought the best conventional once you would find.

She is happy now.

Never, ever buy a pair of the damned things. Another green weenie fad that dont work.

Gene

Jason1Pa · Jan 26, 2016

They all are junk anymore. My sugestion is just to buy the cheapest one or if they got a good sale going on. Their pretty much all made by the same company anymore and wont last long. Not worth even repairing.

47fivewindow · Jan 26, 2016

It seems the yoke acted as an an anode. Perhaps your water is a little acidic. Still junk.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 26, 2016

So what you are saying, front loaders are a yoke? Guess I'll keep my top loader.

wilson ind · Jan 26, 2016

Guess I lucky. My wife says get the cheapest. Do not repair ,buy one on sale if possible and let them install.

johnlobb · Jan 26, 2016

Living in southeastern Michigan, I have become acquainted with Joe Gagnon, "The Appliance Doctor". Joe does a nationally syndicated appliance repair show out of WAAM radio 1600 in Ann Arbor, MI. on Saturday mornings. He told me all the front load washers are not worth buying and that the Speed Queen is the only brand that seems to hold up and do a good job.

Gchase24 · Jan 26, 2016

Been there done that. Same thing happened to my wife's Samsung front loader. Beware the newer top loaders are made the same way. Repairman informed me if you have a older washer with a separate motor and gearbox you better hang on to it. He called the newer machines throwaways. America has become a throw away society. Examples like this are no choice by consumers.

fixerupper · Jan 26, 2016

Johnlobb, we got a Speed Queen this fall after the dependable old Maytag gave up the ghost after 30 years of use. We chose the Speed Queen model with no bells and whistles, just a couple of knobs like the old fashioned ones. Time will tell if we made the right choice but we feel pretty darned comfortable with our purchase.

oldtanker · Jan 26, 2016

HMMMM That's funny, our Fridigaire front load is about 10 years old and going strong. I've had to replace on door lock switch and the rubber boot that connects the drum to the pump. But we bought the high end model of the day.

Rick

jimg.allentown · Jan 27, 2016

Maybe, just maybe, it might make better sense to make the part out of a more durable material.....

Nah, Then they couldn't get you to buy an expensive new part or a new washer.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 27, 2016

Bill, I buy refrigerators and washer/dryers from lowes for the same reason, the deliver, install and remove the old. I don't always buy the cheapest, but I also spend an extra $99 and get 5 year extended warranty. First washer lasted less than 2 years, got a full refund. Second washer had to be repaired in 2 years at no cost to me. IMHO, the extended warranty is worth it. Service call was $90, not to mention the parts.

How is your wife doing?
geo

sotxbill · Jan 27, 2016

Everything smells either soapy or soured like.. will not clean heavily soiled clothes even after multiple washes... have to leave the door open to allow to dry or it stinks... What a huge pain in the rear.. Biggests consumer ripoff in decades.

1948CaseVAI · Jan 27, 2016

I cannot for the life of me figure out why anyone would buy a front loader! Back in the day I owned a couple of coin laundries to make beer money on the side becuase the police job didn't pay a lot, and I had a couple of industrial front loaders to handle oil field clothes, but those were huge Milner units made for commercial service. Other than something like that you sure don't see front loaders in the coin laundries, and those places really test a washer.

W_B · Jan 27, 2016

(quoted from post at 03:40:22 01/27/16) HMMMM That's funny, our Fridigaire front load is about 10 years old and going strong. I've had to replace on door lock switch and the rubber boot that connects the drum to the pump. But we bought the high end model of the day. Rick

Must be the old style front loader that had longer life. We recently bought a new GE top loader and looked for one with the old style agitator, they are still available and cheaper than the new slick ones. Wife was warned by a friend about the newer ones, top or front load, with no agitator to speak of, and "water saver" feature. We have well water so no issue with availability of water.

OT front load washers

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member