Looking at SPEED QUEEN home top load washing machines

[VERN in IL]

I'm finding nothing but posititve ratings on speed queen top loaders. Does anyone got one and can share your experience?


We have a dealer few miles away but they don't have any in stock, they will call me Monday with a price on what they can get. I really want to buy one washer and be done for the next twenty years.

I don't have a Speed Queen, but my wife bought a staber washing machine it is a washing machine that loads from the top but works like a frontend loader and it is built to last a long long time. it cost alot of money and it took us awhile to save up for it.It was worth every penny saves on water and soap and if it ever breaks can be worked on by almost anybody. My wife highly recomends IT. Goto staber.com for more info

[DAVID In Wisconsin]

I recently bought a new washer & dryer. The saleslady told me point blank that appliances aren't made like they use to be so don't expect them to last nearly as long so, I bought a cheaper set. The $1100.00 Kitchen Aid stove I bought 2 years ago is a piece of junk.

[mtfarmchick]

There was a Speed Queen in this house when we moved in. It was my MIL's. I'm not sure when she bought it but it was probably in the early 80's. It went through 4 boys and a husband in the oil business. My FIL's cousin lived in the house after the in-laws moved to NV. The cousin used it for 8 years. Then we moved in with 4 kids, had another while here. We used the washer until I think '99 or '00. It worked great until it started leaking. I bought a heavy duty, large capacity, no frills Maytag set. The washer went out at about 5 years. The dryer, about a month after that. We fixed the dryer for about $160. The washer would have cost close to $400. We've been using a Maytag that is about 20 years old for the last 4 -5 years. It's about on it's last leg but it beat the heck out of the brand new one!

[VERN in IL]

The reasoning behind getting a speed queen is the warranty on the transmission. As long as the trasmission is good, pretty much everything else can be replaced/fixed, incl. a leaking tub(if the parts are still availabe) but a frozed up, stripped out transmission, you might as well buy a new unit, it is the heart and sole of the machine!

Speed Queens have indexing tubs and stainless steel inner and coated steel outer tub, the 210° Agitation Stroke, impressive simple washer.

Got a call from my local dealer, once I pay for it(cheaper than I thought!) I will have to wait three to four weeks for it to arrive.(they have to wait until they can order a lot of appliances)

I thought about a front loader, but all the negative press(built to break) and my plans to dye clothes, really keeps me to the top loader market. I'm also impressed with the *very* simple controls. I used my Sisters Frigidaire Gallery(and abused it), it was nice and has worked very good so far, however my Dad's Whirlpool's have had transmission and timer controller problems.

[Yvonne's hubby]

I grew up with a double tub speed queen wringer washer, it was still going strong a few years back when my dear ol aunt finally passed away. That one had lasted at least 40 years.

[capt295]

I work on the speed queen washers and the biggest flaw is the pump they are the weak link. they dont last long , maybe 6mo at least in laundromats. if you buy one put a washer pan under it so when it starts leaking it wont ruin your floor. a good idea for any washer as they will all leak when the pump or seals start to go out and they will, the transmissions are pretty good they have metal gears but if it is overloaded the gears tend to sliver and chip, one small piece of steel shavings of a gear will lock the transmission up when the piece gets between the gears since the tolerances of the gears are so close. speed queens tend to go thru alot of belts. but again this is in a commercial environment. people tend to overload them to cut down on how many they have to use. if you can find a older maytag pre 1993 it has the best transmission ever built it is bullet proof. they had steel gears and go forever. the new maytags after 93 use plastic gears in the trans and i go thru them like water. they also use a plastic clip to hold the agitator shaft in, it wears out and the agitator floats up and oil from the transmission comes into the tub and all over your clothes, and then water goes into your transmission.you can tell if the maytag has the best transmission by opening the lid and if the top tub cover if it is metal it is a good one. the pumps in the maytags is one of the best and last a very long time. and the belts can be replaced by anyone with no tools needed. pumps and water valves are easy to replace also. Remember to always unplug the washer from electricity when changing parts. MAYTAGS are the EASIEST and QUICKEST to work on if you want to do your own repairs. older maytags are worth repairing as they will last a long time. New washers have a designed life of 6 to 7 yrs.

[VERN in IL]

Originally Posted by capt295

I work on the speed queen washers and the biggest flaw is the pump they are the weak link. they dont last long , maybe 6mo at least in laundromats. if you buy one put a washer pan under it so when it starts leaking it wont ruin your floor. a good idea for any washer as they will all leak when the pump or seals start to go out and they will, the transmissions are pretty good they have metal gears but if it is overloaded the gears tend to sliver and chip, one small piece of steel shavings of a gear will lock the transmission up when the piece gets between the gears since the tolerances of the gears are so close. speed queens tend to go thru alot of belts. but again this is in a commercial environment. people tend to overload them to cut down on how many they have to use. if you can find a older maytag pre 1993 it has the best transmission ever built it is bullet proof. they had steel gears and go forever. the new maytags after 93 use plastic gears in the trans and i go thru them like water. they also use a plastic clip to hold the agitator shaft in, it wears out and the agitator floats up and oil from the transmission comes into the tub and all over your clothes, and then water goes into your transmission.you can tell if the maytag has the best transmission by opening the lid and if the top tub cover if it is metal it is a good one. the pumps in the maytags is one of the best and last a very long time. and the belts can be replaced by anyone with no tools needed. pumps and water valves are easy to replace also. Remember to always unplug the washer from electricity when changing parts. MAYTAGS are the EASIEST and QUICKEST to work on if you want to do your own repairs. older maytags are worth repairing as they will last a long time. New washers have a designed life of 6 to 7 yrs.

Wow, very helpful post, yes the drip tray is definately a GOOD ideal! I have ordered a AWS44NW( http://www.speedqueen.com/home/products/aws44nw.asp ) top load washer. Your experiences with laundromats are very helpful. I got a few more questions,

I have heard that power landry detergent is better for a washer, because it does not contain the waxes the liquid detergents contains?

Also should I *EVER* use liquid fabric softener in my washer? I've heard it will gunk up the drain with buildup, some people say to use an 1/3rd less than recomended to prevent the buildup, what is your opinion on this?

Using Vinegar as a softener in the rinse cycle, some people say it will damage your washer's seals and cause your washer to leak, is this true?

What sold me on the SQ was the warranty, the more experience in industrial washers, and I just hate Whilpool, a monster greedy corporation that seems to have a near monopoly in consumer laundry products. Whiltag's don't appeal to me. Speed Queens can't be found at the big box stores, I am supporting the small shops.

[capt295]

i see more problems with powder than i do with liquid detergents. unless you use hot water in every wash the powder doesnt always dissolve good and gunks up in places. Yes the liquid softners are ok. if you add them to the water and not in the softner trays. they do tend to gunk up the softner dispensers. so use what is recommended but just add to the water during rinse cycle. As far as vinegar is goes i have never heard of using that, so i cant say. I have seen people use everything in the world including pine sol, gasoline, but be very careful what you mix, some mixtures are explosive as i did have one washer explode and blowout 2 -4ft X 8ft windows and destroyed my washer. a guy mixed gas and bleach to clean oily work clothes. the worst thing on the seals is sand. If your water has alot of sand in it or you wash alot of sandy clothes it is hard on the seals. we have alot of sand in the water here in texas, and it takes a toll on the seals and water valves. the speed queens do have a good long warrant on the parts. I know on the commercal machines with is the same as the home model internally, have a 5 year warranty on the transmissions. and 2yrs on other parts. But i believe the warranty is longer on home models as they are not used and abused like commercial equipment is. if you have the stainless steel inner tub and put it on spin without any clothes in it to spin out any water and it sounds like it is howling that is normal. only the ss tub does that. they last along time in the laundromat even with lots of abuse. I recommend them over any other brand. other than the old maytags. I think you will be very happy with it. sure glad to see some people still supporting the mom and pop stores. if you have any other questions about home appliances, washers dryers,stoves,frigs, i will try and answer them for you.

[VERN in IL]

I think you will be very happy with it.

Very happy! It has an excellent user guide, I didn't have to thimble thru seven different languages.

The only downside was it took two months for the washer to get delivered to the dealer!

Shocked my water well and flushed out the water system to remove all iron deposits and rid most of the bleach, replaced sediment filter.

I would buy another one. Very satified.

[Old Vet]

Look at a Maytag. Maytag went out of business and was soled but one of the conditions was they never were to put maytag on any washer that didn't have quality in its making. Regular washing machines are made to run 1 load of close per day for 10 years Maytag is made to run 8 loads per day for 10 years. This was tolde to me by somebody that didn't sell Maytag but another washer.