Speed Queen washer modification, model # LWN432SP115TWO1

[jeff lee]

I am in the process of rebuilding a Speed Queen top load washing machine, it features an old reliable mechanical timer and would like to somehow modify it's wiring so that it's water fill process is not interrupted when opening the lid, just as my uber reliable 24 year old Maytag does.

The missus wants me to do this because she likes to rinse the liquid detergent cup as the machine is filling, as it is now whenever the lid is raised, water flow into the washtub is halted.

Of course the wash and spin cycles would still be controlled by the lid switch, for safety reasons.

Attached is a schematic for the machine, has anyone attempted this, or should I tell her it's an impossibility?

TIA!

[evaappliance]

This may prove to be difficult,  new government regulations for 2015 caused this.  If you can find a complete control panel off a 2014 or earlier washer with your model number it will let water in with the lid open.  1st two digits of the serial number is the year of the washer.  May be your only option other than bypassing the lid switch which raises a safety issue.

[jeff lee]

5 hours ago, evaappliance said:

This may prove to be difficult,  new government regulations for 2015 caused this.  If you can find a complete control panel off a 2014 or earlier washer with your model number it will let water in with the lid open.  1st two digits of the serial number is the year of the washer.  May be your only option other than bypassing the lid switch which raises a safety issue.

Mahalo for your informative explanation, the washer in question is a 2018 model.

The fill interrupting feature must be for water savings mandates the feds imposed upon manufacturers for machines produced from 2015 on, I cannot fathom why it would be for a safety concern.

I suppose Alliance decided to design all their machines to interrupt filling the tub with the lid open across the board, as you are no doubt aware this machine does not have a lid lock and the only cycle which remotely resembles any water saving capability would be the "Normal Eco" cycle in which a water spray is used when the machine is in a spin mode instead of the machine actually filling the tub, then agitating the load as I am accustomed to.

Indeed, all tub fill events result in a full water fill, there is no water level option on this machine, while I'm all for water conversation, filling the tub completely is just fine by me, I refuse to buy a machine which calculates the "optimal" water level, often resulting in poor laundering performance.

I bought this machine used 2 years ago and am in the process of disassembling it to sanitize it, it's former owner had to move to TX unexpectedly, I paid $75 for it. I will be using it to replace my 24 year old Maytag, the uber reliable Maytag has been making strange rubbing sounds when agitating recently. I truly hate to see the it go, everything on it is original except for the lid switch, I bought it brand new in January 2000, it's shown in the attached image.

For what it's worth, IMO the only new washing machine to buy is a SQ TC5, however the sole SQ dealer in Hawaii wants $1800 fob for it, a bit pricey...

The missus will just have to live with the tub fill interruption feature...

Thanks again!

[evaappliance]

No problem !  Also 2014 or before there is no eco cycle in addition to the water coming In with the lid up , also it would have a manual water level switch.  A panel for an Awn432sp 2014 or before would fit on yours plug and play if you could find an older speed queen that has bearing issues but the control is still good you would be all set.  My tc 5003wn is $1329.00.   I was a Maytag home appliance center before speed queen , what is wrong with that Maytag washer ?  It is among the last of the good ones . I quit Maytag shortly after that washer was made

[evaappliance]

The transmission and tub seal is discontinued from Maytag/Whirlpool but you can still find them online , you may want to look into that because that Maytag is the superior machine , I still have my 28 year old Maytag set , as long as I can get parts to fix them ,I will not even replace them with the best washer on the market today ( tc5003wn ) because a 20 + year old Maytag in good running order is still superior.

[evaappliance]

51 minutes ago, jeff lee said:

Indeed, all tub fill events result in a full water fill, there is no water level option on this machine, while I'm all for water conversation, filling the tub completely is just fine by me, I refuse to buy a machine which calculates the "optimal" water level, often resulting in poor laundering performance.

Agreed !!!

[jeff lee]

1 hour ago, evaappliance said:

The transmission and tub seal is discontinued from Maytag/Whirlpool but you can still find them online , you may want to look into that because that Maytag is the superior machine , I still have my 28 year old Maytag set , as long as I can get parts to fix them ,I will not even replace them with the best washer on the market today ( tc5003wn ) because a 20 + year old Maytag in good running order is still superior.

The Maytag is making a strange rubbing, almost a grinding sound when agitating, spin mode appears to be normal.

The washtub upper plastic cover shows signs of rubbing against another plastic ring above it, as shown in the attached image.

What I failed to mention is that I've had to repair water leaks externally on the outer washtub with MarineTex due to rust, the tub is living on borrowed time...

In disassembling the SQ and in seeing how Whirlpool cabinets disintegrate due to rust, neither machine can match the build quality of the Maytag, the steel used in the SQ appears to be noticeably thinner than the Maytag's, the porcelain finish applied to the Maytags top cover and lid is especially durable. Indeed, my investment in the Maytag 24 years ago has the very best in all my home appliances to date.

Make no mistake, Maytags of yore were vastly superior to all other brands!

I applaud your choice in machinery, is that a  either a '65 or '66 C or K series Chevrolet shown as your avatar? Although I am a Ford person, I once owned a battered '61 C10 6 cyl/ "three on the tree", it was uber reliable and never faulted me, despite all the abuse I subjected it to.

[evaappliance]

It is a 65 c10 it is not mine but is very close looking to mine ,    I may get into trouble for saying this but the wear on the ring is from overloading, yours isn’t a terrible case of it , just a little overloading here and there over the years

[evaappliance]

1 hour ago, jeff lee said:

the steel used in the SQ appears to be noticeably thinner than the Maytag's,

Exactly !

[jeff lee]

9 hours ago, evaappliance said:

It is a 65 c10 it is not mine but is very close looking to mine ,    I may get into trouble for saying this but the wear on the ring is from overloading, yours isn’t a terrible case of it , just a little overloading here and there over the years

I would not doubt that the machine was overloaded many times in the thousands of laundry loads it's washed to date,and yet it dutifully performs it's appointed mission, a far cry from the current "Whirltags" Whirlpool has heaped upon the unsuspecting and uninformed consumer, I absolutely refuse to be a part of that group.

On a side note, I own a Kenmore (Whirlpool) top mount fridge which is 22 years old, aside from having to replace the compressor start capacitor and the icemaker (2x) it has been just as reliable as my Maytag.

Indeed, it's seen 3 main kitchen fridges come and go, a side by side Frigidaire, a GE and a Whirlpool, both french door units.

I currently own a Bosch french door fridge which as been reliable, however it's interior plastic appointments are noticeably flimsy, hardly in keeping with the marques reputation...

[Thriftyfixer]

Just checking to say that my 2012 Speed Queen washer allows water to fill the tub with the lid open.

So far, I have only had to replace the belt once, mainly because I was over-loading the machine  ( trying to save water). Otherwise, my  Speed Queen washer AWN4238P111TW01   has been reliable, and has no control boards.

Agree that the low tech older appliances are worth repairing, if possible.  I just finished refurbishing a 1980s Whirlpool Gas Dryer. 

When the time comes to replace, I will check in at appliantology for brand and model recommendations.

[jeff lee]

2 hours ago, Thriftyfixer said:

Just checking to say that my 2012 Speed Queen washer allows water to fill the tub with the lid open.

So far, I have only had to replace the belt once, mainly because I was over-loading the machine  ( trying to save water). Otherwise, my  Speed Queen washer AWN4238P111TW01   has been reliable, and has no control boards.

Agree that the low tech older appliances are worth repairing, if possible.  I just finished refurbishing a 1980s Whirlpool Gas Dryer. 

When the time comes to replace, I will check in at appliantology for brand and model recommendations.

Another forum member stated that prior to 2014, the tub fill process was not interrupted with the lid open, after that, presumably all top load machines will halt the fill process with the lid open, my SQ is a 2018 model.

I'm assuming the feds mandated this feature for safety reasons, though the process of a washing machine filling with water being a safety hazard is beyond me, unless there are children present. It's open for debate what may possibly happen then, this is consistent with 5 gallon buckets printed with drowning hazards for infants.

I bought my used SQ LWN432SP115TWO1 primarily because the price was right and it featured an uber reliable mechanical timer, however I believe that all new SQ top load washers feature electronic timers, even the desirable TC5 model.

In disassembling the SQ to sanitize it, one thing is certain, it cannot match the build quality of my 24 year old Maytag, in all the years of faithful service it's given me I've had to replace just the lid switch...everything else is original on it.

Alas, the Maytag has developed a strange rubbing sound when agitating and the outer tub has developed pinhole leaks due to rust, so the time to bid it a fond Aloha is imminent.