is speed queen queen of dryers?

[archibald tuttle]

I'm checking for techs who have seen the inside more often than I. Used to service one, but it seldom needed service–that's a good sign obviously. now this was a 40 year old unit and while the vanilla whirlpool and GEs are kinda the same 40 years later, not sure if that would be the case with Speed Queen.

IIRC it actually had support rollers for the drum on the front panel as well as the rear but been some years since I had it apart vs. taking down whirlpools and GEs weekly. I remember thinking that the drum support was more robust on the speed queen (not as robust as the 50 year old maytags that had pulley and v-belt drive and seemed like they were made out of like repurposed concrete mixers :-). I've got one Whirlpool I service where I don't think they are really overloading it, but it gets a lot of use at full capacity and I'm continually renewing the rear rollers and idler. It isn't metal on metal where the drum rides against the felt on the front panel (which I have seen in cases of extreme use). The felt guide is still OK, but constantly getting called back for no drum turning. once the idler popped loose. sometimes worn belt. just a murphy's law unit; so i'm thinking about alternatives.

If the speed queen is really a more capable alternative I'd consider it although they are pricey and not as easy to locate. I'm hoping some of the samauris on here have seen the internals of recent models and might venture an opinion if they speed queen actually hold up better–or if there is a more robust design in another line that I should consider.

I'm assuming that the models within the speed queen line use the same drum mounting/drive strategy and you just get more control bells and whistles going up to premium offerings. i'm looking for simplicty, not fancy. And I need the typical 27 inch. If I had room I'd maybe think about getting a laundromat model. This installation is electric if it makes a difference in recommendations.

Thanks, Brian

 

[citizenX]

Been working on Speed Queen for 37 years and been an authorized servicer for the last 22. Speed Queen is the last of a dying breed and still built with the same quality and integrity they always were.  They are mostly computer controlled now but built with the same internals pretty much the way they have been for decades, but there is also a newer design washer with a different wash system that came out in 2018. They do also still make the older style with the heavy duty motor and transmission from way back, just computer controlled. The dryers haven't changed that much at all, just computer controlled. The new GE and Whirlpool, Maytag stuff today is NOTHING like it was 40 years ago. Speed Queen is the exception to that IMHO and there is nothing out there more robust. Plus the 3, 5, and 7 year full warranty (depending on model) is unheard of in the appliance world. Yes, a bit spendy but apples and oranges in quality and longevity. 

[archibald tuttle]

thanks. that has been my impression but I don't see enough units to confirm it empirically.

9 hours ago, citizenX said:

Been working on Speed Queen for 37 years and been an authorized servicer for the last 22. Speed Queen is the last of a dying breed and still built with the same quality and integrity they always were. 

thanks, that was my impression but I don't see enough units to confirm it empirically. i'm disappointed in the computer control. I've had nothing but headaches with those in washers and refrigerators. i understand it allows for more sophisticated control strategies but it is more vulnerable to lightening damage and black box repair frustration. gone are the days when you check the resistance in a sensor or jump out a switch for logical quick diagnosis.

but my principal concern is just a decent system for managing the weight of the drum. i would have said my preference was the old maytags, until I had to replace the heating element in one . . .

[citizenX]

Yeah the new Speed Queen washers with the DC voltage motor and lid lock seem to have more lid lock and computer problems than anything, in my experience, but they're still fairly simple to diagnose and repair. The dryers are essentially the same dryers, mechanically, and they do still make a residential unit with a mechanical timer and no boards. 

The "old" dependable care Maytag laundry were excellent machines but those days are long gone and now just a rebranded Whirlpool pos. The simple Whirlpool dryers haven't changed that much mechanically though and are still a decent machine. 

Speed Queen isn't without fail though but I always tell my customers that even Cadillac has a repair shop! The difference is Speed Queens are still built for the long haul whereas everything else is pretty much built to be disposable. Sign of the times, but at least they are still making quality units with a great warranty. 

[archibald tuttle]

@citizenX those doorlocks are a neverending problem. i had a fleet of frigidaire front load washers that had analog timers but they still had several black boxes including the motor controller that drove me crazy and failures of door locks. LGs fuggehedaboud it. I pretty much gave up on front load washers because of the electronics even though I like the idea, they were breaking down all everytime I turned around. glad to hear I can still get a low tech dryer model from speed queen.

i do generally agree that the whirlpool dryer design is longstanding, servicable and for the most part seems to get the job done, but this one would not listen to reason–and checking a parts schematic i recall that the speed queen uses glads not rollers in the front but has a subframe for assembly before you put the skin back on. this made it easier to get godd reassembly. and i think the back rollers were a little more robust that the whirlpool. I don't know if reasembly would be too difficult to allow for rollers on that front assembly. would still like that as a dream design feature. agreecd the old maytag didn't need that but with the full frame it seems to me it weighed twice as much as other dryers. well i have a penchant for re-engineering everything.