We had a Speed Queen washer, not sure of the model. It had the digital control panel. Last few days started getting a strong electrical smell when washing. Almost like a burning smell. I’m no repairman, I pulled the front panel just to look for the obvious. Nothing looked out of place, ran a load with the panel off and the motor under the drum got so hot I could not touch it. That may be normal IDK.

We bought it 10/7/16, almost 10 years to the day. Light use, just the wife and I.
I called the local dealer, $125 for the repairman to diagnose. Could not get here til Tuesday. Any parts would need to be ordered normally 3 days delivery on parts. Not the worst thing in the world but it was going to be inconvenient.

I don’t know the actual cost to repair the machine, I do know how much I was prepared to invest in a 10 year old washer. Not much.

We just moved and had to buy a new dryer, went from gas to electric. So we just bought a SQ dryer
$1600

Walked out yesterday new machine $1800 ish delivered. Almost 4k for a washer and dryer. I have a bit of buyer’s remorse this morning.

I can understand all of your actions and feelings.
It's hard to wait and hope that the old machine can be easily fixed and you just want to get on with life.
I probably would have sucked it up and waited for the diagnosis.
Had a similar situation with our circa 1990 Maytag washer (similar in a lot of ways to our new SQ). About 4 years in some seal failed and it dumped water on the floor. We had it repaired and it was still going strong in 2020 without any further repairs when it got sold with the house it was in. (still wish we had kept it and moved it again)
If I were you I might see if you can press pause and see what the diagnosis is. Go from there. Its only going to cost you a few days time.

Well, I have had three cheaper washers fail in the last 10 years and that is why I just bought new Speed Queen washer/dryer set. I did buy the model that was closest to all mechanical since I figured it would be less prone to failure.

For what it’s worth, we’re EXTREMELY heavy users of our washer & dryer; 6 kids at home plus wife and I, when we bought our Speed Queen washer and dryer (analog/mechanical) set over 10 years ago now. Probably averaged 3-4 loads a day, weekends included for awhile there. Maybe a little under 2/day average now. In that time, the only thing I need to replace soon is the water-inlet valve, which I’m sure is just crusting up from our water.

I know that everything mechanical eventually wears out, and I’m certainly not looking forward to the buyer’s remorse you’re experiencing when it’s my turn again. Especially with today’s prices!

quote:

Originally posted by Hammer1967:
We had a Speed Queen washer, not sure of the model. It had the digital control panel. Last few days started getting a strong electrical smell when washing. Almost like a burning smell. I’m no repairman, I pulled the front panel just to look for the obvious. Nothing looked out of place, ran a load with the panel off and the motor under the drum got so hot I could not touch it.....

Hopefully he doesn't arrive empty handed, the Speed Queen repairman should bring along a new circuit board along with anything obvious that might cause it to overheat. That way the $125 service charge plus the board cost should cover the repair.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:

quote:

Originally posted by Hammer1967:
We had a Speed Queen washer, not sure of the model. It had the digital control panel. Last few days started getting a strong electrical smell when washing. Almost like a burning smell. I’m no repairman, I pulled the front panel just to look for the obvious. Nothing looked out of place, ran a load with the panel off and the motor under the drum got so hot I could not touch it.....

Hopefully he doesn't arrive empty handed, the Speed Queen repairman should bring along a new circuit board along with anything obvious that might cause it to overheat. That way the $125 service charge plus the board cost should cover the repair.

Our GE dishwasher died a year ago at the ripe old age of six years. We've just been washing dishes by hand but the wife and I have grown tired of it and we are going to replace it with a new one. And yes I did try all the reset tricks I could find on the internet and nothing worked. The game around here is none of the service places inventory hardly anything. They have to come and diagnose the problem and order the part and return to replace it. Two service trip charges and usually two weeks or longer to complete from start to finish.

So I went to the appliance store in town where I know the guy quite well. He said you're probably right to just go new. Asked which was the better brand. He said pick your poison. They all might run six years like yours or run for fifteen it hardly matters what it says on the outside. They will remove and replace the old one for $260 and a $30 charge to dispose of the old one. Plus the $260 labor is now taxed in this great state of Minnesota. I just purchased it and brought it home. My plumber son in law will install it.

Landfills are overflowing with these junk appliances. Everything has become disposable after a few years. That green energy sticker you see on everything in the appliance store is mostly to blame. Too many good materials are no longer to be used due to green policy's. No copper refrigerant lines anymore only thin aluminum which doesn't last. This was pointed out to me by my appliance guy. Our local landfill has gotten full to the point they have to haul semi loads of junk a hundred miles north to another landfill just so our local one can stay open to the public.

We replaced the washer and dryer when the washer control board failed. It was maybe 10 years old. No replacement was available for it.

I just replaced the lid and the top on our 10-year-old SQ washer due to it starting to rust out.

Parts were readily available right from SQ and it took maybe 2 hours for me to do the job. First time I ever worked on the machine.
I am sure it would have gone faster if I did it every day.

quote:

Originally posted by Patrick-SP2022:
I just replaced the lid and the top on our 10-year-old SQ washer due to it starting to rust out.

Parts were readily available right from SQ and it took maybe 2 hours for me to do the job. First time I ever worked on the machine.
I am sure it would have gone faster if I did it every day.

I have a 26 y/o Hotpoint dryer, and I've replaced the heating element and belt twice. Really needed the belt once and the heating element the other time, but replaced both while I had it apart. The washer is also a Hotpoint, but probably 22 years old. I've never had to do anything more than clean the mesh filters of calcium scale and periodically run vinegar through it. These new appliances are a big Nope for me, and as long as I can source parts, I'm keeping them.