a lot of folks say negative things on amazon parts but i have found most of them work pretty good. many times the oem one is made in the same country , and may be even same factory , but more expensive. when i am fixing something myself i can take the risk of using a no brand part .
old washer needs repairs; worth the fix?
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In general, yes, but there are some jobs so labour-intensive that there's no way I'm not using the best part available. (I'm thinking of the blower fan replacement on Jr's Mazda5 in November.)
But yes, for this part on the washer, agreed.
Fix it. The older washers are better than the stuff they put out today.
I am a retired appliance tech. I am still using 2 of the first gen Maytag Neptune washers from the 1980,s. Just keep fixing them although I know how and what replaces the old failed part to make it better. I say what I say with cars, use OEM if you want it to last. That goes double fo a household appliance. OEM Nearly always. As said. If the pump does not pump dont assume its the pump. I have had quarters stuck in drain lines with a mind of there own shutting and opening at will. Socks, debris lint, underwires, you name it, clogging the inlet pin catchers, boots. Check them all even if you are certain its the pump.
Yes repairing is expensive and parts are expensive. youtube the repair and go for it. Amazon Ebay parts OEM. Edit. i havent been to a local part supplier in years. Online is less, even with connections.
Oh And I am still using a twin stack maytag gas dryers from 1968. odd parts are hard to find though. Lg washer from 1994 just did brearings and seals... so on. Have the same appliances in our home that was built in 1994, Yes when they occationally break. I fix them although the dishwasher is a real water waster and out looking for a LG or Samsung. Typically Samsung is what I buy. Just outfitted a condo with all new Samsung.
Yes repairing is expensive and parts are expensive. youtube the repair and go for it. Amazon Ebay parts OEM. Edit. i havent been to a local part supplier in years. Online is less, even with connections.
Oh And I am still using a twin stack maytag gas dryers from 1968. odd parts are hard to find though. Lg washer from 1994 just did brearings and seals... so on. Have the same appliances in our home that was built in 1994, Yes when they occationally break. I fix them although the dishwasher is a real water waster and out looking for a LG or Samsung. Typically Samsung is what I buy. Just outfitted a condo with all new Samsung.
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The bravos like coins. They get by the impeller at the tub. Pull the tub and pump off and check them. I bet they are full of coin. Youtube it.
Console off. pop the top. remove hoses, pop the tub cover, take the plug out of the middle of the impeller and unscrew. remove the impeller or lift the tub out as the impeller should come with it if not frozen on the shaft. pump comes out from underneath.
Note: these also like to eat bearings. if its noisy on the spin cycle, yours are compromised. There is a kit but requires special tools although can be made with threaded rod and spacers,
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i tell folks that if they can find the parts on amazon and they are cheap that ususally means its a very common issue . i get most of my appliance parts from it jsut because i can't find them local
Check out a local appliance store. The heating element burned out on my parents dryer a month ago. Amazon wasn't any cheaper. Called three stores and the closest to me was actually the cheapest. That's the first repair it's needed in ten years.
I replace those every ~5 years. I even got lucky at a "renew" store that had brand new hose sets, so I bought 2-3 of them (gave one to our son).
Five years was recommended on the packaging of the new hoses. I'll try to remember to.
Updated pump protector installed years ago. Was a site tech for the now defunct retail giant for 46 years. Got all the factory tools and have done the bearings a few times on this Gen 1 unit. Using waterproof Green Grease seems to increase the longevity of the seal working to keep the basket bearing alive.
NOTHARRY: What is your opinion of the current large appliance offering from GE? I have been hearing, anecdotally, they are more reliable than most of the other offerings today. Experience matters.
Your thoughts?
New appliances are trash. I have a front loader I bought in 2006. The main support bearing went out in 2018 fixed that for like $200, glad I did. The struts that stabilize the drum all broke one day in 2022, ordered 4 new ones, ended up only needing 3, kept the spare, cost $220 this time, still glad I fixed it.
The crap they're building now appears to be designed to fail after about 4 to 8 years.
I bought a Samsung fridge made in 2019 and it only lasted 3 years.
I upgraded to my recently dead relatives 2014 Kenmore fridge and it's been good ever since.
The crap they're building now appears to be designed to fail after about 4 to 8 years.
I bought a Samsung fridge made in 2019 and it only lasted 3 years.
I upgraded to my recently dead relatives 2014 Kenmore fridge and it's been good ever since.
Ge used to be a brand to consider. They are not a consideration of mine anymore. Kitchenaide, Samsung, LG are my personal go to today. In the end> That being said, they are all made to be competitive in todays market so ts hard to get solid quality.
Good man. I wondered how you kept that going for so many years. I have one at a summer home and have done the entire tub one and main control board on. Its a not a bad machine but has some common issues.
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If it is easy to replace since you already took it apart and you are not planning to buy a commercial grade washer (i.e. coin operated ones), I would just repair it if I were you.
I've used the aftermarket parts like a dryer motor before (in a 4-plex rental building), they last about 1-2 years and the OEM one lasted 10-15 in replacement. My guess is the bearing material is where aftermarket cut their corners. IMO coin op laundry machines last much longer even today, compare to the retail engineered to fail units with fancy paint colors.
Most parts. Motors pumps bearings switches transmissions are and have always been the same part numbers, on similer sizes domestic machines. Shocking i know but in most cases ane nothing more than a domestic machine that has the ability to accept coin.
A "true" commercial laundry machine is much larger in capacity and is truely a differant animal. Wascomatt, Huebsch, Ametec, Dexter, speed queen, milnor euromax and large machine 35 to 50, 200 lb and more machines obviosly solid. OEM parts have proven to be the best option for a long lsting repair. In most cases. If a OEM part had lasted 10 years for you than you can almosr guarantee a new oew=m part will last 10 years as well.
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Are Speed Queens all they're cracked up to be anymore ? I recall they released a model or line that they got a lot of flack over - maybe their TC line ?? I'm referring to the TR line-up though and what's the actual differences between the TR7, TR5, and TR3 ? The number denotes the length of warranty so they have (3) quality levels of parts ?
Yep true commercial machines are not domestic suited. Most bolt down to concrete bases as they do not have suspensions like domestic washers.
Domestic laundry machines are designed by customer surveys, longevity is not one of the asked for things anymore, customers want lights, touch controls and phone control not something that lasts 15 - 20 years as it will go out of style not to mention designer color options.
Do you really need a fridge with a door window to tap to see inside vs opening the door?
I'm a Whirlpool built guy, least number of issues with them, and yes everything has issues, but they have less in my experience. Chinese built stuff has a bigger profit margin, so most retailers push them.
OEM parts only for me, knock off stuff doesn't last and will not have engineering updates that failure prone parts get.
Domestic laundry machines are designed by customer surveys, longevity is not one of the asked for things anymore, customers want lights, touch controls and phone control not something that lasts 15 - 20 years as it will go out of style not to mention designer color options.
Do you really need a fridge with a door window to tap to see inside vs opening the door?
I'm a Whirlpool built guy, least number of issues with them, and yes everything has issues, but they have less in my experience. Chinese built stuff has a bigger profit margin, so most retailers push them.
OEM parts only for me, knock off stuff doesn't last and will not have engineering updates that failure prone parts get.
Since a grease upgrade the bearings have held up for the longest now. IMO the Gen 1 Bravos and it's Kenmore / Whirlpool twins are the best cleaning low water machine I've seen / heard of via customer feedback when I was still working. Too bad its long gone but mine will live on as I've a stockpile of parts. Other than being on its 2nd set of basket bearings and one main control it's been great. I brought it with me when I moved last year along with its top lint screen Maytag dryer. Only reason I got the Maytags back then was the deal I got between the 3 Whirlpool built options. Deal beat the measly employee discount on a Kenmore at work also.
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