Should I buy new dryers or rebuild?

[dougyg]

I have been debating whether or not to buy new dryers. I currently have 25 Speed Queen 30 XG (Huebsch Slimlines?), that are in good shape, 20 years old, glo bar lighter with greenwald quartermaster coin mechanisms.

If I rebuild I am thinking about new fronts (or paint them?), set-o-matic coin drops and ram ignitors.

I am soliciting opinions on what people would do. The distributors are mostly telling me that I should go to stacks so that I have more space but I do have a 2500 sq ft mat and space is not a problem at this time.

[Ken]

If you have extra money,buy some stack,I won't buy new single dryer.
If you have Glo Bar,change to RAM 110v,no Synetek(GEM).
If you really want to buy new single,SQ redesign the dryer,single dryer has 2 motors,Dexter won't fit in 281/2 ",ADC 285 may be the only one will fit in the same space.

[Ronald]

Your right on track with the up grades and you can paint them your self and make them look new. With the Set-o-Matic the only thing is you will have to cut a large hole in top of coin box so quarters will drop in..

[David]

If I rebuild I am thinking about new fronts (or paint them?), set-o-matic coin drops and ram ignitors.


I bought set-o-matic coin drops for 20 dryers a few months ago. Only had a few customer transition problems. I have really like the digital countdown.

Installed in 10 Speed Queen (Huebsch). Had a little trouble figuring out the best way to run the wires, but after a couple, I found the best flow.

[pete f]

I have slim lines in one mat, they dry well, and run on about 78000BTU, so energy efficient. If you do not need more dry capacity then I would paint, put in electronic ignition, and the set o matics. The dryers are easy to work on and pretty reliable from what I have seen over 8 years of owning them.

[mike]

Well, I guess I'm in the minority here...
(does that mean I should keep my mouth shut ?)

But if you have a higher useage store, I would buy new stacks.

Customers will have less resistance to a price increase
(which I would do immediately with the new equipment)

You will have more space, (you may need it if you have newer machines)

You may actually spend less cash out of pocket now, by financing
new machines instead of spending money on repairs.

You and your customers will feel GREAT about the new machines.

The only reason I wouldn't go that route was if I was renting, near the end of the lease, and unsure of my future.

[DirtyLaundry]

I love my 30XGs. I just updated mine with the set o matics - the installation was more involved than I thought - but they work great, and the customers love having the display. Having said that, I would make that my last priority. First of all - convert all dryers to spark ignition. That will make a huge difference. Don't "rebuild" a dryer if it doesn't need it. Go over it, clean it, make adjustments or replace something if needed, and make sure it is working properly. I am thinking of repainting the fronts my 30XGs from almond to white. I'm going to get a few quotes from local auto body shops, or may attempt it myself. I can't believe that my 30XGs are already 15 years old. Those chain/belt drive dryers are extremely reliable work horses. Their legend in quality and longevity is similar to what the Wascomat W73/74 was to washing machines, or what Harley Davidson is to motorcycles. Repairs are very few and far between, parts are readily available, and you have what arguably could be called the best dryer ever manufactured. I'm thinking for about $300 a piece, that you could have some (almost) new dryers.

[bigjerr]

I repainted my huebsch loadstar II with tremclad rust paint a year ago
and they look new

goodluck