Speed Queen SC25 vs. Dexter T-400

[ChuckB]

Visually I like the Dexter machine better than the Speed Queen, the small door on the Speed Queen looks too much like a porthole.

However, beyond that what are the opinions of the group on the two machines relative to efficiency, durability, warrantee, etc.

[Jim F.]

Just hooked up four T-400's yesterday and I like them so far. This is my first experience with 25 lb machines. They make a nice transition from 18's to 40's. I have always had good luck with Dexter.

[Lar Hylobates]

I read some specs on Dexter last year. All the motors and other related specs seemed to be underpowered in comparison to Wasco & SQ. ALso, I visited several Dexter stores with alot of destroyed face plates & control panels.

[Jim F.]

There is really no comparison in horsepower. I checked Wasco, Speed Queen and Dexters own websites. The listed HP for the wash cycles is: Dexter - .35, Speed Queen - .25, Wascomat - .15. The hp during the extract phase was: Dexter - 1.5, Speed Queen - 1.4 and Wascomat - .75. Wascomat it seems is way underpowered.

As far as vandalized equipment, there are no trashed Dexters in my stores. If I went to East LA I could probably find some trashed Speed Queen and Wascomat equipment also.

[Tom Ala.]

Buy the T-400's you will thank me later
tom

[pete f]

Stay away from the EC series SQ washers, people can not figure how to use them. Also, SQ seems to have a clogged drain problem much, much more than Dexter. Then you have the issue of them running with water going thru it untill you phyically shut the power down. Setting the water level is a biy tricky also. Then once the door pin in the handle gets a little worn you have door closing issues, which will sometimes let the washer stay in low speed spin after the final spin for eternity. I have 3 SQ's which are about 5 years old, I get calls all the time. I had a store with 4 of them, sold the store partly becuse of having to screw with these problems.

I have had to put on 2 water valves (10 yr old) and a computer board (1 yr old, warantry) in the last 5 years on my Dexters, not sure how many I have, maybe 30, age 15 yr to 1 yr old.


The 25# Dexter is a popular washer in my stores. I have 2 old super loaders sitting right next to 2 27# SQ's 5 years old. Price difference .25 The super loaders are full of money, the SQ's get about 5 turns a week.

[Lar Hylobates]

I think most machines in hell L.A. are Dexter because they are disposable?? Like those ziplok containers. Some people try to save them, but the rest of us toss them out and buy more.

[Jim F.]

Yeah, whatever. I guess you can replace them Dexter's with Wascomat's and their 1/100 th 'pony' motors.

[ajay]

I agree with the face plate and control issues on the dexters. I got the same problem. I wish they would change the design. But meanwhile, the replacement temperature select plate is $7 or so. With the exception of soap dispenser and a light handle the machine is awsome. Especially the newer once with the inverter drive built in. I don't believe any other machines offer that as standard.


ajay

[Lar Hylobates]

Finally someone with a level head.


Jim, aren't you the one raging on CLA site these days, too?

I'll see you in Vegas, pal!

[Jim F.]

Are you sure you can find Vegas?

If you can I'll be looking for you too. What name will you be under?

[Follow]

I did cover Dexter face plates with clear package tape; now it is harder to cut /damage face plate..I replace clear package tape the other day because of wring on it , but it did not get into actual face plates.. it is working for me..

[Rondo]

Jim, Where did you get the HP ratings on Wascos? My Gen 6 Tecnical Spec sheet says a W630 rating is 1.5 HP on extract. Chuck B was asking about Speed Queen and Dexter not Wasco. Dexters only have 1 wash and 2 rinses which is good for the opperator but doesn't compare to the other 2 on wash quality. How long have you been in the Laundomat Industry to be such an expert on all the different equipment lines are you just relying on the info from your lonely Maytag Distributor?. I do remember you saying that you have visited 1000s of Laundomats, How long did that take?

[Jim F.]

Rondo,

Apparently you did not read through all the posts in this thread, so lets go through them real slow, K?

Chuck B. posted the question related to Speed Queen and Dexter 25 lb washers. I responded to him. Then "Mr. Lar" brought up the horsepower issue. He was the one who brought Wascomat into it. I responded to him, not Chuck B., with specs from the Wascomat website. If you take issue with the specs then I suggest you look at the Wascomat website.

You spoke of the W630. That is a 30 lb washer isn't it? It was a discussion about 25 lb washers, not 30's. Wascomat does not list the Specs for the Gen 6 machines on their Website.

Dexter sets their washers at the factory with one wash and 2 rinses. That is not where many Dexter owners leave them and I do not leave mine set that way either. You see I opened the manual and it told me how to set it just like I wanted it.

I said I had visited about 100 laundromats, NOT 1000. I have been to that many, since I have another business that has some traveling involved. When in a new town I sometimes stop at the local laundromat, to see how they run things and maybe to learn a little.

I've said it many times and I'll say it again. If you guys want to start spewing statistics fine. Just be accurate. A few people here shoot their mouths off before checking their facts. If you want to turn this into a Wascomat only board then just say so.

Maybe I haven't been in this business as long as you have, but I can read. You seem to have trouble with this basic task. Perhaps you could sell that W630 and buy a nice pair of reading glasses? :)

[Kitty]

My, my, my Jim,

You seem to have a way with folks.

[Jim F.]

My Dearest Kitty,

What do you mean?

[Rondo]

Jim, I will breakout my best reading glasses and respond to your most recent post tonight. I have to go replace a Maytag Dryer computer right now.

[Kitty]

Rondo,

Have you had to replace many boards on the maytags? WHat model?

[Rondo]

Originally posted by Jim F.
Charlie,

I mis-spoke a little. The new Maytags are made by Primus in the Czech Republic. The old ones were made by Unimac. It is Wascomat that is made in Belgium.



Jim, Wasco's are made in Sweden, not Belgium - where in the world did you get that fact?

Primus is headquartered in Belgium and made in Czech Republic a former Communist block country of the Soviet Union... hmmm!

With my best glasses on I reviewed all your posts and it was you that started attacking Wasco's

If you like Primus so well why don't you buy them without the Maytag name on them and save about 20 % on each washer. It was the same way when Unimac made them, you could buy the exact same washer without the Maytag name on them from the same dealer and save money or didn't your Maytag man tell you?

I'll admit that I know nothing about Primus except what I have read over the years on all the boards and the consensus was the parts were too expensive and hard to find.

I don't really think that you know anything about Wasco's, that's my guess.

You are probably new in the Laundromat business and one thing you need to learn is that you have to crawl before you can walk.

I can talk the talk and walk the walk because of all the equipment that I have replaced over the years and from learning from mistakes. You my friend don't have the same experience.

Dexters can be programmed for a prewash, but there is only one problem with that! They only have one soap dish. So do you tell your customers to wait around and add soap a second time?

If you want to debate this further I can set up a poll and we will see which of the two washers are preferred by the members.

Anyway, you tire me with your rookie enthusiasm.

Crawl my friend, crawl then learn to walk!

[Rondo]

Kitty, the Maytag dryers that I replaced the computer on are 10 years old and made by ADC. This is the first one that I had to send off to get repaired. Several other times I was able to repair them myself. I've had some electronics training and was able to repair a few, but not this one. I sent this back to ADC and used their computer swap out service for $125. They upgrade the software and make improvements to the boards. I think that it's your best bet.

It's kind of funny, I was talking to their tech about the boards and asked him why that the Maytags only go up to 170 degrees on high instead of the 190 that the manuals say that they would go and he said Maytag specified that they only go to 170 where the ADC model goes to 190. So much for Maytag specs being better.

[Jim F.]

Rondo,

Your posts are really getting sickening. You go back to cite some where I said I made a mistake. Well at least I can admit it. For someone so long in this business, you don't seem to have mastered this. When you went back and looked at ALL my posts, did you see the one I made on 1-17-03? I said, "I actually think Wascomat is a good machine, just not my choice."

To correct you again Wascomat is a Swedish company. Most of their machines are made in Belgium. I can look on the back of my Wascomats and they say, "Made in Belgium."

I have not attacked Wascomat. You and others have tried to attack other brands using faulty facts. You were going to respond to my previous post regarding the 25 lb washer specs. You didn't so can I assume you were wrong? In the past Wascomat was cited as superior due to the number of back panel bolts. Then it was because Wascomat is the only "vertically integrated" company out there. Now you slam Maytag due to it's computer board. The board that is actually an ADC board. Then you expect that Maytag actually downgrades it from what ADC has it at?

If you don't like it when I call you on your mistakes then that's too bad. When someone points out your mistake you don't admit it, but instead throw your toys and cry. For someone so long in the business, you have a long way to grow up.

[Kitty]

There is no need to get so upset over the opinions of others, and no need to get so confrontational towards another. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and everyone should graciously accept the opinions of others. No one has to agree, but everyone should agree to disagree in a better fashion.

[Anonymous]

Settle down folks, this is only the coin laundry business, not rocket science!!!!!!!!!!

[mike]

I say we all meet in Vegas for the grudge match ! Best wash wins !