I love my LG washer and dryer! I have had them several years now, no issues. I love the LG brand so much that I purchased a LG dishwasher, a LG smart TV, and a LG free standing air conditioner. All my LG appliances are issue free!

Consumer Reports Washing Machine Ratings ($10/month digital). Follow up with anecdotal owners' reviews for machines you're considering on such sites as Home Depot and Best Buy.

@catherinet (5IN),

Your machine probably has a bad tub seal and upper bearing where it mounts onto the transmission. Parts can be found but the repair requires major disassembly (I've done it). There are also two lower bearings that may or may not be involved. A proper exam and diagnosis is required to confirm all of it, there are other possible sources of leaking. A full rebuild of your old machine would result in a washer mechanically better than anything new but doing that requires work and committment, and the rest of the physical condition (rusting and other deterioration) is also a factor. You can get further advice from the folks at Automatic Washer .org (remove the spaces) but be prepared to provide more details and probably some photos.

Thanks dadoes. I'll check that site out. We've not looked yet, but fear that very few appliance technicians would know what to do. But maybe we're wrong. I'm always glad when you show up to respond to my questions!

You need to register a user account to post at AW but a paid subscription isn't necessary. The correct forum area for your problem is the pink Imperial section.

We purchased the Speed Queen TC5 back in November and have been very pleased. Some folks here don't like that there are only 2 settings for load size, regular and deep fill. There is no small load option.

Honestly, if you can't fix your old machine, the Speed Queen TC5 is the only way to go! We can give you more tips on the machine later if that is the route you decide to take.

I agree, if I were to purchase a new Top Loader washer today it would be either the Speed Queen TC5 or a Whirlpool/Maytag Commercial. Those are the two I'd consider this days.

Thanks for the suggestions! I will check those models out. We definitely have been thinking about commercial ones. Looks like we've fixed this one for the immediate future (knock on wood). My washer and dryer are like old family members, and it's hard to put them out to pasture! ;) And like Dadoes said above, it's probably made better than anything else out there. So we'll play it by ear, and see how it does. We're both 72, so we're trying to make it out with these 2 family members working. :) Thanks again!

In CR's testing the Speed Queen TC5000WN (AWN632SP116TW01) didn't score high enough to achieve a "recommended" rating primarily due to its low energy and water efficiency. The Maytag Commercial MVWP576KW was dead last scoring 27 out of 100? Why? It didn't wash the clothes.

I lament the passing of my 45+ year old Maytag top load washer and dryer. Fabulous machines. We had to replace them with Whirlpool front loaders because my dog began to have attacks when I used the washing machine (the sound of the belts set off seizures!). What we don’t do for our pets! I despise my new machines. I wish I had been able to get the top loading Speed Queen, but was advised against it because of my dog. Search for a OLD repair person in your area who knows how to service your vintage machines!

@catherinet (5in): Some clarifications re the CR ratings just referenced lest it be thought that wdccruise is snottily implying you are walking around in filthy clothing because you are using that 43-year-old Maytag and might be considering a similarly performing Maytag commercial top-loader when the time for replacement comes.

First, that "didn't wash the clothes" crack is amusing but is not what CR's testing actually measured. To be sure, CR is using the same test protocols -- promulgated by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) --- that other reviewers use (reviewed dot com, wirecutter, CNET, etc.) It's also the test that washing machine designers are now (mostly) designing to these days. The thing is the AHAM test isn't scoring a washer's abilities to wash ordinary, lightly-soiled household laundry. What the AHAM test scores is only the ability of a washer's "normal" cycle (and only that "normal" cycle) to perform extreme stain removal in cold water. If you have mostly ordinary household laundry and been resorting to pre-treatments, soak cycles, etc, when you have heavy or difficult stains, the AHAM test doesn't tell you that you need to buy a new washer nor tell which new one will be best for you.

Now, if your household is generating laundry that looks like you all work in underground coal mines and on oil rigs while also dabbling in hog butchering and winemaking while swilling and spilling copious amounts of espresso and cocoa on yourselves, and you only want to use the normal cycle (as opposed using pre-soaks and other treatments for when you actually have bad stains), and you only wash it all together and only wash in cold water, then the AHAM test gives you a good handle on which machines' come with normal cycles that will work best for you. ;>) Otherwise, the test magnifies differences between "the best" and "good enough for what we need." (Something that matters these days when its hard to know what's going to be in stock if you suddenly need a new washer right away.)

Second, if and when the time comes to replace your classic Maytag, you wouldn't want to buy the 576 model that CR tested, anyway.

While that model does have "commercial" in its name, it is a lesser machine than the "commercial" Maytag somebody suggested above. The "Commercial" Maytag suggested previously is one model number down (MVWP575), and is built well enough to come with a five year warranty. The MVWP576 is something Maytag makes only for big box stores to sell and it has only a 1 year factory warranty.

If you (or others reading this thread) want to look further into the 575 model, you might still find it is not for you. Some places to look for helpful and informative first hand information on the machine include automatic washer dot org (as Dadoes suggested above, leave out the spaces for the url and check in the "Deluxe" section) and the youtube videos of hands-on testing by Eugene Pallas/lorainfurniture and Kirk Rivas/applianceassociates. Suffice it to say that opinions on the 575 vary somewhat.

The Normal cycle on both machines also limits water level and temperature. Both machines mentioned washed an 8 lbs load with a less than adequate water level. Not to mention, the score was not helped with the fair noise rating. I would imagine cleaning scores would shoot up when running appropriate cycles and actual warm water.

I would never buy a new toploader of any brand or model. Frontloader would be my choice if I needed to buy a new washer.

Ptreckel.........So sorry to hear about your dog having seizures with the sound of the Maytag belts! I've heard something similar to that in the past, where a woman would have seizures when she heard one actress in particular talk. Very curious!

Well, DH has seemed to make the machine work again. There was a lot of screaming and anger and gnashing of teeth, but so far, so good. We've done 3 loads today and so far, so good. We're still keeping our fingers crossed and thanking the laundry gods.......but time will tell. I have learned to do smaller loads at a time and make sure they are evenly distributed in the washer.

Thanks for all your suggestions!

Most people in the Houzz thread say they like top-load washers because they’re simple and easy to use—you can add water, detergent, or clothes whenever you want. A lot of users recommend Speed Queen, saying it’s super reliable and cleans really well. But some mention it can be rough on delicate fabrics. Overall, people feel top-loaders last longer, even if they use more water.