GE top load washer shakes & clunks during agitation

Washer Repair
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1

I just picked up a used GE top load washer and I am wondering if it is normal to shake the cabinet during agitation. The agitator "clunks" every time it changes direction. When I first tried it, the unit was walking, but the unit may not have been PERFECTLY leveled - which brings up another question - are the GE washers that unforgiving about imperfect leveling?

The spin cycle works fantastic - it goes as fast as an Iranian uranium centrifuge on Stuxnet and does not shake the unit at all. I’ve only used Maytag washers up to this point, so a suspended tub is new to me, hence the novice nature of the question.

Here is a 15 second video of the agitation cycle with the front cover removed showing the clunking sound.

http://youtu.be/d3vsGAknCfk

Is this normal or is there something that needs to be replaced?

I also have to replace or clean the water inlet "shower head" because I am getting some water spraying inside the cabinet as well, so I might was well fix all the problems at once.

TIA!

Mike

3

Looks like the basket is agitating along with the agitator. If that is the case, then the mode shifter is probably bad. Check the blinking error code LED on top of the circuit board that is on top of the motor. If you get 4 flashes, pause, 4 flashes… then the mode shifter is faulty.

http://www.appliancepartspros.com/ge-shaft-mode-shifter-wh38x10017-ap4380186.html

Eric

4

Bingo. Thank you very much. Unfortunately for an appliance this old, it’s probably not worth fixing.