This is my first time repairing a washer so I really only understand the parts based on the names given on the diagrams on here.
My washer was not always spinning. Usually if you started spinning it by hand it would catch but eventually this didn’t seem to work, felt like it was locked towards the end.
I took it apart and noticed oil sprayed all over the insides of the washer as well as on the clutch and brakes. The clutch was spinning but apparently not engaging.
It seemed that transmission oil was spraying up the agitator drive shaft and hitting the clutch then spraying everywhere. I didn’t see this happening and the oil did seem old – the washer came with the house so unsure what happened before we got it.
I did a bunch of research, took off the transmission, clutch, brakes, inner tub, etc to look for more problems as well as to learn.
I have opened the transmission and replaced all the seals – the seal on the lid of the transmission, the seal in the pinion, and the oil seal to the motor drive. Also, replaced the neutral drain drive while I was in there. Filled it with oil and resealed. That all went well.
I replaced the clutch. Also no problems.
I pulled the basket drive to clean the brakes (also coated in oil) and also took off the wash tub so I could clean the crud off the plastic tub.
Since there was a big oil spray it wasn’t clear to me what parts needs some grease. It seemed that there was a black grease used on the exterior of the tube drive between it and the tube in the plastic outer tub. I have some #2 lithium black automotive grease but this doesn’t feel the same or smell that same as what was on the washers parts.
Also, seems like something should be on the transmission shaft. I can’t find anything in the Whirlpool docs or online what I should be greasing and lubing when putting this all back together. They only list a lubricant that should be used on the brake shoe assembly on roller & pin – MFG 285208. I was just going to use a small amount silicone automotive brake caliper lube on the brake drum.
Overall, I have no clue what type of grease I should be using – I see mention in places of using agitator grease, type of white lithium grease??? or turbine oil, but I can’t find anything clear what I should be using and where I should be using it when I put this mess together. I would like grease and lube I can get from an automotive parts store – at this point I am happy with good enough but not WD40ing it. That will be in few days when the wife is yelling (more) at me…