My washer wasn’t spinning (but was agitating), and the general wisdom was a bad coupler. So I replaced the coupler (the old one seemed to be in good condition), and I put it back together and started it up. At first it agitated fine, but I could hear it slowing down and after a minute or so it stopped agitating. And of course it does not spin. My next guess was the clutch (which I have ordered but not received yet), and I have already disassembled the washer. I have attached pictures, but you may not be able to tell anything from them.
My question is, does this sound like a clutch issue, or could it be something else (sticking brake shoes?).
The clutch and brake have nothing to do with agitate mode other than the brakes preventing the basket from rotating during agitation. Before the new problem of the motor slowing/stopping, did the washer drain ok? With the new problem, when the motor slows and stops, is it humming like it’s trying to work?
So, in agitate mode, the agitator slows and stops but the motor is still running, not just stopped and humming? In agitate, with the pump off, you can see the motor shaft spinning? If this is the case, I would double check the coupler. With the motor off and half of the coupler still attached to the gearcase input shaft, you should be able to turn that input shaft CCW to cause agitation. Have someone observe the agitator while doing this (it will be slow of course). Turning the input shaft CW should make the basket spin.
I took off the motor and found that my new coupler was broken - the plastic part had detached from the metal center ring on the gearcase input shaft. I still have the original which appears to be fine.
I’m not sure what I’m looking for when I turn the gearcase input shaft. Turning it CCW makes the spindle turn one direction, and turning it CW makes the spindle turn the other direction. The basket is not turning.
When you turn it clockwise, the clutch hub should rotate. If it isn’t, you have a gearcases problem. Is everything still apart or is it all back together?
OK, just so I’m clear on what you’re asking, I’ve posted a photo. I’m turning the three prong coupler part CW, and the clutch hub (the round silver thing) is supposed to move? When I first started moving it, the clutch hub was not moving. After about 20 turns, it started to move, and now moves all the time that I’m turning it CW, except that on occasion it appears to bind up making it difficult to turn the coupler. I can get past that point and then it turns normally. Turning the coupler CCW rotates the spindle back and forth in what I assume is a normal agitation movement.
Sounds good except for the binding part. There’s a large gear ratio between the input pinion gear and the main drive gear in the gearcase so it’s a bit hard to simulate actual operation because the motor obviously spins much faster than just turning by hand. One thing to keep in mind is that the gearcase has a neutral drain mechanism. In normal operation, this mechanism is set during the first few seconds of the agitate mode. When the motor reverses for spin mode the neutral drain is engaged after a few seconds which prevents spin while draining. After drain, the motor pauses for a few seconds which releases the mechanism. Then the motor starts again which causes drain and spin. I would put it all back together and go directly to spin mode while watching the clutch hub. If it isn’t spinning, open the lid to stop the motor for a couple seconds and then close it again to restart spin. If the hub still isn’t spinning then the gearcase is bad or the coupler has broken again. If it is spinning and the basket is not, then the clutch is likely slipping and needs replaced. Another cause of the clutch hub spinning but basket not, is a bad drive block which can be partially inspected with the agitator removed.
I received the new clutch today, so I went ahead and installed it and put it all back together. Everything seems to work fine now. I don’t know whether the problem was actually the clutch but at least it’s fixed. I really appreciate your help.