The agitator operates erratically and is noisier. I noted the presense of black soot under the washer. The agitator appears to be ok. The belt is not broken. I suspect the clutch and/or transmission. Is there some way to test these components? Any other ideas on what the problem could be?
You can probably rule out the clutch, but then you need to listen to the machine with the front off while it is operating and see if the noise is coming from the transmission. If not, try replacing the coupling, this part here, which is accessed by pulling out the agitator. Be careful when pulling on it, it can give way and smack you in the face.
— Begin quote from kjmcleod;172362
The agitator operates erratically and is noisier. I noted the presense of black soot under the washer. The agitator appears to be ok. The belt is not broken. I suspect the clutch and/or transmission. Is there some way to test these components? Any other ideas on what the problem could be?
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Followup 1/25/10
I removed the agitator and again ran the washer with the front cover off. Rather than a smooth back and forth agitation it is jerking back and forth with a thumping sound as it shifts directions. After the water drains the spin cycle works just fine. With the washer off I manually moved the tub in a circular motion back and forth and could feel and hear the thumping that occured during the agitation cycle. Any ideas?
It sounds like the transmission, or the brakes which are enclosed inside the transmission and are not a separately serviceable item.
— Begin quote from kjmcleod;176084
Followup 1/25/10
I removed the agitator and again ran the washer with the front cover off. Rather than a smooth back and forth agitation it is jerking back and forth with a thumping sound as it shifts directions. After the water drains the spin cycle works just fine. With the washer off I manually moved the tub in a circular motion back and forth and could feel and hear the thumping that occured during the agitation cycle. Any ideas?
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Fllowup 2/8/10
Am still trying to decide if washer is worth fixing. Have sucessfully washed clothes on casual/hand pulse speed without bumping sound. However, switching to faster speeds causes the bumping to return. Does this stil indicate a problem with the transmission?