Washer won't spin or agitate

Washer Repair
1

Quick history - at times I’ve smelled a faint hot rubber smell from the washer, but opeartion seemed normal. Other times (rarely) I have found a small puddle in the washroom, but never could find a leak. Sometimes I have heard strange clicking from the washer during a spin cycle. I knew something was going wrong, but couldn’t find the problem.

Finally something has broken - The wife pointed out that the tub wasn’t spinning at all, and won’t agitate. Motor is running, and the pump is pulling water out normally. I couldn’t reach in and spin the basket by hand in either direction, and the agitator won’t turn manually.

I popped the front cover off hoping the belt had popped off or broken, but it was still on the pulleys - although very loose. There is a ton of black rubbery powder in the bottom of the unit. I can’t make the trans pulley rotate more than a few degrees either direction. My guess is either the brakes have locked down solid, causing the belt to slip and burn away like an eraser, or the transmission itself is broken and needs replacing?

Anyone have other ideas?

2

Check the tub seal (just above the tranny) for any rust or water marks. Using a bright light, check for any foreign objects between the inner and outer tubs. Possible the tranny is gone bad too. Post your findings.

Here are the break down diagrams for the GE washer http://www.appliancepartspros.com/partsearch/model.aspx?diagram_id=547548&&model_id=229798

Gene.

3

Hi,
Check your coupling between the motor and tranny.

4

In order to remove the tub nut you have to use a special tub nut wrench and a hummer. It happened two times to me when I could not remove it even using a good hummer.

Most likely the problem is a bad transmission and yes, you do have to remove the whole tub to replace the transmission.

Gene.

5

If you are going to try to check the tranny it’s best to pul it from the bottom that removing the tub. With the sticking during spin cycle I’d look more at the clutch assembly. The clutch sets on top of the tranny.