Whirlpool Thin Twin will agitate but won't spin certain times during cycle

Hey everyone, I’m brand new here, looking for some much needed help.

I bought a Whirlpool Heavy Duty Thin Twin 24" Stackable Washer n’ Dryer unit from a mom n pop shop.

Model # LTE5243DQ3, it’s definitely an older unit but still works fine for the most part.

My problem is that during the "Normal" wash cycle, the washer does not spin as it should all the time. It fills up with water, agitates, then stops, drains and acts and sounds like it wants to spin but doesn’t. BUT, if I push in the washer knob and then pull it back out, it starts spinning and works great. I have to do this two times during the "Normal" cycle. When it gets past those two points on the cycle and comes to the "Spin" section, it spins fine, no help needed. It does this at the same two positions in the "Normal" cycle even when the washer is empty.

A different forum user replied saying the contacts in the timer are probably bad since a clutch is unlikely.

Any ideas of where to start? I’ve seen people online with similar problems but not the same.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!