Whirlpool washer goes BANG BANG BANG - with video!

Washer Repair
1

Hi I have a Whirlpool model LA5668xtw1 stylemaster top load washer that is giving me trouble. I just recently had to replace the drive coupling and the rubber bushing because the plastic drive parts broke. I replaced them and it worked fine for a couple of weeks and now I get a loud bang, bang, bang sound when the washer is running in spin mode (but it does spin) and I can reach in the drum and hold the agitator still at the bottom of the drum if I want to. I am not sure if it makes the noise when I it’s just in wash mode, I just didn’t want to fill it with water again to test it, but I sure will if I have to. I pulled off the cover and peeked under the drum and nothing seems obviously broken like it did when the drive pieces broke. Thanks in advance! What are you thinking? Clutch assy at the bottom of the drum? I took off the cover and jumped the door switch and ran it without the cover and it’s not apparent what is wrong. Sounds near the bottom. Here is where I am looking at exploded assemblies - Whirlpool Product Literature Search Results

Thanks-
Scott

3

Sounds like a loose spin basket, just check.

4

I have had the motor out and the washer casing off, how do I check the basket tightness? Its not touching the back or the sides when it spins. Thanks in advance. Scott

5

It sounds like the spin basket or suspension is tumbling while spinning. I would look under tub for a missaligned skate board or a missing spring, it has three of them.

6

I think it is a bad clutch brake. When it spins does the basket spin smoothly or does it kind of jerk? Also when the machine is not running, how easy is it to spin the basket around with your hand.

7

Thanks for the reply! I ended up scrapping that machine and replacing it with another used machine for 160 bucks. Its a kenmore that is running great and is interchangeable with what I kept from the old machine. The machine above had worn clutch and brake pads as well as worn dog ears in the agitator. Not worth the cash. you were right on, not to mention the only person online who got it right. I posted this in a lot of places. Thanks!