Whirlpool Washer won't agitate or spin (newbie question) - The Laundry Appliance Repair Forum - Do-It-Yourself Appliance Repair Help - ApplianceGuru.com: The Samurai Appliance Repair Forums

ApplianceGuru.com: The Samurai Appliance Repair Forums Home

ApplianceGuru.com: The Samurai Appliance Repair Forums > Do-It-Yourself Appliance Repair Help > The Laundry Appliance Repair Forum > Whirlpool Washer won't agitate or spin (newbie question)

Find Appliance Parts & Diagrams Here

Enter a model number, part number, type of appliance, brand, or even a part description.

365-day return policy on all parts ordered through this site!

Moderated by: RegUS_PatOff, BrntToast, appl.tech.29501

Search Our Sites for More Info!

New Topic

Printer Friendly

Whirlpool Washer won't agitate or spin (newbie question)

Rate Topic

Author	Post

Posted: Mon Apr 4th, 2005 07:22 pm

Quote

1^st Post

robhillyer
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Mon Apr 4th, 2005
Location:	Chagrin Falls, Ohio USA
Posts:	16
Flavorite Brew:	Pilsner Urquell
Status:	Offline

I'm sure you've gone over this a thousand times, but I'm a real newbie and not very confident. (Kudos, by the way on the awesome site)

I took off the case, removed the pump and motor (thanks to your excellent instructions) and located the drive coupler. Unfortunately it looks like the picture of the new one, not the old worn one. Now the washer is 8 years old, but there is very little wear on the coupler and none of the holes looked stretched. I know the part isn't too expensive, but I hate ordering it if it's not the problem. How can I be sure it needs to be replaced?

Quote

Posted: Mon Apr 4th, 2005 07:29 pm

Quote

2^nd Post

Samurai Appliance Repair Man
Fermented Grand Master of Appliantology

Joined:	Mon Mar 21st, 2005
Location:	Otterville, New Hampshire USA
Posts:	16081
Flavorite Brew:	Kirin Ichiban
Status:	Offline

robhillyer wrote: I'm sure you've gone over this a thousand times, but I'm a real newbie and not very confident. (Kudos, by the way on the awesome site)

Good question, this one actually doesn't come up all that often.

If the coupler looks new, then it ain't the problem. Let's flesh-out the symptoms a little more: Does the washer fill with water and then just stop? Can you manually advance the timer to spin and make the washer spin? Do you know how to use a mutimeter to make simple electrical measurements? Answering these questions will help shape our troubleshooting approach.

Last edited on Mon Apr 4th, 2005 08:16 pm by Samurai Appliance Repair Man

____________________
To ask a question, use our new forums==> http://appliantology.org

365-Day No-Hassle Return Policy on all parts purchased through this site, even electrical parts that have been installed!

Quote

Posted: Tue Apr 5th, 2005 01:38 am

Quote

3^rd Post

robhillyer
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Mon Apr 4th, 2005
Location:	Chagrin Falls, Ohio USA
Posts:	16
Flavorite Brew:	Pilsner Urquell
Status:	Offline

I can manually advance the timer to fill and drain at the appropriate times, just without aggitation or spin.

I do have an inexpensive (ie. cheap) multimeter and can do basic things like check continuity.

Just to give you a touch more background...

I put in a load of laundry and left for awhile, when I returned the washer had gone through all it's cycles, but the clothes were dripping wet. I reset the timer to spin and it whirred away (very loudly) and didn't spin. I set the machine timer back to wash to see what would happen, it filled with water and then whirred away without aggitating. I advanced the timer to spin and it drained (again while whirring)...

Quote

Posted: Tue Apr 5th, 2005 11:37 am

Quote

4^th Post

Budget Appliance Repair
Fellow, Academy of Sublime Masters of Appliantology

Joined:	Sat Apr 2nd, 2005
Location:	Eureka, California USA
Posts:	2870
Flavorite Brew:
Status:	Offline

Very high probabiltiy that the coupler is actually bad, just not in the normal noticable way.

This kind of through me once on the first one I had like this, looked at coupler from underneath and all appeared ok, motor ran to pump out but still no spin or agitate.

Try to take the plastic parts, (one on motor/ one on transmission), off by hand -- don't try to pry them off.

You will probably find one will slip off real easily.

The center of one of the plastic parts has rounded out -- maybe -- so it appears to be turning but is not turning the transmission shaft.

Most likely one to find rounded out is the one the transmission input shaft.

William Burk (Willie)
Willie's Budget Appliance Repair
Eureka, CA 95501

Last edited on Tue Apr 5th, 2005 11:37 am by Budget Appliance Repair

____________________
William Burk (Willie)
Willie's Budget Appliance Repair
Eureka, CA 95501

Quote

Posted: Tue Apr 5th, 2005 01:18 pm

Quote

5^th Post

Samurai Appliance Repair Man
Fermented Grand Master of Appliantology

Joined:	Mon Mar 21st, 2005
Location:	Otterville, New Hampshire USA
Posts:	16081
Flavorite Brew:	Kirin Ichiban
Status:	Offline

robhillyer wrote: I took off the case, removed the pump and motor (thanks to your excellent instructions) and located the drive coupler. Unfortunately it looks like the picture of the new one, not the old worn one.
Rob, you did pull the coupler out and get some eyeballs on it, didn't you?

Quote

Posted: Tue Apr 5th, 2005 05:49 pm

Quote

6^th Post

robhillyer
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Mon Apr 4th, 2005
Location:	Chagrin Falls, Ohio USA
Posts:	16
Flavorite Brew:	Pilsner Urquell
Status:	Offline

I did remove the coupler, all 3 pieces. The black rubber center piece looks like the new one in the photo, not stretched at all. The 2 white end pieces aren't worn, the centers are curved on 2 sides and flat on 2 sides, and have all three posts intact on them. I tried placing the white end pieces first on the motor and then on the transmission and turning them. They both fit very snuggly on the 2 shafts (motor and tranny) with virtually no play and easily turn both shafts in either direction without any slippage when turning by hand. When turning the transmission shaft, I can turn it in both directions and the agitator slowly moves along with it, in either direction.

Quote

Posted: Tue Apr 5th, 2005 10:52 pm

Quote

7^th Post

Samurai Appliance Repair Man
Fermented Grand Master of Appliantology

Joined:	Mon Mar 21st, 2005
Location:	Otterville, New Hampshire USA
Posts:	16081
Flavorite Brew:	Kirin Ichiban
Status:	Offline

Ok, coupler's good. Revert back to my previous questions, repeated here for your viewing pleasure:

If the coupler looks new, then it ain't the problem. Let's flesh-out the symptoms a little more: Does the washer fill with water and then just stop? Can you manually advance the timer to spin and make the washer spin? Do you know how to use a mutimeter to make simple electrical measurements? Answering these questions will help shape our troubleshooting approach.

Quote

Posted: Wed Apr 6th, 2005 12:20 am

Quote

8^th Post

robhillyer
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Mon Apr 4th, 2005
Location:	Chagrin Falls, Ohio USA
Posts:	16
Flavorite Brew:	Pilsner Urquell
Status:	Offline

I can manually advance the timer to fill and drain at the appropriate times, just without agitation or spin.

I do have an inexpensive (ie. cheap) multimeter and can do basic things like check continuity.

The timer seems okay, at least it seemed to be advancing through the cycles when I noticed it wasn't agitating or spining, and the pump drains it just fine. I tried to check as best I could to see if anything was jamming it and saw nothing, though I'm honestly not sure what I'm looking for.....

Quote

Posted: Wed Apr 6th, 2005 12:29 am

Quote

9^th Post

Samurai Appliance Repair Man
Fermented Grand Master of Appliantology

Joined:	Mon Mar 21st, 2005
Location:	Otterville, New Hampshire USA
Posts:	16081
Flavorite Brew:	Kirin Ichiban
Status:	Offline

When you set the timer on spin or agitate and the motor is running, use a mirror and flashlight to visually verify that the transmission side of the coupler is turning as well. If it is, then we have a bad clutch or transmission, or a broken drive cam.

Quote

Posted: Wed Apr 6th, 2005 05:05 pm

Quote

10^th Post

robhillyer
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Mon Apr 4th, 2005
Location:	Chagrin Falls, Ohio USA
Posts:	16
Flavorite Brew:	Pilsner Urquell
Status:	Offline

Okay, time for another newbie question.....

I've got the machine put back together (with no parts left over, I hate when that happens) and I'm all set to see if the transmission side of the coupler is actually turning when it agitates or spins. HOWEVER, I know I can just fill the tub w/ a small load of water and have it agitate, but it won't spin and drain unless the lid is closed (depressing that little switch under the lid) and I can't do that without the case being on (eliminating my view of whats happening).

How can I jumper the connection (female connector w/ grey, green/white and light brown wires) so I can see if it spins without putting the case back on (only way I can actually make the connection)?

Quote

Posted: Wed Apr 6th, 2005 05:13 pm

Quote

11^th Post

Samurai Appliance Repair Man
Fermented Grand Master of Appliantology

Joined:	Mon Mar 21st, 2005
Location:	Otterville, New Hampshire USA
Posts:	16081
Flavorite Brew:	Kirin Ichiban
Status:	Offline

robhillyer wrote: How can I jumper the connection (female connector w/ grey, green/white and light brown wires) so I can see if it spins without putting the case back on (only way I can actually make the connection)?

With the cabinet off, jumper the two outer wires together on the lid switch harness (the white plastic one in the middle). Best to apply the jumper from the back of the harness, use an insulated piece of wire with about 1/2" stripped off each end and shoved into the back of the harness connector.

Last edited on Wed Apr 6th, 2005 05:14 pm by Samurai Appliance Repair Man

Quote

Posted: Wed Apr 6th, 2005 06:49 pm

Quote

12^th Post

robhillyer
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Mon Apr 4th, 2005
Location:	Chagrin Falls, Ohio USA
Posts:	16
Flavorite Brew:	Pilsner Urquell
Status:	Offline

Samurai Appliance Repair Man wrote: When you set the timer on spin or agitate and the motor is running, use a mirror and flashlight to visually verify that the transmission side of the coupler is turning as well. If it is, then we have a bad clutch or transmission, or a broken drive cam.

Not sure if I'm looking in the right place but....

The coupler that connects to the transmission shaft is turning freely, as is the transmission shaft....

Quote

Posted: Wed Apr 6th, 2005 08:38 pm

Quote

13^th Post

Samurai Appliance Repair Man
Fermented Grand Master of Appliantology

Joined:	Mon Mar 21st, 2005
Location:	Otterville, New Hampshire USA
Posts:	16081
Flavorite Brew:	Kirin Ichiban
Status:	Offline

robhillyer wrote: The coupler that connects to the transmission shaft is turning freely, as is the transmission shaft....

And you checked this with the lid switch jumped out and the washer running? In other words, the transmission side of the coupler is spinning right along with the motor side of the coupler with the motor energized, right? Ok then, definitely big trouble in little China-- you got yerself a bad transmission, compadre.

Quote

Posted: Wed Apr 6th, 2005 09:13 pm

Quote

14^th Post

robhillyer
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Mon Apr 4th, 2005
Location:	Chagrin Falls, Ohio USA
Posts:	16
Flavorite Brew:	Pilsner Urquell
Status:	Offline

Samurai Appliance Repair Man wrote: robhillyer wrote: The coupler that connects to the transmission shaft is turning freely, as is the transmission shaft....

And you checked this with the lid switch jumped out and the washer running? In other words, the transmission side of the coupler is spinning right along with the motor side of the coupler with the motor energized, right? Ok then, definitely big trouble in little China-- you got yerself a bad transmission, compadre.
Yep, lid switched jumped, motor running and both sides of the coupler are spinning away.....

So, is this something I stand a reasonable chance of fixing on my own?

If not is it something worth paying to have fixed or should I start shopping for a new washer?

Quote

Posted: Wed Apr 6th, 2005 09:34 pm

Quote

15^th Post

Samurai Appliance Repair Man
Fermented Grand Master of Appliantology

Joined:	Mon Mar 21st, 2005
Location:	Otterville, New Hampshire USA
Posts:	16081
Flavorite Brew:	Kirin Ichiban
Status:	Offline

robhillyer wrote: So, is this something I stand a reasonable chance of fixing on my own?

Depends on how mechanical you are. These washers are a peach to work on, that's one of the nice things about them Changing out a transmission shouldn't take a first-timer more than 1.5647 hrs. It rates about 3 mugs on the SUDS-o-meter.

What's the model number?

Quote

Posted: Wed Apr 6th, 2005 10:38 pm

Quote

16^th Post

robhillyer
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Mon Apr 4th, 2005
Location:	Chagrin Falls, Ohio USA
Posts:	16
Flavorite Brew:	Pilsner Urquell
Status:	Offline

Samurai Appliance Repair Man wrote: It rates about 3 mugs on the SUDS-o-meter.

What's the model number?

Okay, I think I can handle 3 mugs.....

It's a Whirlpool LSR7233E QO

Quote

Posted: Thu Apr 7th, 2005 12:46 am

Quote

17^th Post

Samurai Appliance Repair Man
Fermented Grand Master of Appliantology

Joined:	Mon Mar 21st, 2005
Location:	Otterville, New Hampshire USA
Posts:	16081
Flavorite Brew:	Kirin Ichiban
Status:	Offline

Here's the transmission you need:

Quote

Current time is 04:02 pm
ApplianceGuru.com: The Samurai Appliance Repair Forums > Do-It-Yourself Appliance Repair Help > The Laundry Appliance Repair Forum > Whirlpool Washer won't agitate or spin (newbie question)	Top

Find Appliance Parts & Diagrams Here

Enter a model number, part number, type of appliance, brand, or even a part description.

365-day return policy on all parts ordered through this site!

Your Sometimes-Lucid Host:

"If I can't help you fix your appliance and make you 100% satisfied, I will come to your home and slice open my belly, spilling my steaming entrails onto your floor."