Agitator will not turn - Washing Machines

To stop the agitator from turning as you try to unscrew it on a Simpson Enduro 801 washing machine, you will need to first unplug the machine from the wall outlet. This will ensure that the motor is not running and the agitator is not turning.
Next, you can try using a pair of pliers or a wrench to hold the agitator in place while you unscrew it. Simply grip the agitator firmly and apply enough pressure to keep it from turning as you loosen the screws.
If the agitator is still turning or you are having trouble keeping it in place, you may need to apply additional leverage. One way to do this is to use a piece of wood or other flat object to act as a lever against the side of the agitator. This will help to keep the agitator from turning as you loosen the screws.

You will have to hold the shaft underneath while you turn it, most likely it came a bit loose, but is rusted holding to he shaft, but no longer to the agitator.

Most likely agitator dogs / gears are stripped out inside agitator. If it's a double action agitator where the top turns independently from the bottom, the top should turn one way and not the other. If top of agitator turns freely in either direction, then replace those dogs. If it's a single action agitator, then grooves that slide onto transmission shaft in agitator itself could be stripped out. If that's the case, replace agitator

If the bottom agitates and not the top, the problem is likely the 4 "agitator dogs" designed to allow the top agitator to turn only one way.

This assumes that you have a basic Kenmore / Whirlpool top load, direct drive, neutral drain (it doesn't spin until the pump removes most of the water) machine.

First, see the Sears parts site for your washer:
http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/index.action

Enter your model number (###.######) and you'll see a list of major sub-components with diagrams and parts.

Look at the section on the Sears site for Agitator, basket and tub.

See the part "Dog, agitator "

Remove the fabric softener unit, lift the top agitator cap (use a screwdriver) and you should see a plastic part in the center of the top agitator with a 1/2" square drive.

Remove the drive and lift off the top agitator. Turning it over you should see the 4 "dogs", replace these and the top agitator should turn in one direction only.

Replace the 1/2" drive, the cap and fabric softener unit and the top agitator should work.

Also see the following illustrated description of the above.

http://www.american-appliance.com/catalog/newsdesk_info.php?newsPath=16&newsdesk_id=136&osCsid=0da65cea0e338fe930b1fde153a243f0

Those are the agitator dog ears. They have teeth that grip and turn the top agitator during the wash cycle. It must be replaced when damaged or worn.

1. Unplug the washer.
2. Remove the fabric softener dispenser by pulling it off the agitator top.
3. Look for the prying location on the agitator cap and insert a flat blade screwdriver between the agitator cap and the agitator then pry the cap off.
4. Use a socket wrench, usually 7/16", with extension to remove the stud and seal holding the agitator to the shaft.
5. Pull the top agitator from the bottom agitator.
6. Pull the cam that holds the agitator dog ears from the top agitator.
   
7. Lay the cam on its top and install the agitator dog ears on their slots.
8. Hold the cam on one hand and the top agitator on the other.
9. Slide the cam up into the top agitator and turn it over so that the agitator dog ears do not fall off.
10. Reinstall the top agitator into the bottom agitator.
11. Reinstall the agitator assembly into the shaft.

The small plastic pieces that are located under the agitator center cap that grip the agitator and turn it during the wash cycle are worn out. They are called agitator dog ears or clutch dogs. They must be replaced.

1. Unplug the washer.
2. Remove the fabric softener dispenser, if there's any, by pulling it off the agitator top.
   
3. If no dispenser is installed, insert a flat screwdriver between the agitator and agitator cap. Pry the cap off the agitator then remove the upper part of the agitator.
   
4. Remove the barrier cap by pulling it up.
   
5. Use a socket wrench with extension or nut driver to remove the stud and seal holding the agitator to the shaft.
   
6. Remove the agitator mover by pulling it off the agitator.
   
7. Turn the agitator mover over on your palm. The cam and agitator dogs will come out on your palm. Pay attention to how the agitator dogs are installed. Remove the worn agitator dogs and install the new ones.
   
8. If the agitator dogs are not worn, check the agitator shaft. Remove the round rubber seal off the top of the agitator and remove the agitator by lifting it straight up. Call up service if the shaft is worn.
   
9. Reinstall the agitator. Rotate it until the grooves on the agitator matches the grooves on the shaft then push the agitator down.
10. Place the round rubber seal in the groove on the top of the agitator.
    
11. Turn the agitator mover over and carefully insert the cam and agitator dogs up into the agitator mover until it stops.
    
12. Carefully turn the agitator mover over in upright position.
    
13. Place the agitator mover with the cam and dogs over the agitator, lining up the tabs. The cam has a cut-out and tabs across from each other. The agitator has tabs across from each other. All of these must line up in order for the cam to slide down on the agitator.
    
14. Push the cam down until the tabs snap together.
    
15. Put the upper part of the agitator back.
16. Using a socket wrench with extension or nut driver, insert the stud and seal through the agitator into the shaft and tighten it.
17. Push the barrier cap and seal down into the agitator mover all the way. Make sure the round gasket is in the groove in the barrier cap. The barrier cap must be pushed down past the holes on the mover to allow the liquid from the dispenser to flow.
18. Press down on the fabric softener dispenser or cap until it is all the way down on the agitator.
    

If the bottom agitates and not the top, the problem is likely the 4 "agitator dogs" designed to allow the top agitator to turn only one way.

First, see the Sears parts site for your washer:
http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/index.action

Enter your model number (###.######) and you'll see a list of major sub-components with diagrams and parts.

The top section of a two part agitator is designed to turn only one way. If the "agitator dogs" in it are worn, it wont agitate either way.

Look at the section on the Sears site for Agitator, basket and tub.

Remove the fabric softener unit, lift the top agitator cap (use a screwdriver) and you should see a plastic part in the center of the top agitator with a 1/2" square drive.

Remove the drive and lift off the top agitator. Turning it over you should see the 4 "dogs", replace these and the top agitator should turn in one direction only.

Replace the 1/2" drive, the cap and fabric softener unit and the top agitator should work.

Also see the following on how to do it.

http://www.american-appliance.com/catalog/newsdesk_info.php?newsPath=16&newsdesk_id=136

Check the agitator by turning it back and forth. It should work like a ratchet (turns one way, locks the other way).If you're able to turn it in both directions, the agitator dogs are worn and need to be replaced. To do this remove the agitator cap and the bolt that holds down the agitator. With the bolt out you can remove the top section of the agitator (auger) where you should see 4 small white or beige plastic gears (dogs). Replace those and it should be ok.


Agitator dogs part number is 80040

 Before removing the agitator, unplug the washer to avoid an electrical shock hazard.
The agitator's movement back and forth is important for the cleaning of your laundry. If it doesn't function properly, your clothes won't be as clean as possible. If your agitator does not move, moves only in one direction or its movement is very weak, you will probably need to remove the agitator. Furthermore, in order to inspect the tub for leaks, the clutch assembly, the splines, or to remove the spin drum, you will have to remove the agitator.
he agitator is fastened to the agitator shaft and its movement is driven either by splines or a simple clutch assembly. The splines are usually plastic or rubber nubs on a cylinder that fits over the agitator shaft. If the nubs wear down, the shaft will not turn properly or it will turn weakly. If the agitator is moving in only one direction, the likely cause is the clutch assembly. The clutch has dogs that depress and pop up with each turn. If those dogs are worn, they will not engage properly and the agitator will turn only in one direction.
read more about the agitator removal in the next comment.

It sounds like the plastic inside the agitator cog are worn. The smell is the plastic cog turning but the agitator not turning.

Take off the top of the agitator. If any screw are available remove them. If not grab the agitator from the bottom and yank off. Unscrew the agitator drive cog and inspect underside of agitator. Go to an appliance repair shop and reorder a new one. Between $15-30.