Agitator does not work

Top-loading washing machine has an outer tub that fills with water and sits stationary as well as an inner tub with holes in it. The inner tub has an agitator that attaches to the drive shaft. A drive belt turns the drive shaft, causing the agitator to move back and forth. Broken seals at the bottom of the agitator, or a broken belt, may cause the agitator to perform inefficiently and leave your clothes dirty

In order to properly wash clothes and prepare them for drying, a washer must agitate or spin the load. This helps wring excess water out of the clothing. If your washer has suddenly stopped spinning properly, you will notice that your clothes will be sopping wet when the washer is done. Typically, there is a simple reason for this problem that you can fix without calling in a professiona

1 Check the lid switch. You will notice on the lip of the lid there is a small stem that hangs down. This fits into a hole on the top of the washer housing and tells the washer the lid is closed and it is safe to spin the load. If the switch is faulty or has been blocked, the washer will not agitate or spin.

2 Clean out the switch receptacle. Use a multipurpose cleaner and a sponge (not a paper towel, it can shred and get caught in the switch receptacle.) Thoroughly clean the area around the switch and the receptacle.

3 Test the washer. Close the lid, allow the washer to fill with an inch of water, and move the selector to the spin cycle. Pull out on the selector. If it does not spin, stop the cycle (push the selector in) and turn the washing machine off. This means there could be three problems with the washer: the switch might be broken, something might be caught in the agitator, or the motor for the agitator may be burned out.

4 Check underneath the agitator. Small items such as underwear, panty hose or bra straps can become caught underneath the agitator and keep it from moving. Run your hand underneath this area and see if you feel anything. If you do, unwrap the item and test the washer again. If it still does not work, move to Step 5.

5 Contact a repair person. If the washer still will not agitate or spin, it will need to either have the switch replaced or the motor replaced. Contact a certified appliance repair person to have the machine inspected. If it is still under warranty, the repair person's visit should be covered.

However if its only the agitator arm, then

Instructions to Remove/replace the Agitator

1 Unplug the washer.

2 Slide a putty knife under each side of the washing machine top to release the springs holding the top in place. Lift up the top on its hinges.

3 Pull the tub clips from the inner tub using a pair of pliers.

4 Pull up on the agitator top to expose the nut holding it in place. Remove the nut using a socket wrench. Lift up on the agitator to remove it from the machine.

5 Turn the agitator upside down and remove the seals from the bottom. Replace them with a new set of seals. If the agitator is cracked, replace it.

6 Reassemble the washer.

Removing the Belt

7 Unplug the washer from the wall outlet.

8 Pull out on the bottom panel on the front of the machine. Look underneath to locate the drive belt.

9 Pull on the drive belt at the washer tub to remove it. Push down on the idler pulley near the motor to remove the belt from the machine. Route the new belt around the pulleys in the same way as before.

10 Reassemble the machine, plug it in and test.

You have what is called "agitating dogs" there are usually 4 of them at the bottom of the agitator. They have small grippers which lock onto the agitator and agitates. If the washer is ever overfilled or over time filled to heavy this will wear down the nylon teeth on the "dogs". The top of the agitator will spin off, you will see a bolt inside at the bottom, remove bolt and the agitator will pull out. Google "agitating dogs on washer. It will give you pictures for a better understanding. If the belt was broken the washer would not drain, because the belt turns the pump. These dogs are about $5 and honestly easy to install. Good Luck.

Yes it does reverse. If the motor is running in agitate pull off the agitator and check the agitator drive (bell) (white plastic bell shaped) on top of the agitate shaft is not stripped. You should not be able to turn. To remove the agitator fill first about 8 in of hot water, drain and pull up on agitator with fingers under the bottom or a belt.

Hi,
It sounds like the agitator , air bell or transmission is failing. Since the unit spins the belt & motor is ok. I recommend removing & inspecting the agitator & air bell. If they are not stripped out then you have a transmission failure.
Or, start the washer at the beginning of a cycle set to the lowest water level. After the unit fills it should be agitating stop the washer. Open the lid & try moving the agitator, if the agitator will not move it is good & no need to remove for inspection. You have a bad transmission. If the agitator moves easily then we know that the agitator or air bell is stripped out & will need to be inspected for confirmation before replacing.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for using Fixya.

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Leaks water...check the pump first. The fill valve and hoses may be the next step. See how to take apart info. With the use of plastic drain hoses on many machines today, this has become a common leak trouble maker. The drain hose can rub the wall or a pipe and this will rub a hole in the drain hose.
 

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To check the agitator. Start the washer into wash cycle. Once started Push down on top of agitator. If it catches some times or all of the time when pushing down, then then doggets are worn, under the agitator. You`ll have to remove the agitator to see these. If by pushing down on the agitator, nothing changes, Then you probably have a transmition problem. Check this and let me know what you find.

No agitation or spin in any cycle? If so and the machine will drain check the coupler.

If the washer fills up with water and you hear the motor running but the agitator doesn’t move, the agitator coupling is the most likely problem. First pump the water out by turning the timer to spin. Once the water is out, turn the washer off. Now pull up on the agitator until it comes off (it may be hard to pull off). Now that the agitator is off, you can see the agitator coupling, reach down and try to turn the coupling. If the coupling turns freely, it is striped out and needs to be replaced.

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.