My dish washer keeps running...for hours. It usuallt stick when the dial is at the 7 on a clock. Today we got it to continue through the whole cycle but now it does not drain. Any suggestions?

I have an educated guess for you. A part of each control of a washer and a dryer is a little electric "clock". Those things can fail. I sounds like you may have a timer clock that is sticking and not advancing.
These " clocks" are a part of the times, and are not sold separately.
One way to possible tell would be to put your ear to the area of the control panel where the timer is and listen. Most of those "clocks" tick, and you can often hear them, or you can watch the dial, and it should advance with a click every so often.
Be blessed.

Your screens are plugged with food residue in the bottom of the unit. clean it out. You can use 1 gallon of white vinegar for your wash after you clean the screens. Start your washer to fill with water but after the water starts, open your door and pore all of the gallon in the unit. Let it now run for 4 minutes and stop it by opening the door. Leave the door slightly open for 1 hour. close the door and let the cycle continue for 4 more minutes. open the door and repeat it a couple of more times. Let it sit all night with the vinegar in it and in the morning - close the door and let the cycle continue to the end. This should help soften and clean out the food particles in the unit. You can repeat the process and get a better cleaning then too. All the scale should be off your dishes now.

I have GM40 timer sitting in front of me.
I cannot understand your question because I do not know what the 'control shaft' is.
If you mean the black-colored FM1 clock dial with captive trippers, then this dial is supposed to rotate continually as long as timer has power.
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/FM-1-Grasslin-Intermatic-20.jpg

Grasslin/Intermatic GM40 page
http://www.intermatic.com/products/grasslin/electromechanical%20time%20switches/multi-voltage%20time%20switches.aspx
The manual says quote:
With the manual switch in the middle position, the GM40 is in automatic mode and will switch at the programmed times. In the upper position "I", the load is permanently ON. In the lower position, "O", the load is permanently OFF. End quote.
In any switch position, the FM1 clock dial will continually rotate.

If your Load does not turn on-and-off according to the trippers set on FM1 clock dial, then 1) wiring is suspect or 2) if dip switches are not correctly set before applying voltage, and timer could be damaged.

The timer arrives with dip switches pre-set for 277Volts.

You can also manually rotate clock dial clockwise to observe when the load turns on-off.

Add a comment and give more information.
I would like to know what the 'control shaft' is, and what voltage you are using, and what dips switch setting you have, and which wires are connected to each terminal.

That sounds like you have one of them fancy water saving outfits with a diverter valve that dumps the pump water continuosly over the clothes. Weirdest washer I ever saw. Could be the solenoid that opens the drain pump has failed. Don't know too much about em but I do have the service manual. Post your model number for a more precise answer. Whirlpool Catalyst washer manual

If you need further help, reach me via phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/dan_73bbd84fe1d95b61

Yes sorry

either dial has went up or the pump has

I have been told to replace the timer which I am looking to do the same to my machine!

I had the same problem. Turn the HIGH TEMP buttons off. Simply turning them off corrected this problem for me. Mine got stuck in two places and I had to manually turn the dials or the washer would run all night.

Either you have a faulty module or timer switch the dial used to set the wash program. If for any reason it ha been turned in the wrong direction your machie can behave exactly as you describe. Hope this helps.

i would never suggest working or attempting to work on a machine covered by guarantee but this sounds like there is a fault with the heat cycle, obviously the machine keeps tumbling until the heat reaches the right temperature, with a heat fault it will not advance, to test without removing screws etc, press any heat option button like economy or turn heat dial to no heat etc, see what happens next. hope i have helped, if so rate me please, please note most engineers know if a machine of that age has been worked on and this will void any guarantee