Washing Machine

tractorkrum · Mar 6, 2021

First of all to make this tractor related I use my washing machine to wash my tractor riding clothes and cleaning rags. I have a washing machine that I think the gear box is bad. When you turn it on it sounds like two gears grinding with no agitation or drum movement. I assume that the gearbox is shot. Is it worth fixing or do I replace it the whole machine? The machine is over five years old.

jacksun65 · Mar 6, 2021

Depends on the machine, what is it. if it's a GE the agitator could be stripped.

MarkB_MI · Mar 6, 2021

Hmm. I don't think any washing machine made in the last decade even has a gearbox.

MarkB_MI · Mar 6, 2021

> if it's a GE the agitator could be stripped.

Yes, that's pretty common. As I recall, it will still spin if the agitator splines are stripped.

DeltaSteve · Mar 6, 2021

When our washer quit,I took it to the appliance repair place(the same place that sells em). 100 dollars in parts and one hour labor we were back out the door.Well worth it not to hassle,and not haveing to buy (unneccesary) parts made it a win-win for me.

Steve@Advance · Mar 6, 2021

Hard to say without going into it.

Possibly with the brand and model you could find a Youtube video, maybe a common problem to that model.

A quick look underneath might reveal something.

Risky calling out service, they are going to charge a service call if only to pronounce it dead.

rustred · Mar 6, 2021

what kind of washing machine?, a wringer machine or just the regular machine. if it just the regular machine throw it in the scrap pile and get another used one, as they can be found for next to nothing.

John T · Mar 6, 2021

Good questions "Is it worth fixing or do I replace it the whole machine? The machine is over five years old."

Of course that depends on 1) Cost to repair 2) Cost to replace 3) Present age and condition (other then problem you now have) 4) YOUR budget The little woman may prefer NEW and hey that's worth something you know !!!

I doubt anyone here based solely alone on the information provided can know with certainty what the problem is and/or how much it would cost to repair (Yeah right you say lol) but hey anyone lay or professional is entitled to their best guess !!!!!!!!!! heck they may be right ????????

In those situations I try my best to get some handle on the problem and cost of repair (even if that requires some time and expense) so I can then make a wise and informed decision to repair orrrrrrrrr replace. Im handy with tools and mechanics so I often make my own diagnosis and repairs HOWEVER if you're not qualified perhaps its best to hire a professional reputable appliance repair person to come take a look, provide an estimate AND AFTER THAT MAKE YOUR DECISION or else sure do what someone on here tells you.........

Best wishes God Bless America keep her free strong and great

John T NOT a professional appliance repair person so NO warranty, its YOUR choice none of ours

Sleufoot · Mar 6, 2021

Sounds like you have a Whirlpool built machine which could include Maytag. I guess no matter what brand it is it will be expensive. Some units were direct drive built so they ran right off of the motor shaft others have transmissions. Still sounds like a new machine. Let the fun begin. Tom in Mn

1948CaseVAI · Mar 6, 2021

When I was a policeman I owed a Speed Queen laudromat (that word is a Speed Queen registered trademark) and like all laudromat owner I had to fix my own due to the low margins in the business. If you have a machie 20 or so years old could be the transmission. They have clutches and belts that break but those do not cause sounds like gears grinding. Throw it away or look for a tranny on ebay - maybe you will get lucky.

If it is a newer top loader and you hear gears grinding (and are sure that is what you hear) just toss it and replace it. Newer machine with PC boards have troubles and the board can be replaced simply and pretty cheap, often on ebay, but the gear grinding sound is a bad sign. Take the back off (or front if a commercial model) and listen carefully to what component is locked up. That can guide you further.

If it is a front loader and less than 15 or so years old it is worth a service call to get the diagnosis then go from there.

Jim in LA · Mar 6, 2021

I have a mid eighties Kenmore washer that I replaced the trans mission and clutch on two summers ago. It was sooo much fun! I got the parts from Repair Clinic and paid less than $200. The gears in the old trans checked good . I cleaned it up and refilled it and saved it for another day. The real problem was the clutch. I watched several YouTube videos on how to do it and had everything done in an hour, washers are easy to work on. EZPZ, BUT, all did not go well. I ended up vacuuming about fifteen gallons of water off the floor because I failed to clamp the output hose on the water pump! Dont let ANYONE distract you while you are doing this.

whereswaldo · Mar 6, 2021

(that word is a Speed Queen registered trademark) Here's a 'trick' I learned; if you want to get that 'registered trademark' make, simply hold the
'alt' key and type 0174. You'll get

whereswaldo · Mar 6, 2021

(quoted from post at 12:42:33 03/06/21) (that word is a Speed Queen registered trademark) Here's a 'trick' I learned; if you want to get that 'registered trademark' make, simply hold the
'alt' key and type 0174. You'll get .

MarkB_MI · Mar 6, 2021

> Here's a 'trick' I learned; if you want to get that 'registered trademark' make, simply hold the 'alt' key and type 0174. You'll get .

It didn't work because YT filters out "extended ASCII" characters. The right way to do any sort of unusual character on YT is to use HTML encoding (assuming there is a corresponding HTML character). For the "R in a circle" ® symbol, use "&reg;". For the "TM" ™ symbol, use "&trade;".

Geo-TH,In · Mar 6, 2021

I had a 2 year old whirlpool washer, extended warranty. Bearing went out of the transmission. It was determined it cost too much to repair. I got a full refund. Washer went to the recyclers. So to answer your question, junk it.
geo.

Sleufoot · Mar 6, 2021

Until you can provide us with what brand the washer is and how old it is then all of this would be pure speculation. Whirlpool owns Maytag and Amana. Plus it makes most top load machines for Sears. G.E. made machines also under the names of RCA and Hotpoint but they slowly fazed them out over the last few years. Speed Queen is a stand alone company that up until the last few years was able to by-pass government mandates for water usage because they were a small enough company and did not produce enough machines for the mandate. That changed in the few years. White-Westinghouse also makes Frigidaire and way back when Kelvinator, Coronado and Tappen. Though those machines haven't been around for decades as far as I know. Like I said before some machines had transmissions others had motors that would reverse polarity to provide the back and forth action for agitation. John T. would know more about that function. So many variables here. Spent 40 plus years doing this stuff. Tom in Mn.

Tractorcedric · Mar 6, 2021

Turns out to be an interesting subject for me. My wife and I have been together for 21 years. I bought a set of Whirlpools at a yard sale sometime before I meet her. And already the lid switch went bad on the washer. She was OK with just putting a new switch on but was not opposed to a new set. Sold the old ones for $50 after I put in the new switch that cost $8.64. Hope the new Whirlpools last as long!

Sleufoot · Mar 6, 2021

Should have kept the old ones.

tractorkrum · Mar 6, 2021

Yes it is a Whirlpool. I replaced the kogs on the agitator which were bad, but was less than $6.00. It is belt drive and the belt is not broke, so I assume it is the transmission.

gtractorfan · Mar 6, 2021

Wife has Maytag, not very old, has the new style agitator (not the tall kind). In no time the hinge/switch broke. It says it has a 10 year warranty but it's a job getting it out, have to also remove the dryer. I used a steel corner bracket screwed to the plastic (you can see the ends of the bracket) and covered with gorilla tape. Not pretty but it works.

Sleufoot · Mar 6, 2021

Should double check the fine print of the warranty. The part might be covered but you'd probably have to forfeit your first born in payment for labor. LOL. You probably fixed it better anyways as long as she doesn't mind it. The boss always decides. Tom in Mn

Sleufoot · Mar 6, 2021

Had to go back to your original post and reread to make sure that I wasn't missing something. If your whirlpool washer is indeed a belt driven machine then you have one that would almost qualify for antique status. They quit making top load belt driven machines back in the 80's. Usually the transmissions would go bad if the center tub seal would leak allowing water to drip into the transmission. Transmissions are still available as a complete unit but you would also have to take care of the cause of the problem if it was leaking into the transmission. They were very good machines in their day and Whirlpool had that style for over 30 years. To repair the machine would be rather expensive. However you won't get half of the years of service from the ones built today which is sad. Can't even say what brand to buy replace it. Tom in Mn.

gtractorfan · Mar 6, 2021

She doesn't mind as long as it works.. but at least I should use white tape. Covered it because she was concerned about dampness getting to the switch. I'll bet this isn't the first one to break there.

Veronabob · Mar 6, 2021

We recently built a new house and all new appliances. Speed Queen was an easy decision. Made in America and has the least technology of any of them. No touch pads, old fashioned controls. Have by far the best repair record if you look at Consumer Reports. Yes, we are old fashioned, we wanted a top loader.

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