Top load clothes washers built under the Kenmore and Whirlpool brands (among others) for the past 20 years use a direct drive transmission rather than a belt drive system. In place of the belt a coupling is used. This coupling can wear or break just as belts can wear and break. The following will aid in replacing the coupling.
-Run the machine in a drain/spin cycle to remove as much water as possible
-Unplug the power cord, if you wish to have more room to work it may be beneficial to remove the hoses from the machine as well (your call)
- Tip the machine up so you can work under the front, be sure to support it so it does not fall on you. You can also lay the machine down while working on it, just be sure lay it down slowly and gently.
There is a diagram at the bottom of these instructions, the numbers in parenthesis on these instructions refers to the part number on the diagram.
- In the front center bottom you will see a white colored pump (22) with 2 hoses on it. There are spring clips(21) that will release the pump, use a flat blade screwdriver to pry them off then pull the pump straight off the motor. You can leave the hoses on or if you want more room you can take them off, but you will need some towels to clean up the water if you take them off.
- Remove the 2 screws (23) from the clips holding the motor on. Unclip the wire harness (20) from the motor and pull off, it may be stiff.
- Remove the 2 spring clips (17) from the motor the same way you took them off the pump. Pull the motor off.
- You will see one plastic piece on the motor, the same plastic piece on the gear case and a rubber isolater between the two. The new coupling will come with all three pieces, be sure to replace all 3, The plastic pieces will pull off the motor and gear case, you may need to use a screwdriver to help pry it off. Push the new plastic parts onto the motor and gear case. You may need to gently tap on them to get on, the hole in the new part should go all the way onto the shaft so the end of the shaft is even with the coupling. Place the rubber isolator on the couple piece that is on the gear case. Now this next part can be a bit tricky. Turn the coupling on the gear case so one of the holes is at the top (12 o'clock), turn the coupling on the motor so one of the pins is on the top. Line up the motor and push it straight on until the motor is flush against the plate, it make take a couple of tries to get the coupling pin to go into the hole on the isolator. Once in place reinstall the spring clips (17) the screws (23) the wiring harness (20) the pump (22) and the clips (21).
- Stand machine back up and reconnect all hoses and cords.
- Enjoy a working washer again.
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