How to tell if Motor Coupler is bad???

Hello all,

I have done all the searches and all the signs point to the Motor Coupler on my Kenmore Series 80-110 Top load washer. I currently have the washer apart and have access to the motor coupler and it looks in good shape. All the symptoms that have been described on this forum and others are what is happening, but as I said, the motor coupler looks good. The holes in the rubber bushing do show some wear and there is a little play but nothing extraordinary. How do you tell if the Coupler is bad without the obvious signs of something broken, etc.

Thanks!

 

turn the washer to spin, if the clutch disk spins then coupler and gearcase are ok if motor is turning

 

If the washer agitates and spins the coupler is ok. What was the washer doing before you tore it down????

 

The bucket wasn't turning. My wife said over the last week or so she had to help it along a few times, not everytime she did a load, but a few times. I searched the internet several times before I tore it apart and everything pointed to the coupler but I couldn't see with the washer all together whether that was the problem. Last night I was able to tear it apart and then I found the coupler and it looks fine. As I said, the rubber bushing has a little bit of play when sitting on the legs of the coupler, but both plastic pieces and rubber bushing look to be in good shape. I also can turn both sides of the coupler very easily. I did notice I am able to turn the agitator pretty easily one way as well. I am just wondering if it might be a clutch, transmission, etc. I can change the coupler, but beyond that, I am lost.

 

its likely that oil leaked onto the clutch causing excessive slippage. check for a line of oil slung onto cabinet 8 inches off the floor

 

Will do, any particular way to fix that? I am not sure where to look for the clutch but I will definitely look for the oil. Thanks!

 

We replace gearcase, clutch and coupler when we fix this. you can get a seal for gearcase and replace it and clutch,

 

About how much does something like this cost - materials and labor? Wouldn't major work like this get people to wonder whether they should just go out and buy a new machine?

Are you like on your own where you can charge the customer say $25 an hour or so? Or are you with some company that has to get like $60-75/hr., or something - not to get too personal or anything.

You can say what you care to. Just curious how people can afford such repairs, especially if say the machine is older (how old would be considered older and maybe not worth it?) unless say it is on some newer $800+ machine or something.

 

I just replaced the coupler on my Whirlpool washer for the second time in 12 years, it was in pieces. The part was $16.00. You can but a new GE top load at home depot for $400.00. I don't think it pays to do major repairs on appliances anymore.
The new front loaders are nice but you need to bend over a lot to empty them.

 

ge washers are crap. i would rather own a 12 year old whirlpool

 

Wow, are GE's that bad or are Whirlpools that much better?

 

They sell stands for them now, due to that very complaint. My home center has them under some of the appliances they are selling.

 

I was looking at them. But if you want to stack them to save room space then you must have the washer on the bottom due to its weight.

 

GE have been junk for several years, Yes Whirlpools are better.

 

Are GE's much less expensive then? If not, what be their advantage to produce something that has the consensus of being inferior and get slammed on the web or by word of mouth or? And who would feel proud going to work everyday to some company that makes junk, if that was true?

 

GE has been trying to sell their appliance division off for awhile now

 

Most people go to work because they have to whether they are proud of who they work for or not.