[Olmbre]

I've had a problem in the past with the upper agitator, or lint filter as some call it, pops off of the lower agitator in the spin cycles. I've had to replace the upper agitator a couple times and now I have to replace it again. The small fins inside it brake off and it doesn't fit secure again. In looking into the problem, I see that there is an agitator bolt that I read in the forum that secures the upper agitator to the lower agitator and keeps the upper agitator secure. The rubber washer that is on the agitator bolt now is only an 1-1/8" diameter and the opening on the lint filter that meets the top of the lower agitator is 1/1/2" diameter. So as it is now, there's no way that bolt and washer is going to hold down the upper agitator. Am I correct to speculate that the bolt and washer supposed to be secured once the upper agitator is in place? If so, how, since the washer is too small? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
olmbre

[sidfink43]

See if there are two small screws on either side of the main bolt that screw the lint filter (top agitator) into the bottom piece

This was not the typical Whirlpool configuration but some agitators were made like that

[Olmbre]

No there's no other screws other than the lower agitator bolt. I found out by an appliance parts store that the upper agitator does not attach at all to the lower agitator. It's held by small pieces of plastic, somewhat like fins that are around the inside of the base of the upper agitator. They can crack and break off real easy if it pops off and starts hitting your laundry. Poor design I think. What I did that I think is going to work is got a neoprene washer that fits over the opening of the upper agitator where it meets the lower agitator top. I placed the agitator bolt through the same size hole in the washer and then tightened it back into the top of the lower agitator. It seems to be pretty secure so I'm hoping that takes care of it popping off again. Thanks for your help though!

Olmbre

[sidfink43]

That does sound like a good solution, good luck with it.

[veda1]

I have had the same problem. I had to replace the upper agitator a couple times. I tried a number of things to keep the agitators together and came up with a similar solution. I screwed the bolt through a plastic disk with small rubber washers on either sides. It did a good job at keeping the agitators together. However I noticed that the bolt wouldn't stay tightly screwed. I was wondering if water had leaked down by the transmission shaft this way. I got a serious gearcase oil leak months later. Maybe water coming from the top of the transmission shaft leaked into the gearcase and created that mess.

Did you have any more trouble?

I wish I could find a way to keep the agitators together safely before I fix the washer. Any suggestions?

[fairbank56]

The bolt is not for securing the lint filter/upper agitator to the "lower" agitator. It is for securing the "lower" agitator to the gearcase shaft. The lint filter is supposed to snap in place. Maybe you need to replace the whole agitator. The rubber washer is very important to keep water from going down the gearcase shaft.

Eric

[veda1]

Thanks Eric for your kind reply and advice.

I knew that the bolt is for securing the lower agitator. But as I was trying to explain in my previous post I already replaced the upper agitator a couple times. The lint filter that snaps to the lower agitator is delicate, easy to break and won't hold the agitators together once broken.

There are several people using the washer and I can't monitor how they handle it. The upper agitator is expensive and the lint filter at the bottom pretty much useless. I just want to stop replacing it. I am obviously not the only one who had to deal with this problem. The original poster had the exact same issue and come up with a similar solution.

Yes, I am quite concerned with a potential water leak through the bolt and transmission shaft. I was curious to know if the original poster's finding provided a lasting and safe solution. I was also interested to know if someone else had found another trick to keep the agitator together when the lint filter is broken.

Thanks!

[fairbank56]

Sorry, didn't realize this was an old thread and I only read the first post, DUH. Maybe you could try some blue 242 locktite on the bolt threads to keep it from loosening.

Eric

[veda1]

Great idea! I'll try this. Now I feel inspire to figure out and fix the oil leak.

Thanks again Eric!

[Olmbre]

Hi,
I'm the original poster and I wanted to let you know that my repairhas worked just fine since I did it last October 2011, which has been over a year. I'm still using the same washer and it's been fine (knock on wood Ha Ha!) ever since.

Olmbre