Well, as I said in my initial post, the model IS recognized, just not by appliancepartspros, for whatever reason. I found the model easily on ************************.com -- here is the URL for various switches for my exact model:
http://www.r e p a i r c l i n i c.com
/Appliance-Parts?s=t-LNC6544A80-%3d%3dc276 [URL="http://www.************************.com/Appliance-Parts?s=t-LNC6544A80-%3d%3dc276"][/URL]
(i had to space out the name of the site b/c the board rejected it -- I just wanted you to understand that both my model and switch ARE recognized, just not everywhere)
The problem is that the switch I needed -- part #535211, the 3rd switch down that is pictured -- they told me they couldn't get, and is no longer available. When I first found the part there, it didn't say what it says now about being "permanently discontinued" -- they added that, I'll bet, after having to cancel my order. But as far the MACHINE goes, this company has plenty of parts for it, and schematics as well. I even bought a few parts for my model from them. I was happy that although appliancepartspros did not have my exact model, they DID list a very very similar model, whose speed switch seems to be nearly exactly like mine.
Now, the problem with the lining up of the dot is really not
nearly as important to me as the matter of putting the switch back together in working order. It's NOT broken. A couple of free (not soldered down or otherwise bound in the housing) pieces of metal fell out, and I'm not certain how they go back in....I have a few ideas, but it would be ideal to just talk to someone familiar with the manufacture of them (since you say a schematic probably doesn't exist). I just need to find out who made it.
Or, maybe there is some reader on here like me, who takes things apart to see how they work, and has taken apart a washer speed switch before, and knows about these little metal parts (they are about as long as a wooden match stick, but wider....maybe as wide as 2 or 3 even 3 matchsticks pushed together...if that gives a better visual). I believe, from the fact that one is totally flat, and the 2nd one has that bend/hump thing in the middle, that their purpose concerns the movement of the knob, giving it its "clicks"....they might also be involved in the circuit somehow, because on the same side of the switch, there are those two other metal contacts which are also about the same length. If I play with this long enough, I'll probably figure it out, but I'm trying to save myself some time...I am a stay at home father, after all, with 2 small rambunctious kids....can anyone help? :-)