I spent a bunch of time on the dryer this morning, and just took a few moments to look at the washer.

When I rotate the agitator I hear and feel the grinding noise. A lot like stripped plastic teeth. So I tip the washer on its side and turn the big pulley (underneath the washer) by hand. That's where the noise is coming from. So I pull off that large plastic pulley. Are the teeth supposed to be hooked? Like they're designed to catch one way, and slip the other?
If not it looks like a new pulley and the toothed piece that it engages into. I'm hoping thats not the bottom of the transmission and that It's just a removable gear.
My description of what I'm finding may not be using the right teromology etc. I'm hoping anybody that can help is following what I'm trying to say.

To say the least. I'm frustrated, and needing to back away before I start attempting repairs with fire etc. My dryer repair attempts seem to be pointing to a new motor. (see dryer forum for that)