Hi all, I'm looking for advice to fix my Kenmore washer. I'm not super technical, but have been able to do a few fixes in the past with forum help (like replacing a broken door switch.) So clear, detailed advice is appreciated!

My washer recently started agitating poorly. I first noticed it on a large load on Heavy cycle. I never overload my washer - I regularly check mid-load to make sure things are moving right. This load was not pulling the clothes down, and the center post was only slightly moving back and forth, but not ever rotating around like normal. I pulled a few items out to make sure that wasn't the problem (and kept them out) but there was tons of room, and nothing changed. The cycle progressed as normal, including spinning and draining. After drying that load, however, I noticed a few spots of soap left on the fleece items, and everything felt scuzzy like it still had soap all over it.

I ran a “handwash” load after that which worked fine, so I thought maybe it was a fluke. But I just ran a regular load which had the same issues - Heavy cycle won't pull the clothes down, and hardly progresses the agitator auger around even though it's sounding normal and moving back and forth a little. Regular cycle moves a LITTLE bit more but not much. Neither really pull the clothes down. Handwash cycle works best - the auger moves back and forth pretty much like normal and does progress around. Clothes get pulled down, but slowly since it's handwash cycle!

After that I ran the washer with no clothes and low water to see if it worked - regular cycle worked just like normal and both the center post and the bottom agitator seem to be working normally.

Last thing I tried was a half-size load of laundry, water at halfway, regular wash cycle and it ran just like normal. Clothes seem properly washed and not soapy at all.

I've tried reading the forums to see what it might be but I can't find a post that sounds quite like this. Is there a belt somewhere that might be slipping? That's the only thing I can imagine would create issues like this.

Thanks in advance!!