Hello. My agitator is barely moving so I’m trying to remove it in order to see what needs changing. I have only removed the softener dispenser but I can’t remove the little plastic cap that may lead me to the bolts if that’s the route I need to take. There are no little handles on the plastic dust cap so I’m not sure if I need to remove that or not? Help please and thank you.
Moki 
Place a strap under the agitator and forcefully yank directly upwards to pop it off the agitator coupler. Remove coupler bolt to remove coupler and inspect internal splines of the coupler. If they are ok, you need to remove the front panel of the washer to see whats going on with the motor, belt and drive pulley.
Eric
Hi.
The agitator is coming off straight up from the coupling. You may need to apply force. Check if the coupling moves normal - it’s not damaged, then replace the agitator
If the coupling is bad - replace the coupling
Here are the breakdown diagrams and 03-Tub, Basket & Agitator parts for GE HNSR3110H0WW - AppliancePartsPros.com
Post the results.
Simon.
Hello Eric
Thank you for your reply. I saw on Utube that I could fill the tub with hot water and let it soak for 10 minutes or so and the agitator came right off without having to put straps or other to get it off.
The question is that the agitator seems to come in two pieces and there is a little dust cap or something on top under where the softener dispenser goes and there aren’t little handles to remove the dust cap so I can’t separate the two pieces to see if the dogs need to be changed or whatever.
Thank you for helping.
Moki
Those videos are in regards to a Whirlpool agitator that comes apart and has replaceable parts for the upper half of the agitator. This is not the case with the GE (Hotpoint) agitator. You must replace the whole agitator if the upper half is not working correctly. It should rotate freely in one direction but not the other.
Eric
Thank you all for your replies. I have removed the agitator and now cleaning the coupler to see if this is the problem. The agitator only agitated slightly and seemed loose. I’m trying to separate the two pieces to get to the dogs to see if they need replacing but I can’t get the two pieces separated. There is a little dust cap but it doesn’t have any handles where I can just lift them off. I’ll attempt to send you photos if I can so you see what I mean.
Sorry for such big photos. I was having such a hard time adding them together in one post.
If the top half of the agitator rotates freely in one direction and not the other, then it is fine. If it rotates freely in both directions, you need to replace the whole agitator. GE did not design that agitator to be repaired like the Whirlpool design. The coupler looks to be ok although hard to tell as the pic is not clear. If you cannot forcefully rotate the coupler when it is on the agitator shaft, then it is ok.
Eric
Hello everyone. Ah ok cause I couldn’t find anything for my kind of agitator. I checked the coupler and there are no cracks in it or anything. The top half of the agitator rotates one way but not the other so that’s ok. When the bottom half was on the coupler, it could rotate easily both ways so I’m going to install it back on and maybe it just came loose and needed to be pushed down more. If that is all there is, at least it gave me a chance to give it a good cleaning. If it doesn’t work, I will be back to ask more questions.
Thank you kindly for your responses.
Moki
Hello again. Well I tried to screw the coupler back on and put the screw and nut as tight as I could. What I see is the coupler moves freely clockwise and counter clockwise. Should this be happening? I want to make sure before I put the agitator back on. I put the coupler down as far as it would go. Thank you for your help again.
Moki
No, it should not rotate freely. Either the internal splines of the coupler are stripped or the agitator shaft is rotating freely which means the transmission is bad. Try rotating the agitator shaft by hand with the coupler off. You should not be able to do so. I am assuming this is a GE T-style washer, I’m not finding much information on the model number given. Hotpoint is made by GE. Can you provide a pic of the lower part of the washer with the front panel removed?
Eric
Hello Eric
I tried moving the shaft without the coupler attached and it doesn’t move at all in either way. As you said, probably the splines are worn off. I live in Quebec, Canada so I guess I’ll have to search around for a new coupler. When I have it screwed on, it moves either way and I knew that wasn’t right.
I checked on the net as well and can’t find anything at all for my model but I can bring the pamphlet that came with the machine with the model number and the used coupler. I cleaned the shaft grooves as well with a brush to make sure that there is no residue remaining.
Moki
Hello everyone. I got my agitator coupling today and installed it on the washer and I’m doing a load. The only thing is that the agitator is a little loose on the coupling. The coupling is tight although. I’m wondering if it’s because the agitator teeth stretched toward the years making a bit looser on the coupling. It is well secured and pressed down as per your videos and instructions. It wabbles a little. I guess if there is no solution to this, I’ll have to leave it this way. If you have a little solution to this, I’d sure like to hear it. The part is the exact same part as the other one was and fits perfectly.
Thank you from Moki
It’s normal for the agitator to wobble a bit. If it’s really bad, all you can do is replace the agitator.
Eric
Hi Eric. Thank you and I did think of that. I will see how it goes. I am wondering if a loose agitator will affect the transmission if I don’t replace the agitator??
Thank you from Moki
