The washer is making a high pitched noise on the spin cycle and also on the wash and rinse cycles. No noise when filling. Underneath the washer on the floor is a ring of spattered grease with some white powdery shavings on top of it. I have checked the spin bearing by starting the spin cycle and immediately using hands to prevent the tub from spinning. This does not affect the noise - it is still there. What could the problem be?
Stopping the tub like that is dangerous. but this is a belt driven machine, the belt is located under the washer, if you are stopping the spin cycle, by hand then the belt is being forced to spin on the shaft of the motor, making it likely that it is either the belt slipping, or the motor bearings, in the rare case that the belt is not slipping on the shaft of the motor, but rather on the basket drive pulley then the problem could be in the pump.
I removed the belt, which seemed fairly tight. I checked the pump pulley and it moves easily. it does not spin freely, but it is easy to turn. the amount of grease on the floor is substantial, and it is in a ring shape centered around the central pulley.
There is only one part of a washer that has oil/grease, that is the transmission. If you have a substantial amount you tranny is probably going out.
Nat