Whirlpool washer not engaging spin cycle. Suggestions?

Washer Repair
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1

I have a 3 year old Whirlpool Ultimate Care II topload washer. The last few weeks, half the time it has left clothes soaking wet when finished. I thought it was just not draining properly, so I pulled the drain hose and it is clear.

Upon further observation, I noticed that the spin cycle doesn’t always engage. I noticed this as I lifted the lid just enough to see the basket while on the spin cycle. It sounds like it is working properly, but no basket spinning. Now it does not do this every time, but it seems to be getting more frequent, and will do it with a big or small load. It does not matter which mode the washer is in either. Everything works fine until it gets to the spin cycle.

Any suggestions? Clutch, Trans/gear case, switches??? I am not very familiar with these but am an ASE master certified auto tech, so I am not afraid to pull the thing apart and do the work, I just want to have an idea before I take it apart and get into it.

2

I would go to my “sticky” “replacing direct drive brake shoes” and do the tranny coupler test. Post the results please.

3

Richappy,

Thanks for the direction with the sticky. Sorry I haven’t got back to you yet, but today was the first day I had time to work on this thing.

Ok, here is where I am at. So far this week, it has not had any issues, but I took it apart anyways just to see what is going on. I did not have an ammeter/probe with me today, so I will grab one from work and check that tommorow. Should I be probing the yellow wire coming off of the motor connector to get the amp draw during the spin cycle? I attached the wiring schematic that was in the unit if you are unfamiliar with this particular model.

I did pull off the motor and pump and turned the tranny coupler. It did not turn over very easy by hand, but I could get it to turn. How easy/difficult should it be? It did not seem to be binding in any particular place. It took the same amount of effort to turn it through the whole rotation. While turning it, it never did spin the basket like your sticky said. Occasionally it would spin the adjatator, but never the basket. Many times I would be turning the coupler, and it would not turn the adjatator either. But I know it is working because I ran the spin cylce 5 times today before I took it apart and it worked every time.

Any thoughts?

Thanks again,

Guy
Washer Wiring Diagram 1.jpg (66.3 KB)