GE Washing Machine Agitator Weakness

[svotyn]

Hello! I have a very old, very heavily used GE Washing Machine (Model WWA5800MALWH) with an agitator that has gotten progressively more useless over time. At first the agitator would just move weakly and slowly sometimes (especially with a full load of laundry). Then later, with just a moderate amount of laundry, the agitator would usually refuse to move at all unless I gave it a little push to get it started (still moving pretty weakly, but definitely moving.) Sometimes if I couldn't get it to move, I could wait a little while and try again, and then for whatever reason it would move. Today I tried it and got it to agitate pretty well when filled with no laundry and just a small amount of water - but after I added a higher level of water (more weight I guess?), I can't get it moving at all now. The spin/drain cycle has also been pretty slow/weak, though it picks up speed after awhile. I can hear the motor working (seemingly) fine through all this.

I've read enough to know the handful of parts that might be worn out, but I was hoping if I could describe the specific behaviors, it might indicate a single likely solution. Any suggestions?

Thank you!

[Dan O.]

The shaft of the transmission the agitator mounts onto has a spline. There is a drive block inside the top of the agitator also with a spline that mates with the splines of the transmission shaft so they move together. The splines in the agitator drive block frequently wear allowing slippage. That drive block or whole agitator would have to be replaced to correct such a condition.

To make sure that is the problem rather than elsewhere in the machine, remove the agitator and observe the movement and test the strength of the transmission agitation shaft during agitation. If it turns well and can not be held back by hand (wearing gloves might be advised), it would usually point to the above cause as the problem.


LINK > GE Agitator Drive Block

LINK > GE WWA5800MAL Agitator and Drive Block Asm.


If the top of your agitator is solid plastic, the internal drive block can not be replaced and the whole agitator would need to be replaced instead.

JMO

Dan O.
Appliance411.com
The Appliance Information Site
=D~~~~~~

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[svotyn]

Thanks so much for your response Dan! I popped off the agitator (it's the one-piece kind) to get to the shaft, and when the agitator happens to be working, the shaft obviously turns too, and it seems to have plenty of strength even if I try to hold it still. But when the agitator isn't working (most of the time..) the shaft doesn't move. I suppose this indicates a bigger problem, something with the transmission? It's just strange to me that it's so finicky - it'll work fine one moment and not work at all the next..

[Dan O.]

If the agitate shaft of the transmission is definitely not turning when the transmission pulley is being turned by the belt in the wash direction, the problem is inside the transmission.

A new transmission is no longer available but you might be able to find a supplier of a rebuilt one, a used one or if you're handy, might be able to be repaired by you. Internal parts of the transmission might still be available depending on which one is responsible.



JMO

Dan O.
Appliance411.com
The Appliance Information Site
=D~~~~~~

.

[Dan O.]

If the agitate shaft of the transmission is definitely not turning when the transmission pulley is being turned by the belt in the wash direction, the problem is inside the transmission.

A new transmission is no longer available but you might be able to find a supplier of a rebuilt one, a used one or if you're handy, might be able to be repaired by you. Internal parts of the transmission might still be available depending on which one is responsible.

JMO

Dan O.
Appliance411.com
The Appliance Information Site
=D~~~~~~

.