Hello Mister Geezer,
I agree with what thefixer had to say and it sounds like the service person was right too, that the shriek very well could have something to do with the basket drive, OR the shifting/engagement process involved with a switch into spin from neutral drain (which has a lot to do with the basket drive). A lot of parts move in this process, so its hard to say exactly what created the noise without seeing the machine.
However, if you have a seal leaking in the centerpost above the basket drive, water could be getting components wet in this area which could be displacing the lubrication that the moving parts need when going into spin. If you have a bad seal leak you could also have wet drive parts. It is also possible that seals are fine and that you just need some fresh lubrication on the cam bar and the basket drive support that moves up and down, etc.
Your machine is between 35 and 33 years old, as this is a high-end 1980 model, which was produced approximately fall 1979 to late summer 1981. The pic below is of my machine, made September 1980. Is this like your model?
It isn't hard to determine if you have a seal failing - there will either be wet mechanicals, or a black oily film either beginning to spray or having already sprayed around the cabinet in the area near the belt.
We can probably help you do a re-seal job. This depends how determined you are to fix your machine.
Gordon
