Slowly Replacing Bearings on a Kenmore 70 Series

[lorainfurniture]

Get those wedges tucked in a bit more. You seriously have to pump them until your hand hurts, rest, then pump more with both hands.

I haven’t done a million agitators with it but I have done several dozen with a 100% success rate.

You seriously have to pump until you think the agitator is going to break, or the bags are going to explode. If that doesn’t work then you are chiseling it off.

 

[combo52]

Stuck agitator

I hope you can get it loose, but most times when they’re that stuck we just break the agitator off and replace it it’s not that hard to find a replacement agitator for this machine.

John L

 

[candi]

Silly rabbit

Howdy all!

My plan to ring in the New Year with a wonderful post full of developments has been foiled! I just knew the holiday break would be plenty of time to get this machine up and running.

Nope.

I dremelled the main part of the agitator off and took a hacksaw to the top of it. Once I exposed the edges of the splines (?), I loosened it with a screwdriver and hammer. It was straightforward. When I inspected the stem, though, the rust damage was worse than I imagined. I think I’ll need a new one. Question: is it the entire transmission (part 362901) that I will have to swap out? I see some whirlpool transmissions, but don’t know if they’re the replacement.

So, with a small victory I grabbed my spinner wrench to remove the tub nut. Frozen. Not even the big sledgehammer could persuade it. The rust runs deep.

So, now I need to split this nut. I hear a hammer and chisel are the move, but I don’t have a sharp one. Wd40 is soaking, as always

 

[lorainfurniture]

I’ve had 100% success with a handheld sledgehammer and the spanner wrench. Try dumping some boiling water on the joint. Otherwise hit it with the dremmel and attack it from the side. The bolt and drive block are easily replaced, spin tube not so much.

 

[114jwh]

Good news Candi! Glad to hear you are making progress

Not so great news that you had to cut the agitator off but you should be able to find a replacement without too much trouble.

I'd maybe get the spanner nut off first and check the condition of the outer tub so you can see what you are dealing with before deciding what other parts you might need. You can replace just that agitator shaft but if you do that you should buy the spring kit as well. Its not terribly difficult.

But my vote would be to get that spanner nut off first and tear into the machine a bit more so you can get a better idea of what you are dealing with.

Keep soaking with WD40 or I've heard others use something called PB Blaster. When you have the spanner wrench on you have to really give it several good whacks to get it going (counter clockwise). You could try giving it a couple whacks in the other direction too - I've had luck with that on rusty bolts as it gets it out of the spot its stuck in. Or try your heat gun and heat it a bit first.

If all else fails a Dremel with the right bit will be the best way to cut it off if you have one. Otherwise a sharp hacksaw may work.

Good luck and happy new years!

 

[combo52]

Removing Stuck Basket Lock Ring

Hi, yours is not that corroded, keep using penetrating oil, and if necessary use a propane torch, boiling water and a heat gun are very unlikely to help.

 

If you have to cut the ring off don't worry about the agitator shaft and the spin tube as these already need replacement.

 

John L.