Whirpool Surgilator question

[wetguymd]

I need to get a replacement agitator for a Whirlpool machine. It had a surgilator in it but has been broken off. When I seach appliance part sites I can find them but its says its a spline drive. Is this they type thats fits on the hex block at the top with the screw cap (which is what I need) or does this mean the type that is like the Maytag post? I can't find any pics of what they look like from the top down. I would know it if I could see a pic of it from that angle.

I am new to this so any education help I get is greatly appreciated.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

There are two types of agitators for Whirlpool top load washers - hex drive block or splined.

The hex drive block agitators were used in productino up into 1968 or so, are usually black bakelite unless you go back into the 50s. These agitators fit onto a hex shaped tapered drive block which is mounted onto the agitator shaft.

The splined agitator mounts directly onto the agitator shaft without a drive block, is made of Polypropylene plastic, and is in many ways more durable than bakelite. These agitators have been made in black, gray, pale blue, gold, white, and who knows what other colors.

Both agitators use a similar screw cap to seal them. If the agitator you need is black and has a stop-sign shaped large hole in the top, it is a drive block agitator. If you have a white or pale blue agitator, it's splined.

New drive block agitators are NLA, but the splined version is around still. I believe the part number for the drive block agitator was 18402. Maybe you can find a leftover in someone's inventory, or a used one. I have seen NOS parts on ebay so maybe another will appear?

GOOD LUCK!