Worn panel on GE Medallion washing machine

[canadianbacon]

I moved recently into a home with this old top load washer. I’ve tried to google the machine, the model number, and look up posts on here. I have had no luck finding a picture of the panel. We’re just kind of guessing with the markings someone drew back on the machine for washing. Our clothes are not coming out clean and I am worried we should just replace it. I want to start back on cloth diapering and can’t until I am sure I can clean them well.

Would really appreciate if anyone has this machine or a photo that you can read the settings for the wash dial! Also if anyone knows any basic things I could check to fix or change for a better wash? Is this machine junk? I was so excited to have a vintage workhorse machine instead of a new finicky front loader.

 

[repairguy]

To the right of the longer vertical mark at the top of the dial is the beginning of the normal wash cycle. These washers are known for cleaning well so there could be an issue. First thing I would do is start the normal cycle and use something to depress the lid safety switch so that you can watch the machine agitate once it fills with water. I’ve got a feeling you may have a bad agitator coupling and the agitator is slipping instead of doing it’s job. With a full load of clothes in the machine observe the agitation and you will know immediately if it is slipping or not. Let us know what you find.

 

[canadianbacon]

So it has been making a ton of squeaking, we moved it around to clean the laundry area and thought it maybe wasn’t perfectly level. I did what you said to and the middle agitator wiggles a bit, and nothing is moving. I guess we’ve just been soaking and rinsing our laundry. Is there a way to know that it is a coupling for sure?

 

[repairguy]

If the agitator is not moving when it is supposed to the coupling is the problem. The squeaking during agitation is a dead giveaway. Grab the agitator on either side at the bottom with your fingers underneath on opposite sides and pull up. You should be able to remove the agitator doing this. Send a picture of the top of the transmission shaft once removed and I’ll tell you where to go from there.

 

[canadianbacon]

Thank you so much for your help! We ordered the part and it came yesterday. Husband got it swapped out this morning and seems to be tip top now. So happy to not have to haul away a perfectly good machine!

 

[repairguy]

Great news!