How to Repair the Agitator on a GE Top Loading Washing Machine
When the agitator on your GE washing machine does not work correctly, the most likely cause is a worn drive bell. The drive bell sits on the agitator shaft inside the agitator. The shaft and the inside of the bell lock together using splines. When the splines inside the drive bell wear out, the agitator will not rotate correctly. To repair the agitator on the GE top loading washing machine, you will need to remove the agitator and the drive bell. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Unplug the GE washer from the wall outlet. Open the washer lid to access the agitator.
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Grab the bottom of the agitator with both hands and pull the agitator out of the washing machine. If the agitator will not budge, rent agitator hooks to pry the agitator out. Agitator hooks are available at appliance repair stores. Set the agitator hooks under the agitator and push down on the handle to pull the agitator off the shaft.
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3
Pry off the plug on the top of the drive bell on the agitator shaft with a small flathead screwdriver. Use a socket wrench to remove the hex head bolt at the top of the drive bell. Carefully pull the drive bell up off of the agitator shaft. This may take some force depending on how stripped the inside of the drive bell has become.
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4
Inspect the inside of the drive bell. There are splines inside the drive bell that line up with the splines on the shaft. Most often the splines inside the drive bell have worn, causing the shaft to spin but not the drive bell. Also inspect the notch on the outside of the drive bell and the notch inside the bottom of the agitator. If either of these are worn, replace the drive bell and the agitator.
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5
Take the drive bell to an appliance repair shop to purchase a new part. If you need to replace the agitator, take the old one with you as well. Compare the new parts to the old ones, making sure they are identical.
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Position the new drive bell over the agitator shaft, lining up the splines on the shaft with the splines on the inside of the drive bell. Set the securing bolt back into the top of the drive bell and tighten the bolt down until it pushes the drive bell down until the bell bottoms out. Push the new plug on the top of the agitator bell with the palm off your hand until the plug locks into place.
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Place the agitator over the drive bell and slowly rotate the agitator until the notch inside the agitator lines up with the notch on the outside of the drive bell. Tap the top of the agitator down with the palm of your hand until the notch on the agitator locks down over the notch on the drive bell. The agitator will not bottom out flush with the tub.
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Close the washer lid and plug the washer power cord back into the wall socket.
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Tips & Warnings
Overloading the washer will cause the splines inside the drive bell to wear out.
The plug on the drive bell should extend 1/8 inch above drive bell after installation.
Do not force agitator down after the notches have locked in place.
Always disconnect the power supply from appliances before attempting repairs.
References
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Comments
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Charlie Ewing
Jan 16, 2011
Purchased this type of washer a few years back. The bell worked for over two years without issue, then it finally gave out. New bell lasted 1 month. I suspected that the bell splines did not properly fit the washer splines, so before ordering another warranty inspection, I measured the splines on male and female sections and found them to be of different sizes by about 3/4 mm or more. Inside the bell, only the topmost inch of the splines are stripped out, which says that the bell wobbles on the metal axis. I had mentioned this to the repair man, but he didn't this this was an issue and said I was just overloading the washer, but in fact the previous servicer had mentioned I could prolong the life of the bell by reducing my load size and making sure my load to water ratio was accurate, which I did both of. I suspect that the machine side splines are damaged as they are coated in rust,...
