How to Remove the Agitator in an Estate Washer
Estate appliances are a low cost series of household helpers manufactured by Whirlpool. Estate offers two models of washers, a large 2.5 cubic foot capacity washer and a larger 3.2 cubic foot capacity model. Both of these washers use agitators to keep the laundry circulating in the wash tub. Unfortunately, sometimes these agitators break, or get laundry stuck underneath them. In that case, you'll have to remove the agitator in your Estate washer.
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Unplug the Estate washer from the outlet. Lift up the hood to expose the tub and agitator.
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Look at the top of the agitator. There will be a line running around the top where the agitator cap and the agitator meet. Take a screwdriver and gently pry it in between these two to pop the cap off the top of the agitator.
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Use the socket wrench to remove the bolt holding the agitator to the agitator hub.
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Reach underneath the agitator and get a firm grip. Turn your head to the side and away from over the washer tub. Pull firmly on the agitator to remove.
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If the agitator doesn't want to budge, don't panic. There are a few tricks you can try. First take a block of wood and hold it with one hand on top of the agitator hub. Tap this a few times with a hammer. Sometimes this can loosen a stuck agitator. Another thing to try is to run a wash cycle on the hottest setting. Allow the washer to fill up halfway, then stop the cycle. Hot water causes metal and other objects to expand.
References
Resources
Tips
- A good pair of work gloves will help you get a grip on a stubborn agitator.
Warnings
- The above steps are just a guideline. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions that came with your specific Estate model.
Writer Bio
Nathan McGinty started writing in 1995. He has a Bachelor of Science in communications from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Arts in international journalism from City University, London. He has worked in the technology industry for more than 20 years, in positions ranging from tech support to marketing.
Photo Credits
- dirty laundry image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
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