Do-It-Yourself Story

After viewing the repair video several times, I chose to replace the tub mounting stem and tub bearing, since it would be apart anyway. I ordered the parts and they arrived in 2 days. The first challenge was to remove (lift) the agitator out, it is a friction fit (no set screw). After attempting to pull it up by hand (clean and jerk). I ended up using 4 - 24" bar clamps, hooking the end under the agitator's lip (halfway down from the top) and the handle end on a 2x4 that spanned across the top of the washer tightening each clamp successively to lift it out. Next, I had to use a cold chisel to cut the spanner nut, as it was corroded, and once loose, I used the spanner wrench to remove it. After the inner tub was removed, the mounting stem wouldn't budge using the spanner wrench, so I soaked the inside with P-B Blaster overnight. No avail. I then sprayed more Blaster and used a heat gun to try to expand the mounting stem. The Blaster ended up boiling and after several times it started to soak in. Finally, I used a cold chisel to break it loose (hitting it from the side in one of the notches) and finished removal using the spanner wrench. Removed the outer tub and knocked the old bearing out. I found some rust in the tub that we cleaned and sprayed rust converter on. Found a hole that leaked (after completely reinstalling!, I will say that it was a breeze to take it back apart!!) that was repaired with J-B Weld epoxy (24-hour cure). With everything reassembled and after several test runs that had leaks due to rust along the rim of the outer tub where the headcover fits in, I ended up sealing with silicone where it joins, then placed the rubber gasket back in and clamped it. No runs, no drips, …!