Do-It-Yourself Story

The machine stopped working with a bang. There were chunks of large metal at the bottom. The drive plate had rusted through. My first step was to put a rag in the tub drain hole and save the pump. Except for grinding/chiseling off a frozen-corroded-rusty solid mass. The repair was rather easy. A couple of channel lock wrenches and a hammer didn't budge it. A monkey wrench will just round it off. You need that 1 11/6" wrench. The spindle nut was really stuck on there for my 14+ yo washer. I soaked it with penetrant for several days while waiting for the parts. Using a drill and cut-off wheel (wearing mask and glasses of course) cut four slits through the nut and then chisel it off clockwise in the direction of loosening. It will come out in pieces. You have to be very careful to avoid grinding too close to the drive spindle. Try to cut where the flat sides are. Stay on the safe side. After it's out, spray down the metal parts with WD-40 and wipe them off. Use a dental pick to clean the threads. Vacuum out the dust and wipe everything down with damp paper towels until it's very clean. It might be prudent to remove and clear out the water pump if any metal chunks got into it. Also, clean the inlet screen to get full water flow. Run a fill/spin cycle of hot water to rinse out the WD-40 and remaining contaminants. That odd-sized 1 11/16" wrench for the hub nut is almost impossible to find anywhere...except for local plumbing specialty stores which were closed..so I had to make my own tool from a couple of thin 3-way laundry wrenches from a box store. What a pain. I would suggest buying all the 'recommended' parts that go with the job. They are probably damaged as well and need replacing. Don't cheap out when for a few bucks more the result will be perfect and the machine will last so much longer.