To note: Whenever fixing a washer you should buy a 1+11/16th" wrench from a specialty appliance store.
The tool is difficult to find.
It is an odd spec. Bigger than 1 5/8" but smaller than 1 3/4". Neither will work. Trust me on that.
I spent three days going to every local box store, every auto supply, Ace, and talking to many people who did not know.
Getting this tool was not possible in time so I made it myself.
So...
One day the 14yo washer made a bad sound and didn't work anymore.
The agitator plate drive (or whatever it's called) had rusted through.
Buy a new washer?
New washer appliances have gone from $400-$600 to $700-$1000 even for basic models.
For $100 in parts and $25 in tools I think I made out okay.
Stuff a rag in the drain hole to the expeller pump first.
Try to remove the rounded-out nut, which someone had tried to work on many years before but stripped out.
No luck there.
First I tried to dremel a few slits and knock it sideways with a chisel using the side of the hammer.
No luck there either. The chisel got 1/8" in and popped to the surface.
I broke out the cut-off wheel and went into full destrucko mode. Fk it.That worked finally.
I got the parts from
https://www.appliancepartspros.com/ Great site. Diagrams and full installation videos.
A few bucks more for expedited. Parts arrived early or on time.
They 'recommended' a washer and the split-bearing which I am thankful for.
Those were trashed.
They did not 'recommend' the installation tool nor the 7/16 bolt which has arubber seal.
I used a little bit of Teflon thread paste to help that seal.
Spray everything down with WD-40. Wipe clean. Stay clean.
Use a dental pick to clean the threads.
Everything looks good so far...
How to tighten that drive spindle-to-tub nut to 30-50 ft/lbs?
(please reference the beginning of this post)
I had to make my own tool.....
Dark magic was involved.
The tool worked perfectly.
I added welds to the center of the flats and filed them down.
It only took may hours.
Started it up tonight and ran a small load.
Works even better than before. There is almost no vibration at all on final spin and when stopping to a halt.
Job done.