The neutral drain is a feature added to the later production models of the Whirlpool/Kenmore direct-drive top-loading washer to prevent the washer transmission from going into spin while the tub was still full of water. To accomplish this, Whirlpool jiggered a way of putting the transmission into neutral while the drain pump drained the water. Understanding this neutral drain feature has befuddled many Grasshoppers and Master Appliantologists alike. This post will hopefully demystify that for you.

First, a quick re-cap of the run cycles in the Whirlpool-built direct-drive top-loading washer:

1) Water fills tub

2) Agitation of items in tub

3) Rinse cycle begins by water pump draining water and tub spinning to wring out water (simultaneously)

4) The brake applies

5) Rinse continues by spin beginning again as water pours over the spinning laundry

6) Brake applies

7) Second rinse cycle begins by repeating the previous 6 steps, though the final spin is longer than the previous spins

Chef Master Appliantologist DADoESTX eruditely explains the operating sequence of the neutral drain:

To clarify, step 3 (drain) should not include spinning. The first batch of direct-drive machines produced in the early 1980s did a spin-drain ... but the transmission was redesigned to provide a neutral drain (NO spinning during drain) on all specimens produced from that point onward. Your machine should do a neutral drain, assuming it does not date from the early 1980s.

The operating sequence of neutral drain:

1) Agitation (of at least a couple minutes) during the wash (or deep rinse) presets the neutral drain mechanism in the transmission so that the next time the motor stops and restarts in the reverse direction, the transmission shifts to neutral (no agitation or spin).

2) Per normal cycle sequence, the motor pauses briefly after agitation, then restarts in reverse to drain the water.

3) After drain (2 to 4 mins depending on the model), the motor pauses and restarts again in the reverse direction, which releases the neutral drain mechanism and the transmission shifts to spin.

Jiggering the lid switch or opening/closing the lid during the #3 drain sequence has the same effect as a programmed pause in the timer, triggering spin to begin at that point.

If you don't jigger the switch or open/close the lid, does spin always commence after the 2nd timer pause? If so, then you don't have a problem. If not, then you do have a problem.

Lots of video teardown how-to help in the "part replacement" tab on this page ==> http://www.repaircli...ideo-Library/11

Source: Kenmore (Whirlpool) Mod. #110.23832100 Top Load Washer Won't Spin for Rinse Cycles