drive tube seal

[grizzly]

The guy at the parts store said whenever you take the drive tube out of the tub you should replace the seal (Kenmore 110.27802690) since disturbing it may cause it to not seal correctly when you push the tube back up into the tub and therefore leak. Long story short, he was right and only way I could stop the leak was with a new tub seal. Is there any trick to re using these seals so you don't have to buy a new one every time you take the drive tube out?

Also, if you just leave the whole drive tube/brake assembly in the bottom of the tub support thing, and only remove the transmission, it won't reqiure a new seal then would it, since the drive tube would have stayed in place?

[Scottthewolf]

You are correct. I never take the spin tube out of the tub. I have never had to remove one before, they rarely if ever go bad.

[Jedi Appliance Guy]

I haven't had to replace one in years but I always keep one on the truck cause when you need one you need it now.

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

This is true for most liquid gasket seals-- they don't like being disturbed once they've taken a set because removing it distorts it and they can't re-conform to the surface to make a seal. Same deal with transmission covers in cars: always replace gasket.

Given how inexpensive these gaskets are, I'm wondering why you wouldn't just replace it and not think twice about it?

[That Guy]

I've seen several of these seals just rot away. I'm guessing that the customer is washing clothes that have a lot of grease or petroleum products in them. In any case years ago (about 15 years) I had to fix a washer and I didn't have the new seal, so I used Permatex form-a-gasket to seal it. It worked, an even better idea is to have the gasket in your parts box. I think they are $5 or 6 , pretty cheap really for peace of mind.