Maytag A810 washing machine won't agitate; tub fills and spin cycle works fine

[BigChiefNocaHoma]

My dear old Maytag A810 washing machine (yes, it is 37 years old now...) won't agitate.  Tub fills with water fine; spin cycle works fine; draining fine... The only thing it won't do is agitate.  I immediately feared a bad transmission... I read a recent post in the forum from someone who was having the same problem with his A810, and someone suggested "with the belts off, turn the trans pulley counter clockwise.  If it will not turn you have a bad transmission."  I removed the belts, and the pulley moves just fine in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions.  Any other suggestions about why it won't agitate?  I have repaired this machine myself many times, and it just keeps on chuggin' along and washes my clothes like a dream (which is why I haven't gotten rid of it even though everyone keeps telling me I'm crazy).

[sh2sh2]

Is the motor running when it should be agitating?

[Budget Appliance Repair]

If the motor runs when it should be agitating but the agitator isn't going back and forth and when you turn the pulley by hand in the agitate direction and it isn't locked up/turns free but the agitator still doesn't move then most likely you have a transmission problem or if you're lucky the agitator has stripped it splines out, (I've never seen a Dependable Care Maytag strip the agitator splines out).

The agitator pinion gear pin could have sheared off but if that has happened there is a possibility that the agitator shaft is bound up in the upper transmission housing.    Can you spin the agitator freely in both direction?   If, YES, then the Groove Pin that holds the agitator pinion gear to the agitator output shaft has just sheared and you may be able to rebuild the transmission yourself it you are a really hands on mechanical person.

Part number: 210183

Shows the Groove Pin is No Longer Available, (Size: 1/4" Dia. x 1-1/4" Long), but you could probably find a suitable replacement at well stocked hardware store.  Found one place that might have five in stock if you happen to need the pin. http://www.appliancepartscompany.com  4th Ave. store, These two places also show many still in stock - http://www.foxatlanta.com/ , http://www.foxatlanta.com/

Ref# 11 in this picture:

[BigChiefNocaHoma]

Thank you both for your replies!  No, the motor does NOT run when it should be agitating. All I hear is the timer "ticking" when it should be agitating.  And no, I cannot move the agitator at all from inside the tub.  I pulled the agitator off and the splines look fine on the pin and inside the agitator itself.  Any additional thoughts?  Does it sound like the transmission is indeed kaput?

[BigChiefNocaHoma]

(sorry...didn't finish my thoughts before I posted...)  Do you think it could be a timer/control issue?

 

[sh2sh2]

If the motor is not running its not a trans problem, try pushing the timer knob up and down and side to side when it should be agitating 

[Captain Dunsel]

This is just a thought on these older washer make sure on that speed control button switch   you have a push the button in and is not in between a selection. 

[BigChiefNocaHoma]

I tried pushing the timer knob up and down and side to side when the machine should be agitating...no luck... I also made sure that the speed control button was pushed down firmly and that it wasn't in between a selection.  I also looked under the control panel to make sure all the wire connections were firmly in place and hadn't somehow been jiggled loose, and they were all firmly attached.  So...are we thinking it's a bad timer or timer motor?  Or maybe a burned out connector(s) for the wire(s) that initiate the agitator?  Thank you all again very much for your wisdom and help!

[sh2sh2]

Could be any of the above, need a meter and wiring diagram to confirm 

[Budget Appliance Repair]

If spin works, it's not a motor problem - it uses the same wiring just reverses line and neutral thru the timer contacts to change start direction.

It's not the timer motor if the unit advances from one cycle to the other but just doesn't run the motor during the agitate portion of cycle.

It pretty much has to be a bad speed control switch or timer.  You would have to look at the wiring diagram and use your meter to check/eliminate the speed control switch.   If it checks good that pretty much leaves the timer being bad which would be a much more common problem with a washer of this age.