Whirlpool Washer Model LSR7233EQ0 clutch slipping

[willie2]

I recently repaired a water leak in my Whirlpool direct drive washer.  The new spin tube assembly came with a new clutch band and the instructions said to use the yellow brake spring (pre-installed) and the blue clutch spring.  There was a dark blue clutch spring and a blue/green clutch spring included with the clutch band.  The instructions referred to either a blue or a green spring.  Since the blue/green spring matched what was in the original assembly, I used that one.  The washer would not spin the basket during the spin cycle but if I helped it by rotating it with my hand with the lid switch depressed, it would spin correctly.

When I ordered the new spin tube, I didn't realize it came with a new clutch band so I ordered a complete clutch assembly.  I took the transmission out this evening and took the clutch band out and cleaned the pads and the drum with brake cleaner.  I then looked at the springs in the new clutch assembly and they were dark blue and green.  The green matched up in length with the OE spring but since the directions said to use the blue spring with my unit, I installed the blue spring that was included with the spin tube.  I put it back together and it made no difference.

The original clutch band had six pads and the replacements have only three.  The instructions state it is a direct replacement for the old six pad design but I am beginning to wonder.  How could half the pad area provide adequate friction unless the plastic compound was different?

I'm not sure why the original spring in the clutch band was the shorter length that matched up with the blue/green spring unless the change in spring length was due to the reduction in the number of pads.