This is fixable. It happened to me around 3 months ago, then my aunt. The guy at the part place said it's a common problem. It's a do-it-yourself job, may need a helper because of the awkwardness..or you be the helper. Anyway, the part cost was under $15. at Sears or you can order it online. It's hard to explain in words..but here is what most likely is the problem, then go to www.repairclinic.com, enter your machine model and name and the problem. The site willgive you a good diagram and tell you the part you need and you can order it there too.(We have a Sears parts warehouse in town, so it was faster and $3 cheaper for me to buy it)
Visualize 2 shafts..one goes in the motor and one goes in the transmission. When the motor runs the shaft turns, then it turns the other shaft so that the transmission can run. They are linked with 2 pieces of hard plastic/rubber gears. The motor shaft goes in one gear, it links to the other gear which has the other shaft in it and it goes into the transmission which turn the basin to spin.
Over time and overloading one, or both of those gears break.
You loosen the bolts that hold the motor, then pull on it, slide the broken gear off the shaft and slide the new gear on.
My neighbor, my aunt, the neighbor, the part guy and I only had to replace the first gear, so feel them both and only remove the broken one and replace it.
THIS SOUND COMPLICATED,BUT IT REALLY ISN'T. When you go to that www.repairclinic.com you'll see. This will all be clear when you actually go under the machine and look and feel behind the motor.
The hardest part was that I took apart the frame on my washer and had a heckuva time putting it back together.
Found out that the frame was supposed to just lift up OVER the washer as a whole.
Good luck..
Loretta
December 2006
howtomendit.com for free repair help, information and advice.
Try fixfault.com to fix washing machines.