kenmore washer will not spin/drain?

Mine did the same thing and I had trouble finding out what the problem was. I saw many postings in many places but none helped. Before mine stopped spinning it was making a banging noise at the end of the spin cycle. It made this noise for 5 or 6 months. Sounded like cards in the spokes of a bike but a lot louder. Here is the solution. The bad part was the drive block. The drive block is what holds the basket to the drive shaft. I found the part at Sears for $11.00. If you want to be sure that this is your problem, open the door and take out the agitator and you will see the metal shaft that drives the basket. In the center of the shaft on top there is a spline that drives the agitator. Just below that there is a spanner nut that holds the drive block on. Look at the top of the drive block, if there are pieces of metal ground up, then the top of your drive block is missing. Look at a picture of the drive block online. The top of the drive block should have a round lip with a key on both sides. The drive shaft has a little metal ears on both sides that go into the keys and this is what drives the basket. I looked around a few places and found the drive block picture at Sears.com. The whole top of my drive block had been ground up. Also I found some pictures online showing how to take it apart. You will have to take the top of the washer off and remove the basket to change this part. The spanner nut can be removed with a hammer and a small piece of scrap metal. I used a small piece of brass. Lefty loosie, righty-tighty.
Everything else can be removed with pliers, a screwdriver and an adjustable wrench or socket set. Take your time and you will be able to change the part in about an hour. I hope I have been able to help.

David Crow
September 2005