7MMVWC420BW0 Maytag Washer - Instructions

I used a nut driver to remove the screw that held the to part of the agitator onto the bottom part. I then took out the worn out directional cogs and replaced them with new ones and re-assembled the agitator and was back in business. The agitator now works the way it should. Easy fix. The only negative part of this experience was that the shipping was twice as expensive as what the parts cost. Very fast shipping from PARTS SELECT .

The repair was very simple. I removed the agitator cap with a small screw driver, removed the retainer screw with a socket set tool. I removed the top agitator, lifted the cam and removed the old worn directional cogs installed the new ones. I reassembled the agitator. All of 10 minutes.... Very easy

Fabric softener dispenser simply lifts off the top of the agitator. Then, a flat head screwdriver, tucked anywhere under the edge of the cap, lifts/pries it off. Then drop a 1/2" drive extension(no socket as it simply is the extension itself) into the plastic "nut" and remove it while holding onto bottom of agitator with your other hand. Lift it out, replace the cogs and reverse for reassembly. Total time less than 5 minutes, including shipping was $10.50 for cogs - repair #4 completed thanks to the fine folks at PartSelect! PS - part arrived at my door less than 24 hrs after ordering it even tho I requested 2-3 day shipping.

First I came to this web site and discovered some directions from other customers. I then followed those directions to disassemble the agitator. I removed the softener cup by pulling up on the blue plastic retention ring. I then used a flat head screwdriver to remove the plastic cap by placing the screwdriver into the slot on the side and prying it off. Next I used a 3/8 socket and extension to remove the bolt which holds the agitator to the shaft. After the bolt was removed I pulled up on the agitator and removed it from the washing machine. To remove the upper section of the agitator, I placed it on the ground and holding the base with my feet, I pulled on the upper section. I then removed the dog ears, verifyed the problem and ordered the parts (dog ears). The parts arrived in less time than promised, were installed in about 5 minutes and I was back to doing laundry. When you reassemble the agitator, turn it upside down to install the dog ears so they do not fall out.

Removed the agitator with a socket wrench and replaced cogs as directed in repair video.

very easy to repair , instructions very clear , parts person very good to talk to, parts got here fast

First I removed the pop off cap at the top of the spiral shaped top agitator. Then reach down inside and pry off another pop off water tight cap exposing a 7/16 or 1/2 inch nut. A deep socket would probably be easiest but I didn't have one so a nut driver and luck got it unthreaded- it was pretty tight and yoiu have to hold the agitator from spinning while you unthread. Then the upper agitator asslembly lifts out and the cog assembly falls apart but it's only like 3 or four housing pieces and it only goes together one way to hold the four new cogs in place. reassemble and the machine works great again

I took out the fabric softener dispenser, then pulled of the plastic plate. There is 1 big bolt that has to be unscrewed in there. After that gets unscrewed, the whole agitator will pull out of the washer. I put the agitator on the ground, stepped gently with both feet on th bottom (mostly flat part). then I pulled on the top cylinder part, and the 2 parts separated. There is a little disk in the cylinder part that pops out. remove the top and replace the cogs. then put the disk back together. Push the two big main parts of the agitator back together...snap the disk back in and put the whole agaitator back in your washer. pop it back into place and screw in the bolt.....DONE! I have to replace these cogs about 1ce a year...it costs me about $5 and 15 minutes...but it keeps my waher running great!

Very easy repair. Popped off the top cap on the agitator with a flat head screwdriver. Then took a half inch drive socket set with the extender and removed the assembly where the cogs were housed. Inserted new cogs, put it all back together and the thing agitates like new. Simple. Saved huge dollars.

disassembled two halves, cogs just sitting there, replaced, re-assembled

We took off softner cap and then took off the agitator with a nutdriver and then pulled the top off and the central agitator that the cogs were in pulled it out took the cogs out and replaced them with the new ones . Then we put the agitator back on and tightened the nut and replaced the softner cap and we were all done.

Removed the fabric cone from center of agitator pop out the plastic cover inside, remove bolt in center pull on agitator, remove cam holder and replace cams.
repeat process to re assemble

Could be done in place, but it's easier to pull the full agitator assembly out first, and work at a table. Remove the fabric softener dispenser, then the plastic cap below (with rubber o-ring)- both pull out by hand. Reverse the now visible bolt with an extended 7/16" socket and pull the cog housing up and out, gripping with gentle pressure with pliers ( locking plastic tabs make this piece impossible to remove by hand). Once the housing is removed it's easy to separate the two halves with your fingernails and replace the cogs. I was able to reassemble everything and push it back down into the drum in about two minutes. Piece of cake- I highly recommend anyone with a tool box do this himself.

With the help of a You Tube video, which was watched first, then when the parts were delivered, the video was watched again, then we played the video back and paused it after each section was done so we could make sure we were doing the repair correct. The one thing I will mention that the video doesn't mention to do is, before taking the agitator out of the washer, put a mark somewhere on the agitator to tell you which end is the top. Just remember that the top( cap ) will be off, so that will not work. Otherwise it was a good, easy fix

To replace the dogs that cause the ratcheting motion:

I removed the softener cup by pulling straight up. (You've probably found, as I have, that the softener cup and the bleach dispensers are problematic: the softener cup must be cleaned with every use or the old softener liquid turns to glue, and the bleach dispenser mechanism plugs and distributes bleach onto your next load, ruining entire loads of clothes.)

Then I lifted the cap covering the retaining bolt by inserting a screwdriver alongside in the square holes provided, loosening it, and lifting it out.

Then I used a socket and a very long extension to remove the retaining bolt. I lifted the agitator straight up.

The next step can be a problem: I survived it (though I did strain my back). What's required, as you can see by reading the preceding letters, is to lift sharply on the upper agitator while holding the lower agitator with your bare feet or some soft shoes. What this does, at least on my model, is to break off the tabs that are fused together over the ratcheting-dogs, which are the focus of the repair. (These tabs hold the upper and lower assemblies together, moving the dogs assembly with the lower agitator.) In my case, one of the tabs broke off a half inch below the top, but that wasn't catastrophic and I didn't lose the rest of them, so when I reassembled the two halves still snapped back together.

One problem was that when I jerked the two assemblies apart, the parts of the dogs assembly went flying. Everyone had said to make sure everything went back the same way it came apart--for me there was no way to tell what that way was, but common sense tells you which way to reinstall the new dogs; they have to catch every stroke.

To reassemble, position the dogs with the retainer cup inverted. Then hold them upside down while sliding the upper agitator down over them. This holds them in place. When sliding the upper agitator down onto the lower, make sure the slots line up and use a smooth even pressure. Snap the two halves together, bolt the agitator back into the machine, replace the cap with the large o-ring (make sure you clean and/or replace the o-ing), and reinstall the softener cup.

Et, voila! You're back in business.