3LWTW4840YW1 Whirlpool Washer - Instructions

Took off softner dispenser, took off bolt cover. Used 7/16 socket with long extension and unscrewed bolt. Pulled up on agitator and out it came. Took out directional cogs and replaced with new. Reversed procedure and I was done. Saved a lot of money by not calling a mobile repair man on this one!

Removed fabric softener dispenser. Inserted screwdriver into slot on side of cover that is on agitator and pried off. Used socket extension to unscrew bolt inside agitator. Lifted out and slid off plastic ring holding agitator cogs . Replaced cogs in the same direction they came out. Since these instructions were here on site at the time I ordered the parts, it made the job very simple and fast...the order came very fast too.

First take the top cover off, second using socket to turn the nut loose at the center, then removing the plastic holder which has four directional cogs in it, replacing them with new one.

basically pop off the top spindle cover, reach in and pull off the water cap from the agitator cog cover, unscrew the bolt holding the cog holder and pull the agittator assembly up and off the machine. Remove the piece holding the gogs in place and replace cogs making sure to put them back in the same direction as they came out. Turn the agitator upside down and stick the piece holding the cogs in and snap it in. Replace all components in reverse order they were removed, and there you are. Works great.

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.

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.

I just took the bolt out of the top of the agitator which allowed me to pull the agitator straight up. Then I turned it over so the sleeve that the cogs go into could fall out. I took the old cogs out, put the new cogs in, held it upside down and lowered the agitator down onto as to not move the cogs. When it was all situated correctly I held it by the bolt as I turned it upright. Then I just lowered it back down in place inside the drum and tightened the bolt back down. Done.
The washer works just like new.

Took the cap off the agitator, loosened the nut with a wrench, and pulled the agitator out. The agitator pulled apart easily, revealing the piece containing the dog ears, which were clearly worn out. Simply replaced the dog ears and reinstalled the agitator. Piece of cake!

Followed video on your web site, and used that for ways to fix, good directions. If I was more organized it prob would of taken about an hour or less

Part ordered was incorrect even though your website said that it was correct when I ordered it. Part sent back. Have since bought a new washer. Your contact person to return part was very helpful.

removed the agitator and melted the retaining clips to loosen the retainer cover for the cogs. went simple after that.