3DWTW4840YW1 Whirlpool Washer - Instructions

Washer stopped agitating. I removed the clothes softener cup on top of the agitator by grasping and pulling up, inside the agitator I removed the inner plastic cap by grasping the 2 finger tabs and pulling up. There was a plastic retainer assembly with spring instead of the 7/16 nut referred to in other posts. I used a long 1/2" ratchet extension to remove the plastic retainer assembly, removed the top half of the agitator and replaced the cogs, then replaced the agitator, plastic retainer assembly with spring, snapped the plastic cap back on, and replace the clothes softener cup.

First I popped off the very top cap of the agitator. I then used a socket extension to access the mounting bolt in the interior of the agitator. Once the bolt was loose i pulled the agitator off and dropped out the middle piece. With this out i switched the 4 cogs with the old. I then held the agitator assembly upside down and placed the middle piece back in. The most difficult part was aligning the agitator back onto the bottom part. Screw it back in place and pop the top back on.

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.

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

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

Replaced hinge switch. Still no spin cycle. Noticed hinge bearing cracked & if hinge forced into switch, spin activated. Ordered new hinge bearings.Spin cycle still didn't engage. On further examination, observed that hinge was bent. Straightened hinge & worked like a charm. Didn't really need new switch or bearings. NOTE : Avoid having washer door bang shut.Took longer than expected, but each procedure was simple.

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.

We ordered the dog Agit clutch and within a few minutes I had a new washer. It started agitating a lot faster.

remove top of adigator and remove bolt. remove plastic clip and cogs.replace in reverse order.

The video posted on this site will walk you right through the repair. Great service. Thanks!

Replaced the suspension rods

Removed agitator according to instructions, although upper and lower agitator did not want to separate. I used a steel rod and hammer to separate them by hitting lower agitator where bolt goes through. After removing and replacing old cogs, cog holder had to be tipped upside down to insert in agitator. I used a small dap of toothpaste to hold retainer in place while I inserted it in agitator. Works great now.

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

Exactly like the video from the website