I have an very old Kenmore top loader which after 20+ years still does
a great job. Over the years I've personally replaced the automatic
timer and the pump when they failed. However, lately I've noticed
large oil stains on my clothes after they have been washed. The
stains are not black and aren't noticeable until the garments are
dry. The oily stains are most conspicuous on dark colors. Other
posters in this forum have reported that, upon removal of the agitator
assembly, they found an oily goop on the agitator shaft . Cleaning
this gunk off the shaft seems to have resolved the greasy stain
problem.

Can someone please provide instructions on how to remove the agitator
from this machine. Do I need any special tools? Thank you.

Baylynx wrote:
I have an very old Kenmore top loader which after 20+ years still does
a great job. Over the years I've personally replaced the automatic
timer and the pump when they failed. However, lately I've noticed
large oil stains on my clothes after they have been washed. The
stains are not black and aren't noticeable until the garments are
dry. The oily stains are most conspicuous on dark colors. Other
posters in this forum have reported that, upon removal of the agitator
assembly, they found an oily goop on the agitator shaft . Cleaning
this gunk off the shaft seems to have resolved the greasy stain
problem.

Can someone please provide instructions on how to remove the agitator
from this machine. Do I need any special tools? Thank you.

Agitator itself just slides on splined shaft. At that age it's
undoubtedly "growed" on there and isn't going to be easy to pull in all
likelihood. Brute force and awkwardness are about the only tools as
it's rarely possible to get any leverage in any place that will do any
good and the edge of the agitator itself away from the center is
generally to weak to use as a pry point, anyway.

Some have a removable cap at the top that can either be unscrewed or
pried out depending on the make/model -- if so, you can sometimes from
that point actually see the splined shaft and get some solvent down
there to help.

Unfortunately, ime, the "goop" has always signified a transmission shaft
seal failure and nothing less than replacing that seal will solve the
problem...

--

On 18 Jul, 17:53, Baylynx wrote:

"I have an very old Kenmore top loader which after 20+ years still
does a great job."

You mean it still does a great job other than leaving large oily
stains on your clothes. What would you consider a lousy job?

Anyway, even though you did not provide a model number, here's a
generic suggestion for older Kenmores:

Remove the top cap on the agitator (probably screws off)
Remove the large nut under the cap
Pull the agitator straight up.

P.S. I've heard rumors of a set screw on the agitator, but I never had
one on either of my Kenmores.

P.P.S. get rid of you 20 YO machine and buy a front loader - Less
water, less detergent, less dry time (meaning less gas or electric
usage), gentler on clothes, etc. etc.

Sometimes the top center has a thread off cap that reveals a
couple screws. Other times the entire agiator just pulls straight
up.

Kenmore (sears) is very good about parts diagrams and parts lists
on the net. I'd suggest check the Sears web site for a parts
diagram, that might have more information.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"Baylynx" wrote in message
oups.com...
: I have an very old Kenmore top loader which after 20+ years
still does
: a great job. Over the years I've personally replaced the
automatic
: timer and the pump when they failed. However, lately I've
noticed
: large oil stains on my clothes after they have been washed.
The
: stains are not black and aren't noticeable until the garments
are
: dry. The oily stains are most conspicuous on dark colors.
Other
: posters in this forum have reported that, upon removal of the
agitator
: assembly, they found an oily goop on the agitator shaft .
Cleaning
: this gunk off the shaft seems to have resolved the greasy stain
: problem.
:
: Can someone please provide instructions on how to remove the
agitator
: from this machine. Do I need any special tools? Thank you.
:

On Jul 18, 4:53 pm, Baylynx wrote:
I have an very old Kenmore top loader which after 20+ years still does
a great job. Over the years I've personally replaced the automatic
timer and the pump when they failed. However, lately I've noticed
large oil stains on my clothes after they have been washed. The
stains are not black and aren't noticeable until the garments are
dry. The oily stains are most conspicuous on dark colors. Other
posters in this forum have reported that, upon removal of the agitator
assembly, they found an oily goop on the agitator shaft . Cleaning
this gunk off the shaft seems to have resolved the greasy stain
problem.

Can someone please provide instructions on how to remove the agitator
from this machine. Do I need any special tools? Thank you.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've got a Kenmore that was built in 1994, so it may or may not be the
same as yours. I have a cap that pries off the agitator -- you can
just barely see a line, but it's there. When the cap is off, then
looking down in, there is a nut/washer combination that unscrews.
With the nut off, I can just pull up on the agitator and it will come
right out. I think the first time it stuck a bit, but not too badly.

HTH,
Mark

DerbyDad03 wrote:

P.P.S. get rid of you 20 YO machine and buy a front loader - Less
water, less detergent, less dry time (meaning less gas or electric
usage), gentler on clothes, etc. etc.

My 7 yr old Kenmore front loader model 417 just locked
up. Bad main seal and bearing after only 7 years!

On Jul 19, 9:10 am, Mark Sparge wrote:
On Jul 18, 4:53 pm, Baylynx wrote:

I have an very old Kenmore top loader which after 20+ years still does
a great job. Over the years I've personally replaced the automatic
timer and the pump when they failed. However, lately I've noticed
large oil stains on my clothes after they have been washed. The
stains are not black and aren't noticeable until the garments are
dry. The oily stains are most conspicuous on dark colors. Other
posters in this forum have reported that, upon removal of the agitator
assembly, they found an oily goop on the agitator shaft . Cleaning
this gunk off the shaft seems to have resolved the greasy stain
problem.

Can someone please provide instructions on how to remove the agitator
from this machine. Do I need any special tools? Thank you.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------*--------
I've got a Kenmore that was built in 1994, so it may or may not be the
same as yours. I have a cap that pries off the agitator -- you can
just barely see a line, but it's there. When the cap is off, then
looking down in, there is a nut/washer combination that unscrews.
With the nut off, I can just pull up on the agitator and it will come
right out. I think the first time it stuck a bit, but not too badly.

HTH,
Mark

Got it off by unscrewing the cap first, then the agitator just pulled
out... just as suggested. There was definitely two types of gunk on
the shaft. Near the top of the shaft there was a waxy ball of crud.
Down at the bottom of the shaft there was black grease oozing out. I
cleaned them both and reassembled. The washer still works, but that
black grease probably means that the transmission seal has failed and
its days are numbered. I'm not fond of front loader washers, so I'll
probably shop around for another top loader.

Baylynx wrote:

I'm not fond of front loader washers, so I'll
probably shop around for another top loader.

which brand/model top loader you think you will get?