Hi!

Why doesn't the automatic shut off switch work anymore?

There could be a few reasons for this. The little motor that runs the timer
unit itself is usually very reliable and will run for a long time. The most
common problem I've seen is dried up grease. Gears with broken teeth are a
close second. The gears may break if the grease is stiff (or gone!) and the
motor has enough torque to force and break them. Many times the little motor
just stalls from the extra load of the grease, or lacks the strength to push
the timer dial past some positions.

My grandmother had a Norge washing machine that was like that. It would run
normally to start out, but if you forgot it, it would stay in the spin cycle
all day long without someone to advance the timer past the "bad spot".

There is also the possibility that the contact points for the automatic shut
off feature are burned or out of adjustment.

William