My older model Kenmore clothes washer is acting up. When the setting is
on "hot", and I pull the starting knob, water flows under normal
pressure into the tub. But when the do the same thing, except that the
setting is on "cold", the water flowing into the tub slows to a
trickle. The resulting mix is that there is a disproportionate amount
of hot water versus cold, so that if the setting is on "warm", the
water is actually hot, and the clothes start to shrink.

I have checked the recently replaced hoses and there are no kinks. The
problem appears to be in the cold water switching mechanism when I
start the water flow at the outset.

I would appreciate any diagnostic opinions and recommended solutions.

Thanks a lot.