Is it worth replacing my washer wigwag?

[doug]

Our washer shifts in and out of spin as it makes a clicking sound.
The technician that come and looked at it said that the wigwag (?) was bad and needed to be replaced.

He recommend that we buy a new washer because of the age of the washer. He then told us it would be around $200.00 to replace the wigwag.

The washer was in the house when we bought it so I have no idea just how old this washer is. I would guess maybe around ten years old.

The wife and I went to his shop today to look at some new washers and they start around $500 and go up from there.

So now we are thinking maybe its worth replacing this wigwag thing.

Do you think it's worth sticking $200 into a ten year old washer?
Should we just buy a new washer?

Model Number: LA7680XKW2

[theoldstoveguy]

89814 Is the part # and goes for a little over $40.00. They are FUN to change but you can do it with some patience. If you have any mechanical ability you can probably do this yourself. Is there more to it than the wig wag as $200.00 seems a little high, but depending on where you live could be about right.

[JWWebster]

How could it be 200 bucks when the solenoid/wig wag costs 25 bucks?
I know a secret you don't know. This washer has a motor which turns only in one direction. To get it to spin the wigwag mounted on the tranny going back and forth all the time shifts gears in the tranny. A shift fork mounted in that wigwag yanks up a shift rod which changes gears in the tranny to get it to open the pump and spin out. The lid switch ties into the solenoid. If the lid is opened the solenoid will drop out and spin will go away until the lid is closed. Those shift forks mounted inside the wigwag get rusty and won't slide up and down over time. If you remove them from the solenoid (wigwag) and sand them down with sandcloth smooth, then replace them, the machine will work perfect and you won't have to spend ANY money.

[Repair-man]

none of that matters when the rivet pins in the cam follower (not called shift fork) are bent, making it click in and out of gear.

Be sure and replace the cam followers and guides in the complete kit. It comes with good instructions and pictures.

89814 Kit


My trick to quickly removing the old followers is to squeeze the ears together with a pair of Channelloks so the rivet is exposed, then snip the head of the rivet off with your Dykes (sidecutters).