Kenmore Washer Won't Spin

[moberkfell]

Washer stopped spinning on its own regularly about 2 years ago.  Timing works fine but when it gets to the spin cycle you used to be able to hear the motor but it wouldn't always spin by itself.  You could coax it into spinning and often it would get up to speed, finish the cycle and it would be fine.  Now, it doesn't spin at all and when you try to coax it into spinning it takes super human strength and makes a loud screeching noise, and it will not spin once you stop trying to make it (unlike before where trying to make it spin would get it spinning).
I've read several other posts suggesting it may be a coupler or pawl, but I'm looking for suggestions regarding which to check out first and if the series of symptoms over time listed above point to something different?  Help?!

Model 110.24642300

[JWWebster]

That sounds to me like the brake cam actuator is not releasing the basket.
Click on pic to enlarge. AJ's awesome direct drive service manual

[moberkfell]

Hmm, ok so it's just now not releasing it?  Before I could hand spin it a few times when it got to the spin cycle and basically convince it to continue spinning and usually it would, I'd be able to hear the motor running too.  Now it just makes the awful noise and won't spin at all?  The brake cam actuator looks an awful lot like the spin pawl, is it different?  Or am I just mis-reading the picture with the arrows?

[JWWebster]

The spin pawl is under the main drive gear inside the tranny. The brake cam actuator is mounted below the basket drive and it releases the brake so that the tub can spin. With the tranny out you can grab that dude and twist it to release the brake and the tub should spin easily.