LG washer gasket replacement question

[Jillians]

LG WM2010CW Washer, I've read the previous post and ordered the inner & outer tub tool.  Replacement inner retaining ring arrived and raises a question.  How exactly should the tool be used to install the inner ring?  I don't want to punch a hole in the new gasket.

[RegUS_PatOff]

that Spring in the picture has one end broken off..

[Jillians]

I thought something was wrong with it.  I even ordered a replacement... which looked exactly the same.  One end of the inner retainer has a kind of a hook which is meant to catch the end of the spring.  There's a closed loop in the wire near the hook.  I'm thinking the specialty tool is used to bring the hook to the spring, possibly using the closed loop as an attachment point.  The question is, where does each end go?  There's a rounded tip and a more conical tip with a flat head. Gotta think there's a reason for that...  I'd rather not learn what it is by trial and error.  I'll be the girl who bought the special tool & still got 15 stitches replacing a gasket.

[RegUS_PatOff]

that Spring in the picture has one end broken off..

nervermind ...
I was thinking of the outer Spring / Clamp ..

The tool is used to spread the 2 circles of the Spring (not shown in your picture)

click on picture

[Jillians]

The outer tub tool fits neatly into the 2 spring ends of the outer ring and spreads them out when you squeeze the handle (the "reverse pliers" effect).  Also the outer ring is permanently attached at both spring ends


The inner ring is open.  The spring is permanently attached on one end, the other end is loose.  The inner tub tool closes when you squeeze the handle, so it should be used to bring the two ends of the inner retaining ring together.  Guessing the purpose of the small loop in the ring is for one end of the tool...




As I look at it, I'm going to guess that the fat rounded tip is for the small closed loop and the narrower tip is for the end of the spring.   So as the tool is squeezed, the wire "hook" should be brought close enough to the spring end to catch.  Gotta say, not the best design.  That wire hook thingy absolutely tore the hole in my gasket.  A variation of the outer ring would've been easier to work with.

[Jillians]

Ack.  Ok, I'm going to resize those images so the small loop shows in the picture.  And this is my rookie DIY logic... If I'm way off somebody please tell me.

[Jillians]

Ok, I'm glad I took the front panel off since it revealed some major issues.  One of the large springs which suspends the tub was unhooked and one of the shocks was pulled apart.  I suspect the spring has been off since the washer was delivered. So those issues addressed, seating the inner lip of the gasket was a small nightmare.  I'm not entirely sure which way we used the inner tub tool, but we used it & I'm glad I had it.