Older whirlpool with single piece agitator

[Shadow]

I've got an older Whirlpool top load washer model LA5700XKW0 that has served me well for many years.  Recently the agitator began slipping/skipping turns before it catches - right now it's an intermittent problem but I'm sure it's only going to worsen with time.  When I tried to look into it online all I was able to come up with was replacing the dogs on two part agitators - my whirlpool doesn't have a 2 part agitator.  I was able to get the top cap unscrewed and once it comes off the entire agitator lifts right out of the drum.

My mother previously owned this washer and says she thinks this happened before and the wigwag had to be replaced for fairly cheap.  I had a repairman here over my dishwasher and based on how it's acting (he didn't actually look at it) he seemed to think it was the transmission and wouldn't be worth fixing on such an old machine.

I know my washer is really old but a newer one isn't really in my budget right now if this is a potentially easy/cheap fix

[tgoods]

I think it's the transmission, too.  The complete transmission is no longer available and most of the internal parts are NLA too.  Whirlpool quit selling these in 1986. It has served you well.

[appdoc]

be sure and check the splines on the end of the trans shaft & inside the agitator. Sometimes u can find an old agitator laying around. If its the spline on the end of trans shaft cleaning it up with wire brush sometimes helps short of finding a used trans laying around, most of the old belt drives are long gone.

[Joebeef]

If you know what a wig wag looks like check the wires coming thru the top of it.....some times the wire that leads to the agitate and or spin coil wears from movement and will connect sometimes and sometimes not.  I've come across alot of them in the past.....they were good machines but I don't miss working on them.

[theoldstoveguy]

I can remember changing a few springs in those transmissions. That is what held it in the agitation mode. If it jumps as trying to agitate,hit the top of the agitator and see if it works. You should be able to find a spring for one.

[Earl Dryer]

Sounds like the wig wag is worn out. too much slop in the pins.