What kind of gluing material will take the stress? The new agitator is almost $100 shipped, so I am trying to come up with alternative. This is white flexible rubber/plasticky thin material. I already tried super glue but that is not doing it.
Washer agitator fins cracked; can they be repaired
- Thread starter Vikas
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2-part epoxy?
**Nothing** will fix that. That portion of the agitator is DESIGNED to flex, according to the load of clothes.
The only thing you could **could do is cut the fin off there, and sand it smooth using 1000 grit sand paper. MUST BE SMOOTH, NO JAGGED EDGES, ROUNDED CORNERS.
The agitator, it is CRITICAL that you not wash clothes with it like that, clothing damage probability is HIGH.
The only thing you could **could do is cut the fin off there, and sand it smooth using 1000 grit sand paper. MUST BE SMOOTH, NO JAGGED EDGES, ROUNDED CORNERS.
The agitator, it is CRITICAL that you not wash clothes with it like that, clothing damage probability is HIGH.
scour craigslist for a junk washer?
or even appliance junkyard?
or even appliance junkyard?
Man, with the back and forth action and the weight of the wet clothes, i'm not sure anything short of a new agitator will work.
If staying on the cheap, i'd break it all the way off, sand/buff the edges smooth and see if it will still work okay. I think with a fin missing, the spin cycle might be unbalanced. but you never know.
Another thought would be a plastic sandwich of two pieces of plastic on each side of the broken fin, cut to the same shape perhaps attached with some type of silcone?
If staying on the cheap, i'd break it all the way off, sand/buff the edges smooth and see if it will still work okay. I think with a fin missing, the spin cycle might be unbalanced. but you never know.
Another thought would be a plastic sandwich of two pieces of plastic on each side of the broken fin, cut to the same shape perhaps attached with some type of silcone?
New agitator. Or new machine. Agitator machines are history. Not sold anymore. Front loaders are easier on your clothes.
^Not a big front-loader fan, they can get moldy & are very expensive to repair, and they don't last as long as an agitator machine. I've had Kenmore top loader washers make it to 25+ years old in the past, only a transmission failure seems to kill them. Up to 10 years of heavy use on the current one, no trouble so far.
You could try coating it with RTV. That way it'll stay flexible and cover up the jagged torn plastic. I have no idea how durable it will be though.
edit: grammar
edit: grammar
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Originally Posted By: Donald
New agitator. Or new machine. Agitator machines are history. Not sold anymore. Front loaders are easier on your clothes.
I had 1 front loader a top of the line Whirlpool ran great for a week then it got a new tub, then other parts then more parts then even more parts until I called the Whirlpool factory and had them buy the machine back from me. Now I have a Speed Queen agitator model that has worked perfectly for 5 years.
New agitator. Or new machine. Agitator machines are history. Not sold anymore. Front loaders are easier on your clothes.
I had 1 front loader a top of the line Whirlpool ran great for a week then it got a new tub, then other parts then more parts then even more parts until I called the Whirlpool factory and had them buy the machine back from me. Now I have a Speed Queen agitator model that has worked perfectly for 5 years.
Gorilla tape is water proof and flexible. Drill a hole to stop the crack. Clean, maybe sand the area. Carefully apply the tape to both sides. Much more than that will likely cause balance trouble. I like the ? front loader The trick is to clean out the bottom of the door seal and to leave the door ajar when not in use. I did 2 loads of clothes to day. They're drying on hangers and a rack.
In their heyday, Kenmore appliances were re-badged Whirlpools. I paid 200 for the set that was in the the house when we bought it. When stuff broke, I paid 17$ for a manual and a few bucks for whatever broke. Washers and dryers are pretty cool. They are hand assembled and therefore have been "idiot proofed" for ease of assembly. Realizing this, and armed with a repair manual. I kept that beast running until the the twins were born 12 yrs later. Electric dryers are even easier because they don't use water.
In their heyday, Kenmore appliances were re-badged Whirlpools. I paid 200 for the set that was in the the house when we bought it. When stuff broke, I paid 17$ for a manual and a few bucks for whatever broke. Washers and dryers are pretty cool. They are hand assembled and therefore have been "idiot proofed" for ease of assembly. Realizing this, and armed with a repair manual. I kept that beast running until the the twins were born 12 yrs later. Electric dryers are even easier because they don't use water.
Plastic Welding will fix that. You must remove the part but it can be fixed.....
Speed Queen rules the roost IMHO...
With so little surface area to bond together, no glue will hold for long without making a "plastic sandwich" as spasm3 suggested. Use thin flexible plastic and leave a large area on either side of the crack. Make sure to use a waterproof and flexible glue/sealant. Someone suggested silicone which would probably work well. Clamp it all together and let it thoroughly dry. Once that's done I'd reinforce the whole thing with a couple of little nylon nuts with washers on either side of the crack.
I don't think this would upset the balance too much. A washer is used to spinning heavy loads of wadded up clothes. An ounce or two won't make much difference especially close to the center of the drum.
I don't think this would upset the balance too much. A washer is used to spinning heavy loads of wadded up clothes. An ounce or two won't make much difference especially close to the center of the drum.
I would spend $100 and buy a new agitator and replace it.
The agitator is humongous. The last option is indeed to replace the agitator but I am game to try various alternatives before reaching there.
As many of you have pointed out, that portion is designed to flex and subjected lot of stress going back and forth. I mean if you wanted to break something, this is how you break i.e. by flexing it back and forth!
I am wondering if any auto bumper skin repair chemicals could handle this but I am skeptical.
Guys who are providing suggestions, please name the products which has a chance to work. I can try few before ordering new agitator.
As many of you have pointed out, that portion is designed to flex and subjected lot of stress going back and forth. I mean if you wanted to break something, this is how you break i.e. by flexing it back and forth!
I am wondering if any auto bumper skin repair chemicals could handle this but I am skeptical.
Guys who are providing suggestions, please name the products which has a chance to work. I can try few before ordering new agitator.
Originally Posted By: Vikas
I can try few before ordering new agitator.
Just don't spend much trying to fix it, that can go toward the new part.
I can try few before ordering new agitator.
Just don't spend much trying to fix it, that can go toward the new part.
I do this with Plastic rubbish barrels. Drill a series of parallel holes on both sides. Back a bit. Think shoe eyelets. Lace the split together. Drill them though the gorilla tape. A taslan shoe lace would probably work fine.
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