If your Whirlpool washing machine clicks and you don’t know what to do, don’t fret. In this detailed guide, we’ll be giving you steps on how to handle this situation…
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Whirlpool Washing Machine Clicks But Does Not Spin — Solved
If your Whirlpool washing machine clicks but does not spin, here are the problems to look for…
1. Damaged Clutch Slider Gear (Top Loaders Only)
To replace the clutch slider gear in your top loader Whirlpool washing machine, follow the steps below…
Step 1. Prevent electrical damage and water leaks by disconnecting the machine from the outlet and turning the taps off before starting this repair.
Step 2. Disconnect the COLD and HOT water supply hoses from the ports at the back of the machine (make sure to keep a rag nearby to clean any leaks).
Step 3. With a pair of pliers, squeeze the spring clamp holding the drain hose to the port at the back of the cabinet, then slide it out of place. Pull the hose off the port.
Step 4. Move the appliance forwards a bit. With the help of another person, carefully tip the appliance backwards and set it on the floor.
Step 5. Push a small flat-blade screwdriver into one of the inner holes on the rotor assembly. With a T-30 Torx bit, take out the bolt holding the rotor to the bottom of the tub.
Step 6. To release the spring gear retainer, insert a small awl between the teeth of the slider gear. Pull the spring and slider gear off the shaft, then discard them.
Step 7. Take your new clutch slider gear assembly out of the packaging. Push the slider gear onto the drive shaft (ensure that the teeth of the gear face outwards).
Step 8. Place the new spring on the slider gear, then secure it by snapping the retainer in place.
Step 9. Snap the rotor assembly on the stator, then secure it by applying the screw using your T-30 Torx bit.
Step 10. Carefully lift the washing machine back onto its feet. Reconnect the main drain hose to the port at the back of the cabinet, then slide the retaining clamp in place to secure it.
Step 11. Reattach the COLD and HOT water hoses to the ports on the appliance (make sure both hoses are properly secured in order to prevent any chances of water leakage).
Step 12. Turn the water taps back on, then plug the washing machine into the electrical outlet. To see if the issue has been fixed, try running a spin cycle.
Check out these other articles…
Whirlpool Washing Machine Filter [Issues & Solutions]
Whirlpool Washing Machine Is Not Working [How To Fix]
Whirlpool Washing Machine Leaking [Proven Solutions]
Whirlpool Washing Machine Won’t Start [How To Fix]
Whirlpool Washing Machine Stuck [Proven Solutions]
2. Item Stuck Between Drums (Front Loaders)
A piece of clothing stuck between the inner drum and outer drum can prevent your washer from spinning. Try rotating the drum by hand; if you notice a lot of resistance, an item of clothing may be stuck.
Get a flashlight and check the edge of the inner tub for any big gaps. To get more leverage, wedge flat-blade screwdriver into the gap between the inner and outer tub. Use a pair of needle-nosed pliers to try pulling out the stuck piece of clothing.
If you can’t reach the clothing with your pliers, you’ll need to separate the inner tub from the outer tub. The steps below show you how to do this…
Step 1. Prevent electrocution and water leaks by turning the water faucets off and unplugging the power cord from the outlet before starting this repair.
Step 2. Go to the back of your appliance, then loosen the screws holding the top cover using a 1/4 inch socket. Slide the panel backwards a few inches, then lift it off the cabinet.
Step 3. Loosen all the screws holding the rear access panel to the cabinet using a 1/4 inch socket. Lift the panel off the cabinet, then set it aside.
Step 4. Use your nut-driver to take out the screw holding the upper and lower rear braces to the back of the cabinet. Take the braces off the machine and set them aside.
Step 5. Go to the front of the appliance, then slide the soap tray out. Press the tab in the tray to completely release it from the dispenser.
Step 6. With a Torx screwdriver, take out the screw next to the dispenser opening. Open the door of the machine.
Step 7. Insert a small flat-blade screwdriver into the gap under the control panel. Pry the panel off the front of the cabinet.
Step 8. Unplug the control panel’s wire connector from the main control board. Release the control panel wire from the retaining brackets at the side of the cabinet.
Step 9. Fully detach the control panel assembly from the cabinet, then set it aside. With a Torx screwdriver, loosen the bolts holding the door switch wire connector to the front panel.
Step 10. Wedge a flat-blade screwdriver underneath the retaining wire securing the door boot seal, then work it around until the retainer pops off (take care not to damage the door gasket).
Step 11. Peel the door gasket off the front panel. Using your screwdriver, take out the nuts holding the lower front access panel. Pry the plate off the cabinet and set it aside.
Step 12. Loosen the screws at the bottom and top of the main front panel (make sure to support the panel by hand). Lift the front panel upwards, then detach it from the cabinet.
Step 13. Pull the window washer tube and water inlet tube off the ports at the top of the door boot seal.
Step 14. Using your nut-driver, loosen the bolts holding the top frame brace to the cabinet. Lift the frame, then pull the window washer tube out of the retainer.
Step 15. Pull the dispenser hose off the port at the top of the tub. With a 7mm socket, loosen the bolt securing the door boot seal’s inner retaining band. Take the band off the seal and set it aside.
Step 16. Peel the door boot seal off the drum opening and set it aside. Using a 13mm socket wrench, take out the bolts holding the upper and lower counter-weights to the front of the tub. Carefully lift each weight off the drum and set it aside.
Step 17. Go to the back of the machine, then take the drive belt off the motor shaft and drive pulley.
Step 18. Loosen the nut securing the drive pulley to the back of the tub using a 24mm socket wrench. Take the pulley off the shaft and set it aside.
Step 19. Using the 13mm socket wrench, take out the bolts holding the rear counter-weight to the tub. Lift the weight off the machine and set it aside.
Step 20. With your Torx screwdriver, take out the screw holding the grounding wire near the bearing hub. Disconnect the second grounding wire from the motor assembly.
Step 21. Loosen the bolts holding the drive motor assembly to the bottom of the tub. Carefully take the motor assembly off the tub mount, then set it down on the cabinet.
Step 22. With your Torx screwdriver, take out the screws holding the air pressure tube assembly to the back of the tub. Detach the assembly from the outer tub.
Step 23. Unhook the wires routed through the pressure tube assembly (make sure to take note of how the wires are routed.
Step 24. Go back to the front of the machine, then place a container underneath the pump filter cover. Turn the pump filter knob, then let any water stuck in the machine drain out.
Step 25. Once all the water has drained out, put the pump filter back in place. Use a pair of pliers to release the retaining clamp holding the sump hose to the bottom of the tub.
Step 26. Detach the sump hose from the tub (some water may spill out, so ensure that you keep a rag nearby).
Step 27. Go to the back of the machine, then use your pliers to release the spring clamp securing the second outlet hose to the tub. Disconnect the hose from the machine.
Step 28. Grab the top of one of the shock absorbers. Rotate the shock, then pull it out of the mount at the bottom of the tub. Repeat this procedure with the three remaining shock absorbers.
Step 29. Go to the front of the tub, then unplug the temperature sensor’s wire connector. Use a pair of pliers to release the wire retainers from the tub.
Step 30. With a flat-blade screwdriver, pry the wire harness retaining bracket off the slots on the cabinet.
Step 31. Move the dispenser assembly out of place. Lift the two suspension springs and unhook them from the cabinet. Carefully guide the tub assembly out of the cabinet.
Step 32. Unhook the two suspension springs from the tub mounts, then set them aside. Turn the tub assembly over, then set it face-down on the floor.
Step 33. Using a flat-blade screwdriver, pry off the retaining clips holding the two halves of the tub together.
Step 34. Lift the tub upright, then pull both halves of the outer tub apart. Take out any piece of clothing that may be stuck between the inner tub and the outer tub.
Step 35. Once you’ve cleared the obstruction, put the two halves of the outer tub back together. Snap the retaining clips onto the tub assembly using a hammer.
Step 36. Hook the suspension springs back onto the tub assembly. Lift the tub and guide it back into the cabinet.
Step 37. Lift each of the springs and hook it on the tub mounts. Push each of the four shock absorbers into the mounts at the bottom of the tub.
Step 38. Mount the rear counter-weight onto the tub assembly, then secure it by applying the bolts using your 13mm socket wrench.
Step 39. Snap the wire harness retaining bracket back into the slots on the cabinet. Go to the front of the tub, then mount the two counter-weights at the top and bottom. Secure the weights by applying the screws using your 1/4 inch nut-driver.
Step 40. Reach under the tub, then reconnect the temperature sensor wire connector. Snap the wire retainers back into the tub.
Step 41. Reattach the outlet hose to the port at the back of the tub, then slide the spring clamp into place to secure it.
Step 42. Connect the sump hose back to the port at the bottom of the tub, then move the retaining clamp into place to secure it.
Step 43. Lift the drive motor and remount it at the bottom of the tub. Secure the motor assembly by applying the bolts with your 13mm socket.
Step 44. Plug the grounding wire back into the motor. Re-route the wires through the air pressure tube assembly.
Step 45. Snap the pressure tube assembly on the tub, then tighten it by applying the screw with your Torx screwdriver.
Step 46. Apply the screw to secure the second grounding wire near the bearing hub. Mount the drive pulley on the inner tub shaft, then secure the bolt using a 24mm socket wrench.
Step 47. With the grooved side turned inwards, loop the drive belt around the motor pulley and transmission pulley.
Step 48. Place the two rear braces on the cabinet, then use the Torx-20 screwdriver to apply the nuts. Mount the main access panel. Secure the panel by tightening the screws.
Step 49. Go to the front of the cabinet. Carefully fit the door boot seal around the tub opening. Run the inner retaining band around the door seal. Secure the band by tightening the 7mm bolt.
Step 50. Move the dispenser assembly back into place, then reconnect the hose to the port at the top of the tub.
Step 51. Reconnect the inlet tube to the port at the top of the door boot seal. Push the window washer tube into the bracket on the top frame brace.
Step 52. Snap the top frame brace onto the cabinet, then apply the nuts to secure it. Reconnect the window washer tube to the door boot seal.
Step 53. Lift the main front panel and mount it on the cabinet. Secure the panel by applying the bolts at the top and bottom using your 1/4 inch nut-driver.
Step 54. Snap the lower front access panel back onto the machine, then apply the screws.
Step 55. Open the door of the washer. Reach into the cabinet, then push the door lock assembly back into place. Secure the lock by applying the screws with a Torx screwdriver.
Step 56. Refit the door gasket around the front panel. With a pair of needle-nosed pliers or a flat-blade screwdriver, fit the outer retaining band around the gasket.
Step 57. Pass the control panel wire through the opening on the top frame brace. Snap the panel onto the cabinet, then use your screwdriver to apply the nut next to the dispenser opening.
Step 58. Secure the control panel wire in the retainers, then plug the connector back into the main control board.
Step 59. Place the top cover on the cabinet, then secure it by applying the nuts at the back. Slide the detergent tray back into the dispenser.
Step 60. Turn your washer’s water faucets back on, then plug the power cord back into the electrical outlet. Try running a spin cycle to ensure that the issue has been fixed.
3. Drive Belt Has Snapped
The drive belt is looped around the motor pulley and idler pulley. If this belt gets damaged or worn out, the drum will not be able to spin.
For detailed steps on how to replace this part, read this article: Whirlpool Washing Machine Not Spinning. This guide also gives you easy-to-follow steps on how to deal with various issues in your Whirlpool washing machine.
