AH HA! Got the sucker out and now looking at the clutch lining it looks like white plastic, polyethylene maybe.. There is no such thing as what could qualify as what I would think of as a clutch lining, but I don't know how it's supposed to look anyway. So far I have found nothing that could qualify as a spec sheet to tell me how much should be worn off or not.. So...how do i tell? Any ideas?

Thanks.

I'm pretty sure the problem is the clutch now. I inserted a small nut behind the spring and it tightened it up considerably. I don't know how long that might last, but it will at the very least let me know if it was the problem at all if i get a decent spin out of this beast. I found the part, but delivery time is about 2 weeks at best and I live in a big town, Dallas. Go figure, huh?
A lot of scrap yards will allow people to scrounge around, but you need to be careful and you usually do so at your own risk. It would be a good idea to make deals with a yard where you can dispose of junked parts to bring in some extra income as well and when you get to know the guys working there some will save certain parts for you, especially the smaller yards, but they are in a business like everyone else.
One yard here saved a few old machines for me for a while, but after we got what we needed they quit. Let them know why you need them and give them good press and they might be much more helpful.
I've sold many refrigerators basically the same way you do except it's my income source. I sell them as low as $50 each and some aren't worth that! But when a young couple is in desperate need they need anything to keep food cold sometimes. I give them away on occasion too even though it really cuts into my living. I had a steady supply, but the city grabs them up mostly now so I get the leftovers usually.
Now I'm just trying to find the diagram to figure where all the basket parts go back in right. I took it apart to get the tranny out and there's one or two I forget the order. YIKES! I hate that. LOL
Got it and now I have a part that resembles a 2 or3 inch brass nail with a hole drilled in one end and I have NO clue where it might have dropped out of. I have spin working now, but agitate doesn't do a thing.. loose wire perhaps? That nail looking thing? Looks like a pin from something, but I didn't remove it..It just appeared! YIKES! Any ideas?

I'm fairly sure it's the wiring, but I also lost one of the rubber shims that goes under the motor so things set kind of cockeyed a bit..might have gotten in a bind. But why would the pump still run? Gotta be wiring somewhere..
On the good side I got two calls this morning to pick up a set of washing machines from others so whatever parts I need might just be included or they might just run even better.
On the bad side the flu slammed me last night and drastically weakened me so...oh well..so they'll be 80 lbs heavier than they would have been. LOL
At the very least I have gotten a good lesson in repairing these monsters and do appreciate that more than i can express in words here. ;)
Thanks Sid!
By the way, yes, helping people in need does have rewards well beyond any money i might or might not have. I only wish i could afford to give more away.

:) Wow, Great to hear that.

You know, if it something you want to do you can make a decent living rebuilding as necessary and selling top loading Kenmore/Whirlpool washers. Many of the internal parts have been the same for decades.

Glad it worked out well for you, you deserve it after that amazing display of perserverance!