Hello,

I have a Whirlpool washer (Model LSQ8243HQ0) and I just noticed a mild "grinding" sound near the agitator. My bad ears first heard this during a wash cycle and then I confirmed w/ my eyes - the top part of the agitator ("Clothes Mover" on parts list) only rotated every 3rd time or so. When I placed my hand on the top of the agitator, it basically stopped.

I took the top part apart and saw the cam disk w/ 4 pawls that engage a splined ring inside the agitator itself.

I thoroughly cleaned the entire pawl driver assembly w/ soap & a toothbrush and put it all pack together. Unfortunately it still stalls. The splined ring - to my eye - looks fine. Each pawl has 2-3 teeth which look OK. But I don't have the advantage of seeing a new one to determine how much wear may have occurred.

I searched this forum to see of other had this problem and found several examples, such as this one (where the pawls are called "dogs"):

http://forum.appliancepartspros...itator-hardly-moves.html

My best guess is to get 4 new pawls. My question is:
Is it likely that this will solve the slippage problem or do I likely need a new Clothes Mover too to get the new splined ring?

Again, the splines look fine. My judgment is that the new pawls should do the trick.

Thanks Rich. I gather there's no need to lube the pawls (with, for example, a dab o' Vaseline)? I ask b/c when I disassembled, I noticed what seemed like some black, semi-hardened greasy residue on the assembly. That's what I cleaned off ...