Replacing The Brake On The 2000 Whirlpool Washer + Tub Clean

Originally recorded May 24 & 28, 2021.
Note: As of the day this video was published, if you hadn't already watched the video I posted a couple weeks prior to this one, the Whirlpool is already sold. So this video series chronicles the repair and tub clean I did to it, post-sell.
This was all sort of a spur of the moment project that just sort of progressed on its own, didn't even plan to have to fix or replace anything. Sometimes that's just the way things go.
My initial game plan was to just bring the machine out of hibernation for the season and flush out the leftover anti-freeze that had sat in it for two winters. Did that, no problem. Then since I had purchased a spanner wrench off of the RainForest for $30, I figured I'd go ahead and do what I wanted to do in 2019, which is take the inner tub out and clean the jetsam & flotsam out of the bottom of the outer tub.
In doing so, along came some conundrums. Could not get the basket out and spent several hours fighting that trying to get it out of the tub, but then finally, along came jaykay18 to the rescue!
But that wasn't the end of the poopstick. Busted the tip of the brake shaft and the seal inside of it in trying to get that out. OK, now that's another $100 or so for a new brake (which it needs anyway).
So, waiting a few days for the RainForest to boat the new part in from China, finally it came. So now the machine gets a new brake treatment.

[@billyisthegamemaster6880]

I never knew about breaks on a washing machine until I found interest in these machines. No matter how hard I tried I would not move. Old washing machines are awesome

[@lizboz]

@billyisthegamemaster6880 They really broke the mold when they got rid of _brakes._ That's how you could get away with not putting a stupid lid lock to do nothing except waste material, space, time, money, etc.

[@billyisthegamemaster6880]

@@lizbozagreed

[@tallboyyyy]

Nice repair. Did you clean up the center tube that the wash basket was stuck to before you put it back together? I've only ever made one repair to a direct drive washer. My aunts Kenmore took a dump and my cousin and I took it apart and found a broken motor coupler. I think it took us less than an hour total to fix that machine including the trip to a Sears Service Center to get the new coupler. Other than that I've never had to take one apart but I only have access to one at our summer home and that just works and hasn't needed any repair as of yet.

[@MatthewJames-st5wv]

I replaced that entirely. It's called tub support.

[@lizboz]

I believe I would have cleaned it, yes. These things can seem a little daunting to take apart, but once you do one, the next one just gets easier because you learned on the first one what's all involved in normal circumstances (sometimes). Then, maybe 3, 4 more down the road, it only gets easier. Of course you might get one that's lived in somebody's waterlogged basement for 10+ years and it still runs, but it's hanging on by a thread. Then when you go to take it completely apart, you find that just about everything underneath is completely rusted or "olded" to itself. Then it gets fun. Luckily we haven't had to get one that crazy yet!

[@MatthewJames-st5wv]

Great video. Did you apply any grease to your brake or the drum?

[@lizboz]

Not that one. Didn't feel it was necessary since it already had some sort of grease from the factory on it.

[@MatthewJames-st5wv]

@@lizboz Oh ok. Where did you buy it from if you don't mind me asking?

[@lizboz]

​@@MatthewJames-st5wv It was given to me by a friend.

[@MatthewJames-st5wv]

@@lizboz Oh ok. I had to put some grease around the brake drum and on the little rollers. The damn thing was way too aggresive.