How to Take Apart a General Electric Washing Machine

Pull the power cord from the electrical outlet. Turn off the water supply to the water hoses on back of the machine. Remove the hoses form the machine by twisting them off with a pair of pliers.

Insert a flat-blade screwdriver into the gap between the top horizontal panel and the front vertical panel of the washer, approximately 4 inches from one edge, to release the retaining clip. Do the same for the opposite side. Rotate the top of the front panel away from the machine. Lift the panel straight up and remove it from the washer.

Twist out the two screws that secure the front of the top panel to the washer chassis with a nut driver. Slide the top panel forward a few inches. Pull apart the electrical connector for the lid switch at the rear of the panel. Remove the panel from the washer.

Remove the screws from the brackets on top of the washer tub with a nut driver. Pull the flexible overflow tube off the side of the washer tub. Pull apart the wiring connector on the washer motor which is located under the tub at the front of the washer.

Remove the screw from the grounding strap near the bottom of the tub with a nut driver. Remove the strap from the bottom of the washer chassis. Pull the large black flexible hose straight off the washer pump near the top of the washer chassis.

Lift straight up on the tub slightly to take the tension off the tub suspension rods. Remove the rods from the bottom of the tub by unhooking them from the mounting holes in the washer chassis. Lift the tub straight up and out of the washer chassis.

Remove the screw from the center of the agitator in the tub with a nut driver. Lift the agitator straight up and remove it from the tub. Some agitators are not secured with a screw, and are removed by lifting them straight up from the tub.

Place a washer-spanner wrench -- available from the washer manufacturer -- over the large center nut in the bottom of the tub. Tap the edge of the wrench with a hammer in a clockwise direction -- the threads are left-hand -- to remove the nut.

Unsnap the clips on the plastic cover on top of the tub by hand. Remove the cover. Pull the washer basket straight up and out of the washer tub. Pry the small washer from the shaft at the center of the bottom of the tub with a flat-blade screwdriver and remove it.

Turn the tub upside down to reveal the motor and drive mechanism. Remove the center nut from the large pulley with a wrench. Remove the pulley and the belt. Remove the nuts visible after removing the pulley with a wrench. Remove the bolts that hold the drive mechanism to the tub with a wrench. Lift the drive mechanism straight up and off the tub.