How to Fix a Clutch on a Maytag Washer

Disconnect the Maytag washer power cord from the wall. Turn off the hot and cold washer water supply lines behind the washer. Move the washer far enough away from the wall that you can lay it on its back during the repair process.

Twist the water supply line connectors off the rear of the washer, turning them counterclockwise. Place them in a bucket to drain.

Squeeze the connector that secures the drain line to the washer, using pliers. As you squeeze the connector, pull the drain line off the washer and place it in the bucket with the water supply lines.

Remove the cap from the Maytag washer’s agitator. Reach inside the agitator to remove the dust cap that covers the agitator bolt.

Remove the agitator bolt with a 7/16-inch socket attached to a socket extension and a socket wrench. Lift the agitator from the washer tub. Slide the clip and the plastic base off the agitator shaft and set them aside.

Lay the Maytag washer on its back. Slip a flat-head screwdriver under the clips holding the water pump onto the washer motor. Pop the clips off the pump, and lift the pump off the motor and push it aside.

Disconnect the wiring harness that holds the wires to the washer’s motor. Push down on the plastic clip on top of the harness to release the harness from the motor.

Open the plastic retaining clip that holds the wires to the side of the transmission housing, using a small flat-head screwdriver. Pull the wires from the clip.

Remove the three 1/2-inch bolts from the transmission housing, using a 1/2-inch socket and socket wrench. Pull the transmission, the attached motor and the agitator shaft straight from the washer to expose the clutch assembly on top of the transmission housing.

Slide the thrush washer from the clutch assembly off the agitator shaft to expose the E-clip beneath it. Set the thrush washer aside. Use a flat-head screwdriver to gently pry the E-clip from the shaft to expose the retaining spring that holds the clutch assembly to the transmission housing. Set the E-clip aside.

Insert the flat-head screwdriver beneath the retaining spring and gently pry the spring from the clutch assembly. Slide the clutch assembly off the agitator shaft and discard it.

Snap the nylon antirattle clip from the clutch assembly kit into the bottom center of the replacement clutch assembly. The antirattle clip is a white ring with four tabs spaced equally around the ring. The tabs line up with the notches along the center hole in the clutch assembly.

Slide the new clutch assembly down over the agitator shaft until it rests flush against the transmission housing. Install the new retainer ring from the kit beneath the flanges on top of the clutch assembly to hold it on the transmission and shaft. You may need to use the flat-head screwdriver to push the spring beneath the flanges.

Install the E-clip onto the agitator shaft just above the retainer spring. Place tongue and groove pliers around the shaft and on the top of the E-clip to help snap the E-clip onto the shaft. Slide the thrush washer down over the agitator shaft and let it rest on top of the E-clip.

Look on the bottom of the Maytag washer for the brake cam driver. It attaches to the bottom of the washer around the agitator shaft opening.

Remove the E-ring that holds the brake cam driver to the bottom of the washer, using a small flat-head screwdriver. Insert the screwdriver between the ring and the driver, and gently pry it off the driver. Set the E-ring aside.

Grab the brake cam driver with your fingers. Take it off the bottom of the washer. Discard the old brake cam driver.

Install the new brake cam driver from the clutch assembly kit onto the bottom of the washer. Install the E-ring onto the brake cam driver to secure it to the washer.

Thread the agitator shaft through the opening in the bottom of the washer. Reattach the transmission housing with the bolts you removed previously. Finish the reassembly of the washer by reversing the disassembly steps.