If you look at some top load washing machines, they have a shaft in the middle of the tub with fins. This shaft is known as the agitator, and it helps in agitating the clothes while the washer tub spins. The agitator helps in removing dirt from heavy laundry using strong wash cycles.
Sometimes the agitator may get stuck or damaged and you will have to remove the agitator from the top load washer to fix the issue. In this article, we shall discuss the methods to remove the agitator from the washer tub and the steps to replace it with a new agitator.
How to Remove GE Washer Agitator?
You can either remove the agitator by simply pulling it out of the tub or removing the bolt under the agitator cap, or by properly unscrewing the agitator from the tub bottom. You just have to find out the type of agitator your GE washer appliance has and use the appropriate method to remove it.
We can classify GE washers with agitators into three types:
- Older models with pull-out agitators
- Old models with Fastened agitators
- Newer models with agitators
We shall now discuss how to remove agitator from ge washer and the methods to replace it properly.
Older Models with pull-out Agitators
GE washing machines that were manufactured 20 years back will have a pull-out system for the agitators. They are simply locked down on the tabs and you mostly don’t need any tools to remove it.
- Turn off the washer and unplug it from the power supply.
- Open the top lid of the washer and locate the agitator at the center of the washer tub.
- You can find a cap over the agitator shaft which simply comes off when you pull it. If you find it difficult to pull it out, just pry it with a small screwdriver and pull it firmly towards you.
- Once you open the cap and find a bolt, then move on to the next type. If you don’t find any bolts, then it is the pull-out system.
- After removing the cap, using one hand try to hold the agitator shaft and gently lift it. You can find the base of the agitator to slightly relieve from the bottom of the tub.
- Now insert the other hand at the bottom of the agitator and start pulling it towards you to lift the agitator.
- Make sure to move your face away from the agitator to avoid getting hit when you pull it firmly towards you.
- Once you take the agitator out of the tub, you can find the coupler assembly down which can be removed using a socket wrench.
- To replace a new one, first, fix the agitator coupler onto the bottom of the tub and simply press down the agitator shaft onto the coupler by aligning the tabs.
Old Models with Fastened Agitators
Some old-model GE washers have the agitators fastened to the tub and coupler using a bolt. If you find your washer to be of this model, follow this procedure to remove it:
- Turn off the washer and unplug it from the power supply.
- Open the top lid and locate the agitator at the center of the tub.
- Remove the top cap of the agitator and check whether there is a bolt fastened. If so, using a socket wrench, remove the bolt.
- Once you remove the bolt, the agitator will become loose, and it can be removed from the coupler.
- You can also remove the coupler by removing the bolt using the wrench and replacing it with a new one if required.
Newer Models with Agitators
Newer models have the agitators fixed to the washer tub. You can follow this procedure to easily remove it. For this procedure, you will need a screwdriver.
- Turn off the washer and unplug it from the power supply.
- Open the top lid and locate the agitator in the middle of the tub.
- Now reach the bottom of the agitator shaft and just above it you can find a small hole.
- Using your other hand, search for a small protrusion at the bottom cap of the agitator.
- Once you locate both the hole and the protrusion, you have to align both of them. You can twist the bottom cap with the protrusion to align with the hole above it.
- When you align them, insert a screwdriver deep into the hole and the agitator shaft can be twisted clockwise and pulled out from the tub.
- If you look at the bottom of the tub, you can find the coupler to have four tabs on which the agitator gets locked in.
- To replace the agitator, align the agitator over the four tabs and simply twist it counterclockwise until it locks in.
This is how you can remove and replace the agitator from any GE washer model and replace it effectively.
Do GE Washers Have Agitators Anymore?
Yes, GE appliances manufactures the traditional top load washers with agitators. Currently, two models come with agitator assembly in GE washers. They are:
- GE 5.0 CU. FT. CAPACITY SMART WASHERS WITH SANITIZE W/OXI AND SMARTDISPENSE™ (Model No. GTW845)
- GE 4.6 CU. FT. CAPACITY WASHER WITH SANITIZE W/OXI AND FLEXDISPENSE™ (Model No. GTW725)
So, if you are a fan of old-fashioned agitator washers, then you can check these out.
