Washing Machine Cycle Control Knob Help Needed

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

I have a very simple, top loading, Whirpool washer that came with the house.  It cleans well enough that I feel no need to upgrade.  

The cycle control knob has lost it's "grip" and will no longer turn the arrow to the various settings.

Can I fix this myself?  If so, how?  If you do know, explain it to me like I am a 4 year old.  

[kittensaver]

www.partselect.com/Entry.aspx?Source=GAWS&Brand=Whirlpool&Appliance=Dryer&Term=parts+for+whirlpool+dryer&gclid=COu9xvKehL4CFUNhfgodYycA-Q

[kent]

Kitten has the right idea - replacement knob should do it. In the meantime, you MAY be able to jam something into the knob (cardboard, folded paper, etc.) that will allow you to turn the arrow.

[Deleted]

I ordered new knobs for my dryer off eBay. A year or two those broke too and now I just use a pliers but I think they were just a few bucks.

[vonna]

Ask Archie. He's real good at fixin' washing machines!!

[tskeeter]

Epoxy.

Mix and put a coat of epoxy in the hole in the knob that goes on to the stem of the control.  Put knob on the stem and let set for 24 hours, or the period of time recommended on the package.  If you ever have to repair the cycle control, you'll have to cut the knob off.  But it sounds like this is an older machine anyway.  When the cycle control breaks, get a new washer.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Apr 28, 2014 17:47:48 GMT -5 vonna said:

Ask Archie. He's real good at fixin' washing machines!!

I think dryers are his forte.

[alabamagal]

We have replaced many appliance parts, ordered parts via internet and watched online videos.  Never washing machine knob, it seems like it is pretty easy.  We are not very handy, but one time took the washer apart and replaced the valve manifold!

Small investment in parts for potentially not having to buy a new appliance

[Nazgul Girl]

   You can find almost anything on ebay.   I found a toilet tank lid that fit an older toilet on a building we were remodeling.   There was noting wrong with the toilet except for the broken lid, and we were afraid that if we replaced the entire toilet, it wouldn't cover the larger footprint of the older model, and then we'd have had to get into replacing the flooring as well.

   If you can't find the knob on the link above, just type " control knob for Whirlpool washer " and add in something like old model, and you'll probably find something that would work.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Apr 28, 2014 17:47:48 GMT -5 vonna said:

Ask Archie. He's real good at fixin' washing machines!!

[Deleted]

Apr 28, 2014 17:16:11 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

I have a very simple, top loading, Whirpool washer that came with the house.  It cleans well enough that I feel no need to upgrade.  

The cycle control knob has lost it's "grip" and will no longer turn the arrow to the various settings.

Can I fix this myself?  If so, how?  If you do know, explain it to me like I am a 4 year old.  

That's really weird because the exact same thing happened to my washing machine.  The knob stopped gripping so I couldn't turn the dial.  Unfortunately, when I ordered a new part, I was able to turn the dial but it wouldn't move on it's own...if that makes sense.  So I could manually turn it to off, 10, 50 minutes or whatever.  But it wouldn't move on it's on when the dryer was on.  So if I don't forget to shut it off, it will run forever.  

[Deleted]

Pull the knob off & look inside the hole, if the knob is plastic & it has lost its 'teeth' you will have no trouble with ordering a replacement and sliding back on the switches stem. If the interior of the knob is metal & both the stem and knob have ground away the teeth, then you have to replace the whole switch which is a little more involved, but probably manageable.

Be careful about using pliers in the meantime because they can crush the metal stem's teeth & then a replacement knob won't work.

[bookkeeper]

buy a small vice grips pliers to replace the knob.  You can fashion a cute little arrow on it to mark the location in the cycle.

[midwestlily]

When I bought my condo three years ago, the knob was broken on the washing machine.  I thought this was a great reason to buy a new machine, but my frugal friend said I was crazy.  There was no model number of any kind visible on the front or the lid, so she had to pull it out of the closet to find it on the back, or maybe it was inside the control panel.  She told me to go to a local appliance store, one of those small family-owned places that have been there for decades.  I told them what I needed; they rummaged around in a box, found the right knob, and gave it to me for free!  My friend pulled the machine out again and put it on for me.  We laughed about the fact that her father, a college professor, taught her all kinds of handy stuff, while my father, an electrician, taught me nothing of that sort.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

So, kittensaver's link was perfect -- the part is there, it is reasonably priced, and there is a really straightforward video on the part page showing how to replace the knob.

There is only one problem.  In the video, the knob unscrews easily from the stem by holding the knob skirt still and turning the knob itself counterclockwise.  

When I do that, the knob just spins counter-clockwise without ever coming off (the knob skirt is perfectly still and stationary while doing this).

So, can I just put a hammer to it and break it off?  Get a crow bar and pry it off the end of the stem?

Advice?  Suggestions?  Links to bargain-priced replacement simple top loading washing machines?

[midwestlily]

My guess is that you'll need to open up the control panel -- that's what my friend had to do replace my knob.  She had to get to a nut or something inside that was holding the screw that held the knob.  (Sorry, you've got another four year old trying to explain this.)

[bookkeeper]

Be sure to unplug your machine before messing with the control panel. We would like to keep you around!

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Apr 29, 2014 13:11:09 GMT -5 bookkeeper said:

Be sure to unplug your machine before messing with the control panel. We would like to keep you around!

Thanks for the reminder and the kind words.  

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Off to google how to access the control panel on this model...

Thank you everyone for all of the advice so far!!!!!  

[CarolinaKat]

Apr 28, 2014 17:16:11 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

I have a very simple, top loading, Whirpool washer that came with the house.  It cleans well enough that I feel no need to upgrade.  

The cycle control knob has lost it's "grip" and will no longer turn the arrow to the various settings.

Can I fix this myself?  If so, how?  If you do know, explain it to me like I am a 4 year old.  

Hire ArchietheDragon. He can fix it in a decade or two