How to Remove and Replace a Whirlpool Washer Tub Seal #W10324647

If your Whirlpool washer is leaking water, chances are that your first thought is a faulty hose, a loose clamp, or maybe the water supply hoses. But after exhausting the more common and straightforward possibilities you determine that the hoses and clamps are in great condition. So, why is your washer leaking?

Consider the following questions.

At what time of the wash cycle is it leaking? Is it leaking either during the fill cycle or while the agitator is operating? If so, then the tub seal should be replaced.

The tub seal is located deep within the components of your washing machine between the outer tub and the transmission. But before we get into explaining how to access and replace it, let’s try the following test.

Remove the front panel and run a wash cycle in your washer.
Observe the area where the transmission shaft enters the tub and the weep holes that cover the rear bearing.
If you see water leaking, the tub seal needs to be replaced.

This is not an easy repair and you may want to acquire the help of a professional appliance repair company.

If you’d like to tackle this job yourself, however, follow along closely to the following tutorial.

Safety First

Unplug the washer from its power source.
Shut off the hot and cold water valves.
Disconnect the hot and cold water hoses from the water inlet valve.
Have a towel and a bucket ready for any water that may spill out.

How to Access the Agitator

Secure the washer lid with duct tape.
Remove the rear panel hinges.
Remove the screws that secure the wiring and tube cover. Remove the cover and set aside.
Pull the maintop forward, lift it up, and support it.

How to Remove the Agitator

Use a flathead screwdriver to release the tabs that secure the tub ring. Remove the ring and set aside.
Remove the fabric dispenser from the agitator and pull the agitator cap off.
Use a 7/16 socket to remove the agitator bolt. Lift the agitator up and out of the washing machine and set aside.
Use a tub nut wrench and hammer to loosen and remove the tub nut by rotating counterclockwise.
Lift the inner tub up and out from the machine using caution as the tub is heavy.
Loosen the drive block with a hammer and pull it from the drive shaft.

Back Where You Came From

Remove whatever you used to support the washer top.
Lower the washer top and secure it by aligning the slots on either side with the appropriate tabs on the washer frame.
Slide and push the top back in place.
Reinstall the hinge screws to secure the top.

Going Deep

Carefully tip the washer forward so the front of the cabinet is laying on a piece of carpet or a towel.
Remove the screws from the protective belt cover and set the cover aside.
You will see a belt connecting the motor pulley and the drive pulley. Rotate belt toward the drive pulley and gently remove the belt.
Remove the wire harness leading to the motor.
Remove the mounting bolts that secure the motor to the transmission housing, remove the motor and set aside.
Disconnect the shift actuator wire harness.
Remove the actuator mounting screws. Remove the actuator and set aside.
Disconnect the capacitor wire harness.
Detach the wire retainer form the transmission housing.
Remove the capacitor mounting screws and set aside.
Use a 13-millimeter socket to remove the drive pulley nut. Remove the pulley and set aside.
Depress the tabs on the splutch housing and remove the housing, the basket drive gear, and the spring.
Remove the transmission housing mounting bolts and remove the transmission assembly out and away from the unit.
Remove the old tub seal.

How to Install the New Tub Seal

Apply grease to the inner ring of the new tub seal.
Slide the new seal on the transmission shaft and with your thumbs, press firmly into place.
Insert the transmission shaft into the hole located at the bottom of the tub.
Reposition and secure the transmission with its mounting bolts.
Slide the spring and basket drive gear on the transmission shaft and snap the splutch housing into place.
Slide on the drive pulley and replace the nut.
Reposition the capacitor and secure with its mounting screw.
Reconnect the wire harness to the capacitor. Don’t forget to snap the wire harness into the transmission housing.
Reinstall the shift actuator by first aligning the actuator pin with the splutch cam ring.
After the actuator is back in position, secure with its mounting screws.
Reconnect the wire harness to the actuator.
Realign motor with the transmission housing and secure with its mounting bolts.
Reconnect the wire harness to the motor.
Replace the pulley belt by first looping it around the motor pulley, then loop it around to the drive pulley and rotate the pulley to align the belt in place.
Replace the protective belt cover and secure with its screws.
Now, lift the washer to an upright position.

Final Steps

Remember those hinge screws that hold the top in place? Remove them. Yes, once again.
Pull the top forward, lift it up, and support it.
Reinstall the drive block by aligning the notches in the block with the tabs on the drive shaft. Push the block firmly into place. You want to hear and feel it click into place.
Replace the inner tub.
Replace the tub nut. Thread on clockwise and use the tub wrench and hammer to tighten.
Align the agitator on the drive shaft and secure with the 7/16 bolt.
Insert the agitator cap and push firmly into place.
Snap on the fabric dispenser.
Replace the tub ring. Align the tabs on the ring with the catches on the outer tub and snap the ring into place.
Remove the support and lower the main top.
Align the top slots with the bracket tabs on the frame and push the top back into place.
Secure the wiring and tube cover with its screws.
Reinstall the hinge screws. (This will be the last time, we promise!)
Remove the duct tape.
Reconnect the water supply hoses to the water inlet valve.
Turn on the power supply.
Plug the power cord in its power source.

This repair will take some time and patience to complete but it’s not all that difficult. And once you’re done, you’ll have a great sense of accomplishment.

Pro Tip: When removing parts, have a container for bolts and screws so they don’t get lost while you’re working on your machine.

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