J2L agitator removal

You only need to fill with hottest water possible about half way up agitator. You only want to "heat" area around base of agitator and stem of washer enough to loosen whatever crud is causing a glue like hold.

Leave water for half an hour or more trying after about ten or so minutes to see if agitator budges. If water cools, drain and start again.....

However if after maybe 24 hours or so of hot water treatment and you still cannot get the thing off, it is time to move to plan "B".

I used a variation of technique used by another member to get a stuck Maytag wringer agitator shifted. It involves some rope or cord and a broomstick or similar pole. You can find it in archives, and it does work.

Basically you loop rope/cord under agitator, tie it to pole securely and start twisting round. As rope twists it gets shorter exerting an upwards pulling motion. If it goes well you'll soon get a "pop" and agitator will have come free. You obviously want to watch out that don't break base of agitator.

These Maytag wringer agitators are most always glued on because previous owner didn't follow clear instructions to remove after wash day, clean around stem and allow machine tub to dry out leaving agitator off stem until next wash day. This and periodically applying a bit of lubricant (Maytag sold grease for these or one can use Vaseline), at base of stem.

What happens is muck consisting of soap/detergent crud, hard water minerals, gunk off washing, etc combine to form a sort of glue that sets up as it dries into a firm hold.

If possible to pour hot water down into agitator onto base/stem that would make things easy. But since that isn't possible.....


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Post# 1075673 6/4/2020 at 10:51 (1,027 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Okay...please bear with me. Since last summer, when I got my bargain J2L, I've been posting the occasional question about it. It cleaned up pretty nice, and the motor seems to run great. To this day, however, I've never gotten up the nerve to take the agitator removal to the next level. As I originally posted, it won't just pull off like it's supposed to. The first method that was suggested is to put hot water in the tub, and see if that loosens it up. With me not currently working, and the warm weather here, I think I'm ready to wheel it outside (in case the tub leaks) and give it a try. Now... I need specifics. 1) Are we talking hot tap water, boiling hot water, or hot tap water with some boiling water mixed in? 2) How much water? How far up the agitator should I fill it? 3) How long do I leave the water in it before I admit defeat? 4) Should I run the motor/agitator with the hot water in it, or just let it sit there? 5) Regarding potential tub leakage. Where should I watch to see if it's going to leak? Obviously, under the tub. But, is there somewhere specific? It's probably asking for a miracle, but I'm really hoping it doesn't leak. I'm not do-it-yourselfy, not mechanically inclined, and I've never touched a wringer washer until I got this one. That's why I'm so concerned about doing it exactly right. Answers to these initial questions should give me the courage to get started. I'm SUCH a worrier! Thank you in advance. Barry

Post# 1075698 , Reply# 1 6/4/2020 at 14:52 (1,027 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)
Checkrate/Likes Okay. I got brave enough to roll it outside and start dumping hot tap water into it. I don't see any indication of the tub leaking. Unless it leaks internally, and I wouldn't see it physically dripping underneath. It's been soaking for quite some time, and I even got up the nerve to run the agitator with water in it. First time I've seen it move water. And man...it moves some water! The downside is that I still can't get the agitator to budge. And, now I have to hope that the drain pump works. Otherwise, I'm going to have some serious bailing to do. Barry

Post# 1075706 , Reply# 2 6/4/2020 at 15:21 (1,027 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There�s a Lady on Stage)
Checkrate/Likes 1 You only need to fill with hottest water possible about half way up agitator. You only want to "heat" area around base of agitator and stem of washer enough to loosen whatever crud is causing a glue like hold. Leave water for half an hour or more trying after about ten or so minutes to see if agitator budges. If water cools, drain and start again..... However if after maybe 24 hours or so of hot water treatment and you still cannot get the thing off, it is time to move to plan "B". I used a variation of technique used by another member to get a stuck Maytag wringer agitator shifted. It involves some rope or cord and a broomstick or similar pole. You can find it in archives, and it does work. Basically you loop rope/cord under agitator, tie it to pole securely and start twisting round. As rope twists it gets shorter exerting an upwards pulling motion. If it goes well you'll soon get a "pop" and agitator will have come free. You obviously want to watch out that don't break base of agitator. These Maytag wringer agitators are most always glued on because previous owner didn't follow clear instructions to remove after wash day, clean around stem and allow machine tub to dry out leaving agitator off stem until next wash day. This and periodically applying a bit of lubricant (Maytag sold grease for these or one can use Vaseline), at base of stem. What happens is muck consisting of soap/detergent crud, hard water minerals, gunk off washing, etc combine to form a sort of glue that sets up as it dries into a firm hold. If possible to pour hot water down into agitator onto base/stem that would make things easy. But since that isn't possible.....

Post# 1075713 , Reply# 3 6/4/2020 at 16:05 (1,027 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)
Checkrate/Likes *Thank you, Launderess!* I guess I gave up too soon. I'll try again another day, and keep at it longer. When I bought this washer, it had been sitting for decades in someone's basement or garage or something. Of course, with the agitator on from the last time it was used. As an aside, I did get to try the drain pump for the first time. I know someone else had posted once that they were surprised by the force of the water from one of these. Amen to that! Needless to say, the pump worked. I haven't gotten around to replacing the gooseneck on the end of the hose yet, so it just shoots straight out. Fortunately, I was testing the machine outside. The pump was able to shoot the water halfway across my back yard! That could get messy when I have the gooseneck installed, and I'm trying to drain it into my set tub! I'm thinking it's going to splash like crazy! Barry

Post# 1075794 , Reply# 4 6/5/2020 at 03:14 (1,026 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There�s a Lady on Stage)
Checkrate/Likes Maytag advertised pumps on their conventional washers would quickly empty tub; and they weren't kidding. One as also struck with how forceful water exited tub; in fact so much so first few times had to tighten the jigged drain/fill hose to cope. That contraption is the fill/drain hose from a Frigidaire dw that one scrapped. Using the quick coupling hoses one can fill and drain washer from distance. Just slipped the end of drain hose over goose neck and tighten with hose clamp....