How would i go about removing this agitator from a 30 year old GE Filter Flow washer? photo included

Residential Filter-Flo Activators were held in place by friction, and that's the problem. In the '60's and early '70's GE recommended to the user that they remove the Activator periodically to clean it and check the Spline (that metal part that's dead center in your photograph) for rust and lubrication; then they cautioned the user to make sure it was re-seated properly when re-installing it. I've seen Activators broken apart by Servicemen because they just didn't have time to play nice.

First try some Liquid Wrench on the "teeth" of the metal spline. Let in soak in according to instructions and then give it a try.

I've had some success by wrapping the top of the Activator with rags-towels and soaking them repeatedly with boiling water. Inside the top of the activator is a hard-rubber spline that connects the metal drive post with the polypropylene body of the Activator; you can see it in your photo if you look between the white parts and the metal spline center; it's black. You might luck out with the heat and coax the outer rubber spline to separate from the metal inner one. Then you'll have the purchase you need to lever the metal one off of the drive post. GE splines are always on sale on eBay.

Good luck.


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Post# 1175345 3/20/2023 at 18:37 (410 days old) by boblawblog (Toronto)
Checkrate/Likes clothing got stuck under the agitator. can the agitator simply be pulled out or is there a bolt that needs to be unscrewed? how easy is it to remove and put the agitator back in place? i am trying to help my mom remotely fix this, is it easier to just call an appliance repair man? View Full Size

Post# 1175347 , Reply# 1 3/20/2023 at 18:54 (410 days old) by joelippard (Hickory)
Checkrate/Likes As well as I recall, just grab it at the bottom under the agitator and pull straight up, make take some muscle!

Post# 1175369 , Reply# 2 3/20/2023 at 21:06 (410 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Boiling water* Sometimes boiling water can help loosen things up. I was lucky to have access to IV fluid pressure bags that did the trick in removing a really stuck agitator. View Full Size

Post# 1175371 , Reply# 3 3/20/2023 at 21:17 (410 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.)
Checkrate/Likes 3 If you're puliing up on the agitator, make sure your face isn't in the line of the agitator top. Just saying.... been there.

Post# 1175419 , Reply# 4 3/21/2023 at 13:11 (409 days old) by Bendixboy (Nc)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Working for GE Commercial service years ago .I�ve removed quite a Few Agitators by Simply Spraying a small amount of WD40 in the Agitator Post Spline�s . Let it set a bit . And then using my Large (Rubber) Hammer while Lifting from the Bottom of the Agitator Base , Gently Tap around the Top of the Agitators Head . And it should just Pop up . The longer you let the WD40 soak in, the better .

Post# 1175429 , Reply# 5 3/21/2023 at 15:08 (409 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut)
Checkrate/Likes *Yes, definitely keep your front teeth out of the way!* Residential Filter-Flo Activators were held in place by friction, and that's the problem. In the '60's and early '70's GE recommended to the user that they remove the Activator periodically to clean it and check the Spline (that metal part that's dead center in your photograph) for rust and lubrication; then they cautioned the user to make sure it was re-seated properly when re-installing it. I've seen Activators broken apart by Servicemen because they just didn't have time to play nice. First try some Liquid Wrench on the "teeth" of the metal spline. Let in soak in according to instructions and then give it a try. I've had some success by wrapping the top of the Activator with rags-towels and soaking them repeatedly with boiling water. Inside the top of the activator is a hard-rubber spline that connects the metal drive post with the polypropylene body of the Activator; you can see it in your photo if you look between the white parts and the metal spline center; it's black. You might luck out with the heat and coax the outer rubber spline to separate from the metal inner one. Then you'll have the purchase you need to lever the metal one off of the drive post. GE splines are always on sale on eBay. Good luck.

Post# 1175683 , Reply# 6 3/22/2023 at 22:49 (408 days old) by mb1974 (pa)
Checkrate/Likes When I pull the activator off for whatever reason, I always wipe the shaft off and put a fresh coating of Vaseline on it before re-placing the activator back on. I do this at least once a year. The Vaseline only goes on the splines, not the entire shaft.