Help me get this basket out of the washer tub

I took apart an old washer and would like to save the metal basket. I've removed all of the fasteners. I even bought a $12 spanner wrench to get off the nut on top of the shaft.

I can't get the basket separated from the outer tub. If anyone has some tips I'd like to hear.

I tried cutting the plastic outer tub with metal shears but that will kill my hands. I don't think there's enough clearance for a reciprocating saw blade.

The metal shaft is still in there. The whole thing has about ~1-2 inches of play. Maybe I need a wheel puller to get it out? Or drive it out from inside the tub?

http://imageshack.us/a/img442/6025/washer4.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img585/1705/washer3.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img6/830/washer2.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img826/7779/washer1.jpg


Thanks

See if you can take the shaft out of the gear box and invert it into the tub and see if you can knock it out with a small sledge hamer. The seal migh have it stuck in place. Some WD40 spayed on it might help as well.

Those Kenmore/Whirlpool tubs can be a bear. I usually push down on the balance ring (the gray thing) a quarter turn at a time until it breaks loose.

If the good sledge hammer cannot get it done, you need to assess the payoff and the vested effort, is it worth it? I would just let it be.

According to this particular washer, once that spanner nut is off, the tub should come out.

Washer Outer Tub (part #63849) - How To Replace - YouTube

excellent video for washing machine breakdown/repair

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by freonjoe

Those Kenmore/Whirlpool tubs can be a bear. I usually push down on the balance ring (the gray thing) a quarter turn at a time until it breaks loose.

---

Mind my ignorance, but why do y'all take the drum off of the transmission/gearbox thing? I just toss it whole in the shred pile after I remove the shell, motor, and control panel.

Wow, I have been going animal with a grinder and breaking the plastic out with a hammer to get at the metal tub that i make fire rings out of. I really appreciate the video. Now I learned how to take the cabinet apart I thought I needed to remove a lot of screws nuts and bolts. I will look into the cost of a spanner wrench. I usually take the dryer block nut off with a 4 1/2 inch grinder.

Thanks everyone.

Update, and yes I've taken my time with it.


I got the spanner wrench from amazon for $12-15 and it's supposed to be universal. It definitely worked easily.

I certainly beat the heck out of it with a 1lb hammer (don't have a sledge). I tried driving the shaft out from the inside by using an iron pipe as a spacer and beating on that.

That didn't help much, it just dinged the enamel in a few spots or shattered the brittle plastic tub.

I remember spraying generic PB blaster all over the bottom of the shaft without success. I don't remember if I sprayed from the inside down the shaft.

I think what did it was I poured gasoline all over the top and inside of the shaft. I only used gasoline because it was nearby, I'm sure other solvents would work also. I actually regretted doing it as I realized I wouldn't be able to try a torch to loosen things up next. :)

Anyhow the metal tub lifted out of the basket. I think there was just a lot of frozen corrosion.

I've dismantled a washer before that had a plastic basket. I used the basket as a planting container for a large tree. Check into prices for 20-30 gallon tree containers and you'll see why. That's what I wanted to do with this one, but I don't know if I'll use it since it's metal. A burn barrel sounds good, but not in my neighborhood. Or you can just use it to throw smaller pieces of scrap into. Since it's already so perforated with holes it shouldn't be a problem to fashion some handles wherever you want.


Thanks all,
junkelly

http://imageshack.us/a/img845/7721/tub0.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img818/2060/tub1.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img542/2215/tub2c.jpg

That looks exactly like the one I just scrapped. I was going to make a burn pit out of it like i saw someone post on here. I kinda bashed it up pretty good and gave up lol.

Break cast aluminum out with sledge hammer. Just remember angle grinder is your friend:)

Whirlpool Front Load Washer Total Carnage - Runaway Drum Assembly - YouTube