Our kenmore is working fine but in past day it seems the agitator is starting to slip under load. Seems like a retainer nut or such has worked loose and under load the agitator just slips as the spindle inside clicks around doing its job. Under light load it works fine.

Can you tell me how to access the mechanism to tighten this up or otherwise cure the problem?
Thanks much.

This repair description is the most common, but there are a few units that will vary slightly, so if you see something that doesn't make sense, ask me first and include the model number. Here goes... Most Kenmore/Whirlpool washers have a 2 piece agitator. The lower half with the fins and the upper half with the auger vanes around the sides. Is the lower half slipping or is it the upper half? If it's the lower half, you can remove the fabric softener dispenser by pulling it up and out, remove the slightly opaque plastic disk under that by pulling it up and out, and the agitator bolt is right there. If it's tight, you need a new agitator or transmission. If it's the upper half slipping and the bottom half is okay, that's a piece of cake, and cheap too. In that event, you will need Whirlpool part number 80040, usually selling for less than $10. These are the agitator dogs that drive the upper half of the agitator on the forward stroke and release it on the reverse stroke. You know how to get to the agitator bolt, so remove it and pull the agitator straight up. Put it on the floor, step on the lower half and grasp the upper half and pull straight up (use both feet, and you may have to pull really hard). The two sections will separate. Turn the upper half upside down and the agitator dog retainer will fall out. Replace the 4 dogs and reassemble the agitator, aligning the two small tabs protruding from the top of the lower half. Reinstall agitator and seal cover (helps to get it wet first so the gasket doesn't roll out of it's recess) and softener dispenser. Top half should grab one way and not the other. Good luck.

Described exact process. My agitator separated much easier than described. Great!

Thanks Applguy! Your remedy helped me to fix my agitator problem with ease and I saved $100 by not using a repair service.

Not an answer, I replaced the dogs which fixed the agitation cycle but now have what sounds like gear noise during the same cycle. It disapeers during the spin cycles. I removed the basket (agitator completley and still get the noise. Any hints. Lube or something?
Thanks

So does anyone else have a dual agitator Kenmore Ultra Fabric Care washer 11082980810 that's chewing holes in their clothes? Any suggestions on what to do, besides never buying a Kenmore No mo'?

I have had the same issue and just learned what it is! The shocks bars! I placed a piece of rubber on the top portion of the shoch bar where the too plastic pieces meet! Talk about super quit! I also just learned that my machine has a reset for the motor! Unplug for 1 full minute, plug back in, within 12 seconds lift the lid about 2 inches and close 6 times. Set on small load and begin washing. My machine is like new again!

I am amazed at how much spinning this machine is doing!

Wow! That's great! Be sure to confirm that you still don't have any "loose nuts" there. They can be really deceiving, and cost whole industries their international edge-I'm just sayin'.