I'm working on a whirlpool washer with a direct drive transmission. Washer will not spin but will drain the water. I have the transmission pulled out. Seems like the clutch is worn. Could this be my problem? What is the function of the clutch?

Thanks, aul

The clutch allows the basket to spin up to speed gradually. The output of the transmission goes full speed as soon as the motor starts turning, so the clutch has to allow it to ramp up to speed.

You could have a few different problems. I'll start with the more common ones first.

1. Check the motor coupler between motor and gearcase. They used to be made of just plastic and broke regularly. The new ones have a metal color that helps keep them from breaking.
2. While the motor is disconnected, try spinning the coupler on the gearcase clockwise. Does the outer ring on the output side of the gearcase spin clockwise? If not then you probably need a gearcase. NOTE: The first few turns of the coupler MAY NOT turn the output. It takes a few turns until the gearcase "shifts" into spin mode.
3. The clutch. Try spinning the inner part of the clutch by hand. If it moves easily then you need a clutch.
4. The drive tube/drive block. The basket connects to the drive tube by the drive block and a large nut. The drive block is a soft metal. Sometimes the drive tube will gouge out the drive block and will make it so that the basket will not spin.

That's about it.