Product review (5 stars): Easy, Cheap (& Cheap & Easy!) Repair for Kenmore Series 90
We had a load of desperately-needed socks half washed when the tub stopped spinning in our 20-year old Kenmore Series 90 washing machine.  It's never given a bit of trouble or even been moved in the past 20 years, as the clutter of lint, boxes and debris around its base would attest to.  Grinding sounds would emanate from below whenever the cycle was recommenced.  We discussed immediate plans to use the laundromat, take our dirty linens to a relative/neighbors house or the dreaded purchase of a new machine!  Fortunately, being an avid tinkerer, I did a little research on-line and thought this repair was a fair bet, would be easily accomplished albeit messy.

In a few days the $6 part arrived and I found the repair was actually easier than described on numerous Youtube videos.  I didn't even have to remove the water or load of old socks that had been soaking for a few days.  All I did was tip the machine to the left (as looking from the front) enough to gain access underneath.  And messy?  Not at all.  The underside is pretty sparse of components: only a hose, the pump/motor combination and the transmission...that's it!  I could see easily that the connector was obviously broken by trying to shift it with a screwdriver.  All I removed were two screws and the retaining straps they held in place.  This allows the motor/pump to be pulled away and dropped to remove the offending pieces and install the new ones.  Put the motor back in place while aligning the coupler pieces, re-secure the straps and you're done.  It would have taken only 20 minutes if I hadn't babied everything out of concern.  I set the washer down, restarted the cycle and my socks were done as if uninterrupted by a week's wait.  The washer even seemed quieter than before, leading me to believe it had slowly been dying for some time.

If your washing machine is broken, don't even inspect it!  Just order this part and try it.  If it fixes it, great! if not, the cost in time and money is minimal.