Product review (4 stars): Whirlpool problem solved
I bought this Whirlpool washer in 2011 and find that it's not the best machine I have ever used.  First off this machine takes around an hour to do a load of laundry, versus the 30 to 45 minutes with the old GE.  If you don't use the extra rinse there is always soap residue on the clothes, so it isn't using much less water because of the extra rinse.  It has operated satisfactorily up until about a month ago and then I would find it had stalled on the rinse cycle and would just sit there for hours without ever spinning.  I could hold the start button a few seconds and then have to manually set it on spin dry, a hand-operated/automatic washing machine.....  I perused several appliance repair sites and found many references to this actuator as being the cause of spin related and tub sensing problems.  I moved the washer out of the alcove and laid it on it's front and proceeded to inspect the belt, drive gears, "splutch", gear spline nut, etc. to see if that was the problem and everything seemed to be intact, so as per many, many reviews and troubleshooting instructions, I replaced this unit.  It's now 10 loads without a problem, no more soggy clothes, no hand operating the machine, works like it did when it was new.  Easy to replace this actuator, takes way more time to unplug, disconnect and reinstall the machine.  I may order another for a spare, since it seems to be a "high failure rate" item.  Way too fragile a part for all the pounding it takes under the machine.  Very good YouTube videos on how to remove and install also.  Hopefully this will last another five years, it may outlast the machine itself, due to the less than robust construction of the machine.  WB