Patent ID: 7685665

Claim:
A method for assembling a washing machine, said method comprising: providing a cabinet; positioning a basket within the cabinet; coupling a motor to the basket, the motor configured to rotate the basket; operatively coupling a transmission assembly to the motor, the transmission assembly comprising an input shaft at least partially positioned within a housing, a first sleeve bearing positioned about a first end portion of the input shaft, the first sleeve bearing configured to radially support the input shaft and define a radial clearance between the input shaft and the housing at a second end portion of the input shaft opposing the first end portion for facilitating radial movement of the second end portion of the input shaft, and an output shaft operatively coupled to the input shaft, the output shaft including a first end portion and a second end portion; operatively coupling a gear assembly to the motor, the gear assembly comprising a sun gear positioned about the second end portion of the input shaft, a plurality of planet gears positioned about the sun gear, and a stationary ring gear positioned about the plurality of planet gears and fixedly coupled to the housing, and movably positioning a ball bearing between the second end portion of the input shaft and the second end portion of the output shaft, the ball bearing configured to facilitate carrying an axial thrust load of the output shaft, wherein the first sleeve bearing and the ball bearing facilitate radial movement between the input shaft and the output shaft.