Washer Transmission / Gearcase Replacement Cost
Grinding or knocking during agitation, oil spots under the machine, an agitator that barely moves under load, or a basket that turns during agitation when it shouldn’t. The gearcase converts motor rotation into the agitate stroke — when its gears strip, the symptoms are mechanical and loud.
National averages for independent repair companies. Service-call/diagnostic fees ($75–$150) are usually applied toward the repair. Costs vary by brand, model, and city.
What causes it — and what each fix costs
Stripped gearcase internals
Decades of service or chronic overloading wear the gear teeth. Replacement gearcases are available for most platforms; rebuild kits exist for the classics.
Gearcase oil seal leak
Oil under the machine with normal operation — fixable before the gears run dry if caught early.
Repair or replace?
The honest math call. On a Speed Queen or a lightly-used quality machine: repair. On a 10+ year budget top-loader, a $400 gearcase against a $550 new washer says replace. This is the repair where second quotes pay for themselves.
We'll quote you on hauling it away — or buying it.
Not every washer is worth repairing, and we'd rather tell you that than sell you a repair. If you're replacing it, we'll give you a free quote either way: scrap pickup for a machine that's finished, or a cash offer if it still has life in it. Working units, recent models and premium brands are often worth real money.
Common questions
Is transmission failure common?
No — it’s far rarer than pumps, locks, and actuators. Most "transmission" self-diagnoses turn out to be a $20 coupling, splutch, or agitator kit. Get real diagnosis before condemning the machine.
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