I have a whirlpool washer that has a mind of it's own about whether it's going to spin when it's supposed to or not.
If it's supposed to be spinning and isn't, i can open the lid, reach down into the bottom and give the agitator base a partial turn. Sometimes I'll hear a click like a spring is letting go or engaging something. Other times, don't hear anything after the manual rotate maneuver. About 80% of the time, when i close the lid back it will go to spinning. Sometimes I have to do this a couple of times to get it to spin.

Anyone know what causes this or how to fix it?

I've never taken a washing machine apart, and don't want to tear into it unless I have some clue what I'm looking for and some kind of idea about how to fix it once I get it apart. It's a PITA now, but at least it's still washing clothes which may not be the case after i tear it apart. It's in a real inconvenient place to remove the whole machine from or else I'd just be looking for a nice used one in good shape to replace it with. Thanks!!...Jon

You'll need the make & model number and then call:

Adam the Answer Man
11620 Plano Rd
Ste 8
Dallas, TX 75243
214-553-5450

and describe the problem to the nice lady who answers the phone.

Always has the right part for me.

Might be the door switch not making every time. Check the "plunger" on the door to see if it is missing part of it that hits the switch inside the top of the machine. It's either that or the clutch is slipping but the fact that when you shut the lid again it starts 80% of the time. Probably slam the lid a little bit more the second time enough to make the switch. Check it out and let us know.

Dan, Thanks!!
I don't know why I didn't think of her - that's Linda you're talking about. Doh!!
She's correctly advised me lots of times over the years.
How to repair a circuit board on my frige that got it working.
A 30 YO built in over and under electric oven - works fine again. She knows her stuff. Numerous other parts and repairs over the years. I guess my CRS is still getting worse.

sbump, thanks for the idea. I wasn't real clear in my OP.
It does something 100% of the time when I close the lid unless it's filling with water.
The 80% thing was whether it was actually going to spin after my little rotate the agitator by hand trick or just sound like it was spinning when it wasn't. The lid switch always makes it go into some kind of action unless it's still filling the tub.
I'd like to figure out how to bypass that switch so i can see what's going on but they've made that pretty fool proof on this model. It's actuated by one of the lid hinge pins and you'd about have to take the lid plumb off to bypass that safety feature.

Bad clutch.

Yep, probably bad clutch or transmission.

Jon, I agree with the posts above. It's probably the clutch. Mine did this a few years ago. It wouldn't agitate or run the spin cycle. I replaced the directional "dogs" or cogs that had stripped for the agitator. Go ahead and replace those while you're at it. It's easy.

And I bought a clutch to repair the spinning issue. After the purchase, I found online later that I could just increase the tension on the clutch spring with a few washers. That fixed that issue! I didn't need a new clutch, but have an extra when I do.

Here are some videos I used for reference:

Clutch-

Agitator-