Frigidaire FFTW4120SW1 top load Maxfill washer bad clutch assembly

[Crashes3221]

Model Number

FFTW4120SW1

Brand

Electrolux

Age

1-5 years

I have had this Frigidaire FFTW4120SW1 for around 4.5 years. Recently it was getting louder and louder especially on the spin cycles (sounded like bad bearings or something). I took it to the garage and looked under it and figured that it would require a new clutch assembly part # 5304516133. Then I moved it back inside to hopefully last until after Christmas. It lasted until December 22 of course. I could tell that it was done when the spin cycle would only spin the agitator instead of the tub. It would bind up the clothes and throw a code. Bought the part on the 22nd and it was delivered on the 24th.

All of the part places that I looked at wanted $300+ for the replacement assy. I somehow found out that the clutch assy in the frigidaire was the same one that is in a Midea and Insignia washing machine. The part number for that clutch assy is 12938000001941. I paid $130.87 total with tax and shipping. The only place I found to buy this midea/Insignia part was partstore.com I searched for the 12938000001941 part number and it had 2 results displayed. I tried to order the one with the picture but it would not let the sale go through, so I tried the listing with no picture and that worked. The part came in very quickly. The swap was not so bad and I had clothes back to washing very quickly. I could not find any videos about replacing this part but it was not really that bad of a job.

I just wanted to share the information in the hopes that it could save someone a couple of hundred bucks or keep another washer out of the landfill.

Thanks,
Nick

 

[Dan O.]

Thanks for the observation! Lots of products are being outsourced to China these days.


BTW. That part is available even cheaper at this trusted parts vendor although there's no actual part photo shown... yet.

LINK > Clutch Sub-Assembly 12938000001941


Dan O.

 

[Crashes3221]

I wish I had found that lower priced option. I guess I should have posted on here before.

I was really nervous buying a part that wasn't explicitly for my machine but the part that arrived was an exact replacement.

My wife really loves to overload our washer so I suspect I'll be doing it again in a few years. I'll have to step up my laundry washing game to potentially get some more longevity out of the washer.

Nick

 

[Dan O.]

I was really nervous buying a part that wasn't explicitly for my machine but the part that arrived was an exact replacement.

I don't blame you. I wish manufacturers would use the OEM part numbers as down the line their made-up part number may become discontinued but the original manufacturer's part is still available but no one knows. I think that requirement should be added to the Right to Repair movement championed by Steve Wozniak of Apple and many others.




One good thing is the supplier I linked to above allows the return of a part if it is not correct.

Dan O.

 

[Tuey]

I have had this Frigidaire FFTW4120SW1 for around 4.5 years. Recently it was getting louder and louder especially on the spin cycles (sounded like bad bearings or something). I took it to the garage and looked under it and figured that it would require a new clutch assembly part # 5304516133. Then I moved it back inside to hopefully last until after Christmas. It lasted until December 22 of course. I could tell that it was done when the spin cycle would only spin the agitator instead of the tub. It would bind up the clothes and throw a code. Bought the part on the 22nd and it was delivered on the 24th.

All of the part places that I looked at wanted $300+ for the replacement assy. I somehow found out that the clutch assy in the frigidaire was the same one that is in a Midea and Insignia washing machine. The part number for that clutch assy is 12938000001941. I paid $130.87 total with tax and shipping. The only place I found to buy this midea/Insignia part was partstore.com I searched for the 12938000001941 part number and it had 2 results displayed. I tried to order the one with the picture but it would not let the sale go through, so I tried the listing with no picture and that worked. The part came in very quickly. The swap was not so bad and I had clothes back to washing very quickly. I could not find any videos about replacing this part but it was not really that bad of a job.

I just wanted to share the information in the hopes that it could save someone a couple of hundred bucks or keep another washer out of the landfill.

Thanks,
Nick

Hi Nick,
I have the same model Frigidaire as your and it is also 4.9 years. I have search and search any solution on fixing it. It is doing the same thing like yours. When it spin it makes a loud noise during spin cycles. Luckily my more search came across your post. Thank you. I read that you have purchase this part and replace it yourself. May I ask how difficult was it to replace it? Do you need special tool? I really appreciated if you can give me some advice.

 

[Crashes3221]

Replacing the part was not really all that difficult. If I remember the only odd tool that was needed was a phillips (I think) bit attached to some long ratchet extensions. It is the tool needed to remove the fastener down the center of the agitator. I think this was the hardest part because I couldn't see the fastener as it was covered with gunk.

You also want to be careful during reassembly to not drop any of the screws through the washtub. Getting them back out is aggravating.

I think there is also a plastic arm attached to the top of the washer that you have to be careful not to break when you swing the top up to access the tub.

 

[Tuey]

Thanks for the update. Do we need to remove the tub to replace the part or just need to replace it from the bottom?

 

[Crashes3221]

Yes, the tub has to be removed to access fasteners that hold the tub to the clutch.