Washing machine - start agitate cycle?

 I have an Amana washer, not sure of the model number, but it's
relatively new (purchased by previous owner of house).  I'd like to
override the lid control so I can briefly watch it agitate with the
lid open (to see if it's over or under-loaded).  Some washer lids
simply depress a button when closed, but I don't see one here.  It
appears to have the control inside where the lid connects to the
washer frame - must release a lever or something when closed.  Trying
to figure out if there's some easy way to temporarily override this.
Any ideas?


--

He trusted neither of them as far as he could spit,
and he was a poor spitter,
lacking both distance and control.

...P.G. Wodehouse

 

Do you hear a click or anything audible when the lid is closed?

If not, wild assed guess:
I wonder if it could be magnetic.  Might try running a magnet or
something around the lid opening and see if it actuates any change.
I have my doubts though, given the metal nature of these washing
machines.

I've seen the switch deals like you describe on yours.  My newer
Kenmore though has a plastic "finger" attached to the lid that drops
into a hole when the lid is closed.  

I'm not sure if any of that helps.  

I'm not sure this is something you really wanna go out of your way to
override though.  It could get messy when you forget about it and that
agitate becomes rinse/spin or wash with an unbalanced load.


--
Todd H.  
http://www.toddh.net/

 t@toddh.net (Todd H.) wrote:

Yup, some sorta click.


Wish this one was like that, then it'd be easy.


I'd just hold it down manually for a few secs to check the load, etc.
Hate not being able to do that...


--

He trusted neither of them as far as he could spit,
and he was a poor spitter,
lacking both distance and control.

...P.G. Wodehouse

 .  

It's safety interlock.  Are there kids in the house?  Pets?

Why does he want to watch the agitation?  (mebbe I don't want to know...)

Banty

 
Because it makes it much easier to tell whether there's room for more
stuff, whether the amount of detergent is ok, whether the water level
is ok, etc.  I'm not talking about staring at it for half an hour,
just maybe 30 seconds or so.  Another mfg protecting the consumer from
himself.  Sigh.


--

In 1969, I published a small book on Humility.
It was a pioneering work which has not, to my knowledge, been superseded.

...Lord Longford