Hotpoint WD21 "Starter Edition" question

That can be caused by a blocked pressure system causing washing machine to believe there is still water inside when there isn't. Other things can cause it too though. Faults on pressure system

Still does tumble when supposed to spin, even when empty.

Thanks. Water does drain out, that's for sure - I let it pump out over the sink. There is a program setting that does spin only. The pump fires up as part of that, so I have put this cycle on a few times by itself. That way, if the thing is pumping out too slowly due to partial blockage, the several cycles would get all the water out to allow a spin. But it still does a tumble action when it's supposed to spin. In all other respects a full washing cycle does everything correctly, including the mid water change.

The strange way it tumbles when it is supposed to spin seems as if it might be getting the wrong signal from the cylinder timer control (it is one of the old clackety-clack rotating cylinder ones) possibly due to a short there? Or maybe the out-of-balance sensors are stuck on overload?

It is 1995 vintage (ahem), although used only once a week-ish, so I am not going to spend much money on it.

First thing I'd check is that the standpipe, or whatever it is plumbed into is draining freely.

The older models would have been accessible from underneath, if not the rear. The only one I remember having off was my parents 1980 Hotpoint Microtronic, to remove the remains of a missing bunch of keys and small change, and that just had a rubber U bend trap attached to the pump.