Does anyone know how to force a washing machine to spin using a pencil and if so can you give me?

Simple instructions? Our washing machine died a couple months ago and we were told the motor is bad and needs replacing, but ours is obsolete. I know our landlord fixed our neighbors with a pencil somewhere and the repair man did it too, but I don't know where he put that pencil and our landlord isn't responding to us. If anyone can advise me that would be great.