Help me! Whirlpool top loader drain problem

Hi all,
I have a rather old Whirlpool top loader, model LCR5244, that I use when I have to ration water (I’m on a spring). It’s in a shed – I load it with buckets of water, and it drains into a ditch, so it’s not connected to any plumbing. Yesterday I was doing a load of laundry – it agitated properly, drained properly, and just before it began to spin, it made a noise, which went away when the tub spun. However, in the spin cycle, where usually the water at the very bottom of the tub comes out, none did. The clothes spun, but were not as dry as usual. Today (with great difficulty) I disconnected the drain hose at the back of the machine – there was no obstruction. The pump is at the bottom of the machine, at the rear panel. I was able to get the hose off, between the tub and the pump – there was no obstruction there, either. I’m assuming that the pump is bad (sadly, I was unable to get the pump off yet – the bolts holding it are pretty rusty). I have a few questions…..Is there any way of testing the pump while it’s still attached to the machine? But, more importantly, is the purpose of the pump only to pump UP the water at the bottom of the tub, during the spin cycle? Since the external drain hose is connected to no plumbing, I am wondering if I lower that external drain hose, just before the spin cycle, so that it is lower than the tub, if the centrifugal force of the tub spinning, will get the excess water out from the bottom of the tub?? A weird question, but I really need the machine. Thanks!!