10/05/2016

Clothes Dryer - How To Fix A Broken Belt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD84U0I0_Ik

You open up the door to the clothes dryer and realize that your clothes are still wet.  That's where it starts.

I've had problems with my gas clothes dryer in the past.  Several years ago i had an issue where the flame would come on, then turn off after a few minutes.  The fix for that was to replace the $3 black solenoids.
Dryer Not Heating, no flame, flame out

Gas Dryer Won't Heat - Easy Repair 
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N23wdTfq6Yo

Then a year later i had another issue where the flame didn't come on at all.  The fix for that was a blown fuse.  That part cost around $12.

The problem this time with the clothes dryer is something more common, a broken belt.  I realized it when i pressed the start button and instead of hearing the drum spinning, i just heard a whizzing noise from the motor.  A broken belt is easier to fix then you may think.  The hardest part is getting to it and taking everything apart.

It depends on what type of dryer you have, but you have to somehow get inside and take out the drum.  For my dryer i had to pop off the front by getting the plastic tabs off.
Dryer Won't Heat,Wet Clothes From Dryer,Kenmore Dryer Won't Heat,Broken Kenmore Dryer

Then i removed the front door panel and lifted off the drum.
Kenmore Whirlpool Dryer Won't Heat,Dryer Won’t Heat,Gas Dryer Won’t Heat

Sure enough the broken belt was laying on the bottom of dryer.

I went on to Amazon and ordered a new belt for $8.
amazon dryer belt, fix

Check behind the door to find the dryer model number.
find model number of gas dryer, door

NOW...before you put the new belt on and reassemble everything, there's a reason why the belt broke.  In the instructions it says to clean everything, oil the motor and wheels, and make sure everything spins freely.  It's a good thing i did this step, otherwise the new belt would have broken again.  The motor was fine, one wheel was ok, but the other wheel was so gummed up and could barely spin.
Kenmore Elite Dryer Fix,Whirlpool Dryer Fix,Clothes Dryer Fuse

Closer View
stuck wheel belt, dryer, clean, gas

The other wheel looked ok but i still oiled it.
how to fix broken dryer belt, usually stuck wheel

It was causing a ton of friction with the drum and that's why the belt broke.  So i took the wheels off, cut off the hair and thread that was on the axle, oiled it up, and put the wheels back on.
Dryer Won’t Heat,Gas Dryer Won’t Heat,Dryer Won't Heat Up,

To put the belt back on i found it easiest if you wrap the belt around the drum, install the drum, then focus on getting the belt through the tensioner and snap the tensioner into place.  Make sure you have the grooved side of the belt facing the grooves in the motor wheel.  It helps if you have 3 arms.  See the provided diagrams:
gas dryer diagram, how to, broken belt

Dryer belt diagram 
how to install dryer belt

Test to see that the drum spins then put the case back together.  Hopefully it's as good as new.
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