Tip & How-To about Dryers

Dryer Repair - The Dryer is not Turning

If your clothes dryer is not turning the drum, then you have a big problem. If the clothes are not being tossed around so that the warm air can flow through them the drying just is not happening. There a re a couple of common problems that will cause the dryer drum not to turn.

If you are getting the hum from the motor but no action then you need to determine if the motor is running or if the motor is not running but trying too. To my ears I can tell the difference right away. The trying to turn hum is a much lower hum and not the whining hum of the motor spinning freely with no load on it. The best thing to do is to check the belt and see if the belt is around the motor pulley. If the belt is still on the pulley then the motor is not turning. Check the drum to see if you can turn it by hand. If it is stuck then figure out what is holding it from turning. If it spins then the motor is bad, replace the motor.

When checking the belt, if you find that it is not on the motor pulley, then you will need a new belt. When you get the new belt, check out the belt routing diagrams in my tips section for the diagram that fits your dryer.

If the drum will not turn, you probably will want to get a new belt and new guide wheels, rollers, slides, glides or whatever supports the drum. Check out my tip on dryer noise, for more information about that.

Main thing is to not assume that the motor hum is a bad motor. As you can see there are other possible causes for problems that can show the same symptoms.


http://www.fixya.com/support/r4312805-dryer_maintenance

http://www.fixya.com/support/r3866744-dryer_not_working_dryer_not_drying

http://www.fixya.com/support/r3907570-buy_appliance_parts_online

http://www.fixya.com/support/r3866345-dryer_troubleshooting_electric_dryer_won

http://www.fixya.com/support/r4496386-dryer_cord_wiring_dryer_3_wire_or_4_wire

http://www.fixya.com/support/r4416566-dryer_repair_squeaks_grinding_clicking

http://www.fixya.com/support/r4422207-dryer_repair_dryer_not_turning

http://www.fixya.com/support/r4460438-dryer_repair_dryer_will_not_start

http://www.fixya.com/support/r4398592-gas_dryer_not_working_gas_dryer_not

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0helpful
1answer

Clean Lint Filter Light/Possible Heat Problem?

Take the front panel off the bottom and check the big hoses that connect to the drum. From what you are saying, the fan is working but not drawing air through the drum. That is why the light is on because it is not sensing air flow through the connections to the drum.
0helpful
1answer

no heat in dryer

If your clothes dryer is not turning the drum, then you have a big problem. If the clothes are not being tossed around so that the warm air can flow through them the drying just is not happening. There a re a couple of common problems that will cause the dryer drum not to turn.

If you are getting the hum from the motor but no action then you need to determine if the motor is running or if the motor is not running but trying too. To my ears I can tell the difference right away. The trying to turn hum is a much lower hum and not the whining hum of the motor spinning freely with no load on it. The best thing to do is to check the belt and see if the belt is around the motor pulley. If the belt is still on the pulley then the motor is not turning. Check the drum to see if you can turn it by hand. If it is stuck then figure out what is holding it from turning. If it spins then the motor is bad, replace the motor.

When checking the belt, if you find that it is not on the motor pulley, then you will need a new belt. When you get the new belt, check out the belt routing diagrams in my tips section for the diagram that fits your dryer.

If the drum will not turn, you probably will want to get a new belt and new guide wheels, rollers, slides, glides or whatever supports the drum. Check out my tip on dryer noise, for more information about that.

Main thing is to not assume that the motor hum is a bad motor. As you can see there are other possible causes for problems that can show the same symptoms.


http://www.fixya.com/support/r4312805-dryer_maintenance

http://www.fixya.com/support/r3866744-dryer_not_working_dryer_not_drying

http://www.fixya.com/support/r3907570-buy_appliance_parts_online

http://www.fixya.com/support/r3866345-dryer_troubleshooting_electric_dryer_won

http://www.fixya.com/support/r4496386-dryer_cord_wiring_dryer_3_wire_or_4_wire

http://www.fixya.com/support/r4416566-dryer_repair_squeaks_grinding_clicking

http://www.fixya.com/support/r4422207-dryer_repair_dryer_not_turning

http://www.fixya.com/support/r4460438-dryer_repair_dryer_will_not_start

http://www.fixya.com/support/r4398592-gas_dryer_not_working_gas_dryer_not
0helpful
2answers

it gets hot but doesnt dry

you will need to remove the front cover,by removing 2 kick panel screws at the base of the front of the machine,remove front cover and make sure blower wheel is turning,if so,then remove any heating ductwork and vacuum out all lint,this sounds like a restriction inside the machine for air flow
0helpful
1answer

clothes dryer

washer dryer and dryer ony machines differ in a huge way. the big diff. is the drums on each are completly different sizes. the conventional dryer has the bigger, giving better air flow and tumble to clothes. the w/d has a smaller drum thus less air flow and less tumble between clothes. the best way to see this effect is remove half the clothes after a wash and then select a drying cycle. u will see that by giving the clothes more room to tumble free of each other rather than tumbling in a large ball will dry them. washer dryers are really only a marketing tool.
(ex main brand engineer)
0helpful
1answer

Fisher Paykel Elec. Dryer

Usually the belt is a single piece that wraps around the entire drum. The fact that you smelled something and that you feel the clothes are not being tossed tells me that the belt was slipping on the pulley of the motor that drives the drum. This will heat up the belt causing the smell. If the belt gets too loose, this will happen. I'd replace the belt, and I think you'll be back in action.

Let me know what happens. Please rate accordingly.
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