Dryer without the Tumble!

November 1, 2006 1:10 PM

What is the likely cause and/or solution for a 3 year old tumble dryer that no longer spins?

We bought a new tumble dryer about 3 years ago and it has worked really well.

However, the other day it wouldn't spin, even though the power was on and the lights were showing...there was just no spin.

Is it likely we need to start from scratch with a new dryer or is this the sort of thing that can be fixed easily, either by ourselves or by a plumber/electrician?

posted by pettins to home & garden (8 comments total)

Driers are very easy to fix. This is likely caused by a broken drum belt. Unplug the drier, remove the back of it, and look inside.
posted by kaseijin at 1:13 PM on November 1, 2006

Dryers, feh... spelling > me at the moment, it seems.
posted by kaseijin at 1:14 PM on November 1, 2006

The belt went on my dryer too. It was easily fixed by the repairman (at landlords expense), except that in the process of replacing the belt he sprayed silicone, some of which landed on the tile floor of the kitchen. The silicone was not visible, and for about a week, anyone that walked into the kitcken in socks was liable to end up on thier butt. Ahhhh...
posted by R. Mutt at 1:21 PM on November 1, 2006

Repair Clinic is a great resource for this sort of stuff. Definitely repair it yourself. Parts are cheap but the labor will likely be $100 if you have to call a repairman.
posted by caddis at 1:22 PM on November 1, 2006

You guys are just BRILL!

3 great responses within 12 minutes!

Thanks guys...

pettins

PS. My wife informs me it is actually 6 years old - Wow, how time flies!
posted by pettins at 1:29 PM on November 1, 2006

There may also be a sensor, in the form of a little switch that stops the spin when the door is open. There will be a little peg on the door that goes into a little hole ("think of your secretary...") when you close the door. The peg trips a switch inside the hole that says "ok, the door is now closed. You can spin."

The switch may also be on the inside of the door, where the hinges are.

If either the peg or the switch is broken the dryer will think the door is open and will not spin.

This happened to me on my washing machine. I replaced the switch once and it broke again a few months later, at which point I just bypassed the switch electronically. I'm sure I'll lose an arm some day because of it but it sure beats buying a new machine.
posted by bondcliff at 1:40 PM on November 1, 2006

I vote belt. This is certainly in the DIY category as I recall being able to do everything with little more than a Phillips head screwdriver - that said - make sure you can get a copy of the service manual that shows the belt installation procedure or at the very least the path the belt should take. Mine was not entirely obvious and the diagram inside the machine didn't age well.

Belts are super cheap. Buy two in case you break the first one or set it aside for 2012 when you need it again.
posted by plinth at 2:03 PM on November 1, 2006

Belt.
posted by Doohickie at 8:21 PM on November 1, 2006