Appliance RepairDryer RepairDryer Wont SpinHow to fix a Dryer that won’t spin

Clint8 years ago7 min

How to fix a dryer that won’t spin

Does it sound like a never-ending car wreck in the laundry room? You’ll usually hear squealing and screeching metal prior to your dryer failing. Here we’ll show you how to fix a dryer that won’t spin anymore.

Repair Symptoms:

    • Dryer won’t spin but belt is not broken
    • Dryer turns on but doesn’t spin or heat
    • Dryer won’t spin just buzzes
    • Seized dryer drum
    • Dryer drum not turning
    • Tumble dryer isn’t spinning

Repair Solution

Order a new idler pulley wheel for low cost online, replace the idler pulley following these instructions, save yourself time and money.

The idler pulley wheel that has a nasty habit of wearing out and causing your dryer to stop spinning. It gets louder and louder and then finally fails, tripping the auto-stop lever. At which point your dryer completely stops working.

“How to fix a dryer that won’t spin” video can be used to repair most manufacturers’ front-loading dryers including Kenmore, GE, Whirlpool, Maytag, LG, and more.

Link to appliance parts supplier: www.appliancepartspros.com

Repair part #: 279640

Step by step instructions on how to fix a dryer that won’t spin

  1. Unplug your dryer from the electrical outlet. Never attempt to work on your dryer when it is still connected to an electrical source.
  2. Remove the back panel of the dryer. There are several hex head screws that you’ll need to remove. I recommend a 1/4″ ratchet with extension and 1/4″ socket.
  3. Using a Philips screwdriver, remove the three electrical connections coming from your power cord into the back of the dryer to disconnect your dryer’s electrical plug.
  4. Remove the two screws that are holding the electrical plug’s connectors in place to the back of the dryer’s metal face.
  5. Remove the ground wire connection from the same general area.
  6. Remove the remaining hex head screws and don’t forget about the one just above the dryer vent, to fully remove the metal face/covering the back of the dryer.
  7. Inspect what you see once you remove the rear face plate. You should expect to see your dryer belt hanging loosely, and your dryer pulley wheel will be off the spindle, laying somewhere on the floor of the dryer’s inside compartment.
  8. Clean the dryer’s inside compartment with a vacuum. Important: When your pulley wheel fails, unless you replace it right away, there will be metal dust and other dust mixed together. Believe it or not, metal dust can be flammable, so take 2 minutes to wipe it clean or vacuum it out.
  9. Remove your new pulley wheel from the packaging, set the round washer on the spindle first, then the pulley wheel, and then finally, place the lock washer on the spindle. There’s a little groove on the spindle, and yes, that flimsy little plastic washer will do just fine.
  10. Align your dryer wheel belt onto the dryer motor spindle. Start by removing the slack, coming from right to left. So from the right, pull the dryer belt to the left while simultaneously pulling the dryer wheel and it’s level arm upward until you can slide the belt under the pulley wheel. This can be confusing to your brain, don’t worry. Try as many times as it takes to get it right and you’ll know the moment you got it – that it’s right. Note: when you lift the pulley wheel lever, it closes the dryer’s main circuit again, allowing electricity to flow throw for normal operation again.
  11. Now repeat the above steps. Reconnect your dryer vent tube and plug the dryer back in.
  12. Start your dryer and enjoy a job well done.

Cheers to dry clothes!

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