Thursday, October 23, 2008
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Tools:
- Putty knife
- 1/4 inch nut driver or socket
- Phillips screwdriver
- Flat tip screwdriver
- Hammer and piece of pipe
- Container for screws
Before attempting any appliance repair, be certain you have unplugged the appliance and completely disconnected it from any power source.
To begin you must remove the control panel. For some Whirlpool models, you will need to remove two screws from the back of the unit. If there are no screws on the upper back part of the unit, then you will have to remove the end caps to the control panel to expose the screws. For Maytag models, slide a putty knife under the control panel on the extreme left (so you do not damage the lid switch) and pop it up. Repeat this on the far right. Using a flat tip screwdriver, pop out the brass springs holding the control panel to the cabinet and the control panel should be released from the unit
and you can flip it up away from you. and the control panel should be released from the unit and you can flip it up away from you. Disconnect the lid switch and make sure not to let it fall in between the dryer and the control panel.
With the lid open and your hands on the inside, grasp the cabinet and tilt it forward and lift upward at the same time to release it. Place it out of the way. The pump and motor will be located at the bottom on the front.
You will need to start by releasing the two clips holding the pump to the motor and swinging it out of the way. You don’t need to remove any of the hoses to do this. Next, disconnect the wiring harness located on the right side of the motor and remove the two brackets and screws holding the motor in place. Now, you should be able to pull out the motor and see the coupler. Part of the coupler will be on the motor
and part of it will be still on the transmission that is now exposed. Remove the old coupler and start by replacing the half on the transmission shaft. You may need a hammer and a piece of pipe to secure this piece. Replace the rest of the coupler on the motor and put the motor back on. Replace the motor brackets and screws and reconnect the wiring harness. Next, replace the pump and pump brackets.
Now you are ready to place the cabinet back on. Make sure the small holes on the cabinet bottom line up with the tabs. Finally, flip the control panel back over and replace spring clips and screws if necessary.
Tools:
- 5/16th nut driver or socket
- Phillips screwdriver
- Putty knife
- Container for screws
Before beginning any appliance repair, it is extremely important to make sure the appliance you are repairing is unplugged and is completely disconnected from power.
The first step in replacing a dryer belt is to slide out the lint filter. This will reveal two screws, which need to be removed in order to get the top of the dryer off. Next, take a putty knife and slide it in to the small opening between the top of the dryer and the front of the dryer. Using the knife, you can pop the top of the dryer off. Do this on the left and the right and flip the top of the dryer out of the way. It’s a good idea to prop the top against something so it doesn’t strain the brackets.
Now that the inside of the dryer is exposed, you have access to the two screws holding the front in place. Using the 5/16th driver, remove the screws on the upper inside right and left corners. This will release the front of the dryer and you can pull out and up to detach it from the rest of the dryer and swing it to the side, out of the way. You may have to disconnect the lid switch if the wires aren’t long enough to allow this.
With the dryer fully exposed now, you can pull off the old belt. Since the inside of a dryer can accumulate a lot of dirt, it’s a good idea to vacuum it out while you have it apart. Simply pull out the drum, vacuum, and replace.
To put on the new belt, you may need another person to help you hold up the drum. It sags down over the area you need to work with and an extra hand can make the next part easier. Start by placing the belt over the entire drum. Next, you will have to go underneath the drum where the idler pulley and motor is located. The belt needs to be placed through the idler pulley and then attached to the motor. The picture shown is with the drum removed so it’s easier to see how the belt is attached. If this is done
properly, the idler pulley should apply tension to the belt.
After the belt has been secured, you should check the rear felt that is on the back end of the drum to make sure it has not been folded under. If it has, use a screwdriver to pop it out while spinning the dryer drum. Finish by replacing the front of the dryer, making sure the tabs on the bottom of the dryer are lined up with the small holes on the front. Connect the lid switch if necessary and replace screws from the inside top corners and lint trap. Finally, replace your lint trap and you’re finished.