MDE21PDDGW Maytag Dryer - Instructions

Like all of us we have a lot of home projects on our plate. Our 10 year old Maytag cloth Dryer had been make noise all summer, but other project repairs where higher on the LIST. A week before the 4th of July the Dryer quit working. I should of made the repairs much sooner than I did. I had thought one or both of the Drum Rollers was sticking and making noise. It turned out one Roller had worn it's bronze bushing and the Shaft it ran on. The biggest problem was that the plastic Idler Pulley had stuck to it's Shaft and stopped turning. The Drum Multi-Rib Belt then had worn through the plastic Pulley destroying the Pulley and breaking the Belt. It was easier than I thought to get to the problems parts. I looked at videos from PartSelect.com and got some good pointers.I ordered the replacement parts from PartSelect.com and received them in 3 days! I had the Dryer back working within two hours after I received the parts and before the 4th of July. I would recommend if you do this repair, order the Multi-Rib Belt, at least one of the two Drum Support Rollers, both Roller Shaft, Idler Pulley Wheel and Bearing, and the Idler Arm with Shaft. For less than $95 I had the Dryer working like new.

As described on video, except re-installing the belt was difficult. I found it easier to reinstall the drum first, then put belt on inside the grooved part of the drum, so there is some slack. Once installed around the idler and drive shaft, slide the belt forward into final position

followed the instructional video and it was very easy. Videos are great

Removed the door, the front panel and the lint screen panel (easily done with a nut driver and a screw driver - 2 screws on the door and 8 screws for the panels). Tilted the top of the dryer open to see the drum. Turned the drum by hand and heard the same noise. Examined the felt pieces that insulate/isolate the drum from the front cover that retains and positions the drum. They were worn some, but intact. Noticed that one the the two front glide kits the the drum rides on (these are riveted to the bottom of the front panel mentioned above)was completely worn through allowing metal on metal contact. Ordered a new glide kit (about $20 including shipping - 3 days to arrive). Drilled out old rivets and removed what was left of the old glide kit. Installed new glide kit using the 2 rivets that came with the cork and 'teflon'? This took maybe 15 minutes. Reinstalled all covers and took it for a test run. No noise. Wife thinks I'm a hero!

Actually I followed the installation instruction video provide by this website. Instruction videos are excellent for those of us that don't do this very often. Also, I would like to comment on how fast my part was delivered. I ordered it online one afternoon and it was at my door the very next morning.

Followed the videos associated with the parts. NOTE: two videos showed turning the belt smooth side toward the drum, one showed it ribs toward the drum. Important thing is to assure the ribs fit into the grooves on the motor pulley with no twists in the belt.

Ordered part ( door latch ) flowed instructions easily fixed same.

I watched an online do it yourself video that showed how to open the dryer cabinet. It was extremely easy. I unplugged the dryer. Unscrewed four screws and two hex nuts to remove the door and open the cabinet. Then unscrewed two hex nuts that held the broken baffle. Replaced the baffle. Screwed everything back together and the dryer is like new. Saved a lot of money not having to call a service technician. If you can turn a screwdriver, you can make this repair.

watched video ( thank you youtube) but did not have to take door apart - easy !

followed video instruction down to removal of drum, then removed circling, determined idler pulley bearing had worn and scored idler arm shaft, so ordered both. while dryer apart, I removed and regreased drum rollers, checked all sensors and cleaned out dust and lint from a decade of drying. everything went back together easily since I took good pictures with I pad.

The repair was relatively easy. You will need snap ring pliers to remove/install the drum rollers and a rivet gun to install the front guides. I also replaced the drive belt. I completed the repair myself, however it would be helpful if you had someone to hold the drum in place while you installed the belt. After a complete interior cleaning the repair took about 90 min.

removed the dryer front then removed the drum. replaced the drum roller shafts and nuts. then reassembled the dryer. Note: only one shaft loose but replaced both while dryer dismantled.

Remove front cover of dryer and drum. Replace

What sounded like a drum roller problem, actually turned out to be a blower fan problem. Replacing the plastic blower fan which is mounted to the motor shaft is simple easily accessible from the front of the machine.

At first thought the belt was the culprit but with further research found it to be the drum roller. I watched the installation video on this site for belt replacement and replaced both drum rollers and belt idler roller while the dryer was dissassembled. The repair was very straight forward although the belt was somewhat difficult to install on the idler roller(had to hold tension and place belt on roller with one hand).The video was very helpful and now the dryer works great.Thanks