Appliance Repair Wisdom for the Ages

Sunday, November 16, 2003

Appliance Tip of the Day: Dryer Disassembly

At some point during the life of your dryer, you're gonna need to open it up to do some surgery. Here are basic disassembly procedures for the most common dryer brands and models. And, Hoss, a genuine manufacturer's repair manual can be a valuable accomplice in your dryer repair odyssey. Come git you some.

• Admiral, Norge, some White Westinghouse, Montgomery Wards
  First, pop the hood on that sucker. Here's whatcha see on the inside looking in from the top and here's looking at the guts of the dryer with the drum removed.



• Amana-Speed Queen
  First, remove the two screws at the bottom of the front panel. After you've removed the front panel, you'll see four screws that hold on the front drum glide bulkhead. Remove the bulkhead and set it aside--be careful about the door switch wires. To remove the drum, first unstring the belt from the tensioner pulley.



• GE/Hotpoint
  
  • Old Style: First, remove the several screws holding the top down and then the bottom two screws Lift the top and remove the two front panel retaining screws on the inside. Then remove the drum center bearing clip, unstring the belt, and remove the drum.
  • New Style: Remove the top panel retaining screws, pop the top, and then remove the inner front panel screws. Unstring the belt and remove the drum. Here's what it looks like with the drum removed. There are two variations on this dryer that affect how you restring the belt. Variation 1 has a rear access panel through which you can restring the belt. Variation 2, however, does not have this rear access panel. (Thank you, GE ) To restring the belt on this sorry excuse for a dryer, remove the phillips screw inside the rear exit opening of the blower duct and remove the duct. Then restring the belt from the front.



• Sears Kenmore, Whirlpool, Roper, Kitchen Aid, Estate
  
  • Lint Filter on Top: Remove the two screws at the lint filter and pop the top up. Here's what it looks like under the hood. Remove those two screws inside the top of the front panel. Now, go ahead and unstring the belt to remove the drum. With the drum removed, you can see the drum rollers. If you need to remove the motor, this'll hepya. You can remove the back panel to get to the blower chute and lots of other stuff, too. This shows how to remove the blower chute.
  • Lint Filter in the Door: Remove the front kick panel to reveal the bottom retaining screws for the door panel. Now remove the top panel to reveal the top retaining screws for the door panel. Disconnect the wiring harness for the door switch and remove the door panel. Now unstring the belt and remove the drum.



• Maytag
  Disassembly is very similar to the Amana-Speed Queen dryer. Remove the two screws at the bottom of the front panel. Remove front panel, and then remove the drum support bulkhead. The front glide set for the drum is shown here. With the bulkhead out, you can access the blower housing. Remove the belt before pulling out the drum. If you need detailed instructions on replacing the belt, this will help. With the drum removed, you can access the rear drum rollers.



• Frigidaire and White-Westinghouse
  Pop the top, remove the front panel screws, unstring the belt, and pull out the drum.

For more information about your dryer or to order parts, click here.

To learn more about your dryer, or to order parts, click here.

Samurai Appliance Repair Man cast these pearls at 06:27 ET.  [permalink]

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19 Comments:

I have a small addition to your instructions for disassembling early model (pre-1990) GE electric dryers. In my case, it was to replace the belt.

After removing the four screws securing the top, and the two screws at the bottom of the front panel, I still couldn't remove the drum (no clearance). By removing the two screws on the inside top front that secure the front panel, I was able to swing the front panel down to horizontal, and the drum slid straight out.

Thanks for the many tips on your site.

Regards,
Snorp.

By  Snorpus, at October 02, 2004 12:11 PM  

I can't tell you how happy I am that I ran across your web page. I have been trying for hours to put a new belt on my Maytag dryer and after searching every newsgroup and web page for help I finally found yours! You had exactally what I needed (just a simple picture of how to route the belt). Thanks a lot.

By  Joe, at July 19, 2005 7:38 PM  

You're site was of great assistance. Thanks alot!

By  Anonymous, at November 21, 2005 7:51 PM  

Your picture of the how the belt is routed on Mayag dryers was a blessing. I was ready the call the supplier and bless them out for sending the wrong belt. I spent hours trying to figure this out.
Thank You
David.
P.S.
Super website

By  Anonymous, at January 03, 2006 9:47 PM  

Great info on replacing the belt on Maytag dryers! Finding parts wasn't too difficult... but how to disassemble and install new belt??
Needless to say I am Very glad you folks put together this Very helpful web site! After studying the pics, I was able to replace the belt and install new idler pulley in about 15 minutes!
Thanks again, this info was a real time-saver!

By  tony22r, at February 11, 2006 2:01 AM  

I'm back at your site a second time to fix a dryer that loves to be BAD :-) You guys are awesome, amazing and very cool to be offering the wisdom that even I, so-not-super-repair-woman, was able to use to diagnose and fix first my whining screeching noise and now my faulty door switch. (which by the way I ~may~ have been responsible for breaking by slamming the door too hard...maybe)
Anyways just wanted to say YOU GUYS ROCK! Thanks so much!

By  NSERts, at March 14, 2006 7:20 PM  

Many thanks for your info, I just did my first dryer repair (Maytag dryer belt) and it was a snap thanks to your site. The links to the photos were especially handy.

The Samurai Appliance Man is a bookamrk no man should be without.

Thanks Again,
JohnnyG

By  JohnnyG, at April 29, 2006 5:22 PM  

These pages rock!!! I pulled out my dryer switch and diagnosed the problem in about 8 minutes. I'm currently drying my last load with the switch bypassed with a **temporary** jumper. New switch will be ordered tomorrow.

Thanks for the pictures!!

alan

By  alanj, at November 21, 2006 2:58 AM  

One thing you might mention in your incredibly helpful guide to the Maytag Dryer belt is that the evil geniuses at Maytag made a grove in the drum very close to where the belt is supposed to run. If(make that when) the belt falls into that groove while replacing the belt or idler wheel, when you put it back on it will seem as though you have not properly looped it around the motor and idler wheel, even when you have. It will seem as if the belt is (has somehow become) too long, and drags against the alignment slot, until you rotate the drum enough to get the belt out of the groove and up on the drum, where it belongs. I respectfully suggest you might add this tidbit to your otherwise excellent instructions.

Now, my belt is back on. The dryer is running smoothly without banshee squeel. Spouse is happy. Back to my quest for free beer!

By  dark, at October 07, 2007 10:53 AM  

You are a genius, and a great asset to society. Blessings to you. I will tip a Leinenkugel in your honor.

By  ron, at October 30, 2007 11:38 AM  

Thank you for making my first ever dryer belt replacement (on a came-with-the-house older GE dryer) a complete success! The nasty squeaking is gone at last!

By  Carla, at November 17, 2007 3:36 PM  

I had to replace the theromostats on my dryer. I had no idea how to go about it until I happended upon your website. Now my dryer is working again thanks to your instructions. I saved myself a HUGE house call bill and my cloths are dry again!. Thanks again.

By  dennis, at December 27, 2007 8:38 PM  

Thanks to the Samurai, I got change left over for some liquid carbs by performing the repairs myself with his help. Come on down Kemo Sabe!! We'll hoist a few for the holidays. Why call a repairman when the Samurai is here?? Got a couple of cold ones for you in the cooler. Let me know!!!

By  twinkies69, at December 27, 2007 9:40 PM  

Great information. Pictures were very helpful. Can you assist in determining what type of "noise" it makes (re: so that I know what to fix - Belt, Rolers or Motor).

Thank you! Casey

By  C - Molifua, at April 21, 2008 3:32 PM  

Awesome! Thank you for sharing your knowledge of appliances. I would have destroyed my dryer by prying up on the lid if I had not found your site to learn how to access the heater element. Thanks, again!
T.C.

By  T.C., at September 02, 2008 10:17 AM  

Thanks, the directions and snapshots were spot on for my frigidaire fde546res1

By  BeenThereDoneThat, at January 17, 2009 3:09 PM  

Ooowwaaahh great sumarai repair mahn, sank you so much for your wisdom. Wet garhments I must wear no longer.

By  Samulonis, at March 21, 2009 2:05 PM  

I just closed my old Hotpoint dryer after opening to inspect for parts that need replacement. One thing I would add to the instructions to access to the idler pulley for removing the belt. The picture for removing the drum center bearing clip shows the entire back. There is a black panel at the bottom. This must be removed to expose the drive motor and get access to the belt. When going around the perimeter removing screws, do not remove those along the top at the back panel. Get low enough to see below that line and you will find three more screws indented about an inch in from the rear panel. They are the correct top screws to remove.

Also, when removing the spring clip on the drum bearing shaft, be careful to get any shims that may be between the clip and the rear of the bearing. Mine has three. You will want to replace them when you reassemble the unit.

I am ready to order parts now and quite confident that I can open and reassemble the unit easily. Thank you for the info.

By  Stuart, at April 03, 2009 4:20 PM  

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! here i just bought a new dryer but was cheap and didnt get the warranty. I was so upset when the drum stopped spinning so i did a google search and your pictures are truly worth millions! It was such an easy fix and repair and I couldnt have done it without this help forum! (the belt needed to be re-looped cuz the bottom roller fell out of place) THANK YOU AGAIN!!

By  jordanlongacre, at February 18, 2010 1:12 AM  

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