How to Repair a Dryer Drum that does not Tumble

If your dryer drum is not tumbling, there are three possible causes. It could be the result of the belt, the motor, or the tensioner. You will need to check all three to determine the cause.

Step 1 – Preparation

To begin, unplug your dryer. If you have tried to use your dryer recently, it is also a good idea to wait until it has completely cooled off as to avoid any injury.

Step 2 – Opening the Dryer for Inspection

You will need to open up your dryer so that you can fully inspect it. To do this, begin by removing the bolts on the top cover of the dryer. Next, you will want to remove the back panel of the dryer and unplug the heating element that is found there.

Step 3 – Checking the Driver Belt

If your belt is working correctly, it should be attached firmly and not give much if you lightly pull on it. You want to check and make certain that it is not broken. If anything seems out of place, this could be causing your dryer drum to not tumble properly.

Step 4 – Repairing the Driver Belt

If you have determined that the belt is the problem, this can be repaired by replacing the belt. To do this, remove the old one and put a new one in its place, which is around the motor shaft and over the drum. You will then need to push the pulley wheel in a counterclockwise direction until the belt is over it. Make sure that you've attached the new belt firmly by turning the dryer drum by hand. Loose belts or belts that are on incorrectly or too tight risk the chance of snapping.

Step 5 – Checking the Tensioner

To check the tensioner on your dryer, look for the wheel that your belt runs under before it hits the driver pulley of the motor. If the spring on your tensioner has become broken or if it doesn't have much strength when you attempt to lightly pull it, then this is something that could be causing your malfunction.

Step 6 – Replacing the Tensioner

Replacing your tensioner depends upon what kind of dryer you have. Some dryers will allow you to only replace the wheel, but others require a replacement of the entire assembly. Replace your tensioner as required by the model of your dryer.

Step 7 – Replacing the Motor

If you have made certain that both your belt and your tensioner are working properly, but there is still a problem, then you will need to replace your motor it's faulty. Begin by unplugging the wires from the harness and disconnecting the blower. Make sure that the motor is stable and then go ahead and remove the spring clamps that are holding it. Now that your motor is unattached, you can replace it with a new one. Simply reattach the spring clamps, reconnect the motor and plug the wires back in in reverse order that you uninstalled the old one.