How to Troubleshoot and Replace your Dryer Motor
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- Опубліковано 25 лип 2024
- In this video I show you how to tell if your dryer motor is bad. This is a step by step troubleshooting guide for dryer motors.
A few signs that your dryer motor is about to quit is when the dryer will not start back up right after completing a load of laundry. But if you wait an hour for the motor to cool down, the dryer will start again.
Another is when your dryer makes a loud hum or buzz sound when your press the start button. The noise will progressively get worse until the dryer won't start at all.
The dryer in this video is a Kenmore 70 Series. This repair will apply to most every Kenmore, Whirlpool, Maytag and Frigidaire Dryers along with many other brands. They are all pretty much the same.
My channel has a bunch of dryer troubleshooting and repair videos like this one.
Here is a video on how to disassemble the dryer in this video.
(will be here soon) - need to make video! lol
Be sure to subscribe to my channel for repair videos. Leave some comments if you have any questions or just leave some comments. I read every one of them and enjoy hearing from you all.
Thanks for Watching - Навчання та стиль
4 hours into trying to figure out what’s wrong with my dryer, numerous videos, belt and roller exchanges, then this guy answered it within the first minute of his video!
Gotta hand it to you Bill, there are a lot of videos on here on how to repair and replace components, but your discussion of the symptoms of a bad motor were exactly what I needed to know I need to replace my dryer motor. Thanks!
Thank you Bill! I ordered a used motor after your diagnosis tips and removed/replaced old with new. Dryer ran quieter, smoother and didn't quit after 10 minutes anymore ! Much gratitude ! HFlores
Bill, your experience by using the channel loks to grab the tip of the mounting clip works so much better than typical instruction. Thanks!
Out of all of the troubleshooting problems I’ve had on my dryer, you by far were the most direct and most helpful! Thank you very much!
Thanks a ton, dude. My motor was covered in lint and was burning a little. I was able to get the motor out and clean it up real good with your help. You're awesome!
Bill - great advice - was perfect to track down the problem. The motor was stalled (humming), and I gave it a push and it started running. Time to order a new motor. Thanks
Replaced my dryer motor myself with the help of your video!!! A million thanks because I know NOTHING about fixing stuff. The trick of using a block of wood and hammer to loosen the blower fan worked perfectly (although it took a bit of time to break loose but I didn't break it!!! YAY!!!).
Thank you very much for this very informative video! You made it very easy to replace the motor , which saved our family alot of money which we would have spent on a new machine. Thanks again and have a great weekend!
Thanks for explaining thoroughly all the symptoms of a bad motor..that helped a lot ..the problem I had with mine was the humming sound and I helped it start up while pressing door switch and having someone push start while I turned barrel. Now it will start on its own but the dryer turns off after 3 seconds and starts back after 5 minutes and repeats.
Thanks a million for this video and the comments section as well. That fan blade stumped me for awhile but I got it eventually. The newer motors are built better I noticed, less likely to break and way more durable.
The only video on UA-cam that I have found that explains the issues I’m having. Thank you!!
Hey Bill, This video helped me to determine my dryer motor was bad; I replaced it myself and saved a lot of money on a service call and part. I also have used your refrigerator repair video as well and it has helped me figure out what was wrong with my defrost cycle. Keep the help videos coming; thanks!!!
Patrick Giacobbe Good for you!!!!!!!! You're a smart guy!!!! I'm an appliance tech Pat!!!!! I would have charged you around $700 bucks easy.Greetings buddy.
I want to thank you for this excellent video, you explained things very well of how to diagnose if the motor is bad, listening to you is exactly what my motor is doing, so now I am going to try to replace the motor myself, thank you very much!!! for this wonderful video, you save me a lot of money. May God bless you for trying to help others
Exactly the problem my dryer has. Great video, like the previos comment, it goes straight to the point, helped a lot, thank you for making this video Bill!
Thank you. With the exception of removing the fan, everything worked exactly as you said it would. My problem with the fan was just a particularly stubborn fan tat required a different method of removal.
Thanks, We were making a tumbler out of two dryers and simply wanted to take all the unneeded parts out of the case. Many many thanks.
The world can go round and round again!
I would like to thank you kindly for making and sharing this video with us, it helped out a lot. I was struggling trying to remove the motor from my dryer for hours and couldn't figure it out, didn't want to force and brake anything such as the blower wheel in the back but just didn't see anyway around this. Also your comment about the thermal fuse helped out as well as I forgot to check that first. Its inexpensive to replace, easy to test and often the cause of our problems.
Thank you for the great video! I replaced the motor and installed a new belt and parts kit as well! After unsuccessfully trying to remove the blower fan using the method you described, I instead used a small steel rule and fit it across the fan blades and threw the exhaust duct, jamming the fan itself and then I used the vice griped motor pulley as a lever and turning clockwise, I broke the fan free with no damage to the plastic fan! Much easier!
Thank you so much. I had tried the method in this video and another method shown in a different video to no avail. Your suggestion worked (almost) effortlessly!
Thanks! I already pulled pulled the covers to get the motor part # and get it ordered but after watching your video I will remove the fan and get one ordered before the motor gets here since I am sure that I will be lucky enough to break the current one! Thanks again for doing these.
Bill , Thank you so much for the video you made. The way you explain and show how to remove the motor and blower wheel . I did exactly what you did . It worked. keep up the good work .I'm tied of getting ripped off.
Thank you for uploading this video. My husband has been working on replacing the motor in our dryer, and he was afraid he would have to break the blower wheel into pieces to get the old motor out. Your hammer and wood method worked perfectly and saved us from having to buy another blower wheel.
Another easy way to do it, get the biggest pair of channel lock pliers you've got, open them wide jaw so that the jaws are under a fin each, then Turn the handles like a steering wheel to the right!
@@zn_361 That's a very good tip actually. Thank you!!
You helped me a lot in troubleshooting my motor. I like how you laid out in progression the symptoms. I was able to save my motor from burning out. Thanks.
+Bill Newberry Thanks so much for this tutorial. After a day of using the old motor- after thorough cleaning of whatever lint and hair stuck on its gut, It exhibited the same symptom of sound and intermittent not starting. I finally decided to replace it and all is good except now I hear the rollers whining coz of the quiet motor and will replace them soon as well. The rollers whining sound was probably masked by the motor's buzzing sound for years. Well, it should be good practice I guess to change out the rollers together with the motor specially after x amount of years.
Thanks for the video, which does an excellent job of describing common motor symptoms.
It is helpful to understand why an electric motor fails. My understanding is that the most common cause of failure is overheating, which causes the insulation in the motor windings to break down.
Yes, I need to know the why of it. I replaced my motor less than 3 years ago, and now it's failing again. It'll run for 10-20 minutes, shut off, and then it starts again if I let it cool down. The apartment maintenance people checked the exhaust outside and said it's exhausting fine. I am suspicious because I started having to run my dryer for 1.5 cycles to get clothes dry after I moved here. I replaced the heating element, motor, belt, drum support wheels, belt tensioner, fuses, and thermostats less than 3 years ago. It should have been drying fine unless the exhaust is obstructed.
I did find my dryer motor hard to turn, but it did barely turn. I quirted some lighter fluid into the 'bearings' of the motor, and my drum rollers. Every turning part had some resistance. The lighter fluid was a good solvent to loosen up dried lube of old. I then squirted in some gel lube. She runs better than ever. I cancelled my motor order, but I agree it was indeed largely the motor. The old rollers are now super smooth. When I change the felt, I'll pull them out a use some Syl-Glide on them. Thank you for helping me narrow it down!
That actually seems like a better way to remove the motor. All the videos I have seen demonstrate grabbing the blower wheel with an open end wrench on the other side of the blower wheel just behind the motor, and then turning a socket on the pulley end of the motor. Each time I have tried it that way I just end up rounding out that part of the blower wheel as it just slips through the wrench. Would have liked to see how you use the hammer and block to loosen it up without breaking it though. Anyway, appreciate your videos.
Thanks for the help! The hardest part of the repair, as you mentioned, was removing the fan. The locking pliers get slipping off and i ended up using a medium pipe wrench, instead. Using a wood block and hammer to strike the fan was unsuccessful but I had another idea. I cut a piece of 1/2" thick wood so it would fit between opposing blades on the fan, then used another pipe wrench to turn to the wood. The fan broke loose almost immediately and came off just fine. Thought this trick might help others.
Thank you, you made my life way more easy, right on point
thanks for the great video Bill. I just replaced my motor. man you were not kidding about the blower being tough, holy crap! any one doing this I highly suggest some kind of penetrating oil, let it soke in for a hour. spray it from the inside and tilt dryer back so it can leak back. I stuck a hammer handle at the bottom and and used another hammer to get it loose. didn't even break it!
thanks again.
Excellent info -- thank you for sharing!
great video .. great knowledge about how to know the motor is in failure approach or has .. failed : Thank You !
Nicely done. Yep, after listening, we've got a bad motor. Only, I'm one who cracked the hub on the fan wheel. Drat. Still cheaper (and better) than buying a new dryer!! Thanks dude.
Thanks, GREAT video- I would recommend getting the blower at the same time as the motor, only a few dollars more. THANKS AGAIN!
I tried all types of troubleshooting. And the dryer worked when there was no heat - other guides point that it means the motor is OK. Then after watching this video I decided to try a new motor and it magically helped. And yes, the dryer made humming sound when attempting to turn it on after it went off. Good indication of the problem in the motor.
Also my original motor passed continuity testing, but obviously still had a problem.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. We used this video as a guide with our dryer, extended the motor life for 5 more loads and then eventually replaced the motor. But we honestly wouldn't have known where to start if we hadn't watched this video.
Unfortunately this guys been dead since 2016
Oh wow RIP
Thank you so much! I have the exact same model of dryer and symptoms that are what you described exactly. I was already thinking it was the motor from other research, but I'd say this confirms it. Thanks again! I'm off to go price these bad boys!
Thank you. I've tested all switches so it has to be this motor. Its funny now, when the motor went bad I pushed the start button it buzzed way louder then ever and as I pushed I noticed the lights in the apartment dimmed as I pushed the start button. Yeowzer.
Anyway, going to town to pick up a new one, maybe order one.
My dryer was shutting off Midway through the cycle and would not turn back on until a few minutes later like you said on the video so I ordered a new motor and it worked for a little while and started doing the same thing again.
Thank i love videos with this much detail. Step by step but not too long or boring 🤙🏽🤙🏽
thank U Bill this is the answer to my question,and U had a dryer motor completely appart with answers to all questions.I do have one question if I jumped out the start switch would the motor still run.Maybe that was answered in your video have to watch it again. James
very informative. thank you looks like something I can tackle. exactly the symptoms that I have with my dryer., I would turn the dial and I hear a noise but the drum does not engage. Also, ill start the dryer and give the drum a nudge and it will start to work. . I will by a new motor and try and install myself.. thanks
Thank you they wanted a too much to replace motor I watch your video and did it myself.
thanks for the information much appreciated!
2:04 Thankyou. Confirmed my problem. If only I had come across this video earlier I wouldn't have wasted so much time taking apart the dam dryer and reassembling it multiple times. Buying a new bearing, belt and pulley. 😖 Just needed a new motor 🤬
R I P BILL thanks for your help
rip?
With all due respect how did bill past way ?
Holy moly if he passed thanks for the video .. hopefully a dryer didn’t kill him. 😂
Omg Infeel so bad. I just asked a question. Such a nice person this is so sad. I'm sorry.
Great video! Thanks for the help!
You are a life saver. Thank you for the knowledge.
Great DIY video. Straight to the point. Thanks
You are explaining my symptoms..looks.like it's a new dryer motor for me.
Great video!! My Whirlpool Cabrio won't start, it only makes a clicking sound. I tested the thermal fuse & door switch for continuity and both are fine. I am having trouble testing the start switch because the dryer has 2 control boards, with a group of thin cables coming out of the front board going into the smaller board that has a bunch of cables and more fuses.
Awesome 👍 I needed this. Motor just buzzed on start.
Great video thanks! I’m bad about just diving in and destroying shit not properly knowing how to take it apart.
Thank you! I had replaced a hardened, slightly cracking drum belt thinking it wasn't gripping. Changed the rollers too since i was in there. Imagine my surprise when it still buzzed and wouldn't start. The symptoms were what you described. Ugh. The motor? Would've never thought of that going. Now i gotta go back in and replace that. A motor is still cheaper than a new dryer, or a 2nd hand one that you don't know how much life is left on it.
This folks is called a left handed thread on the blower wheel,helps you remember which way to put your vise grips,if you know that the motor shaft is threaded left.
Great video. Thanks.
I've had to remove blower wheels twice. My dryer has the 1/2" square hole in front. The first time I used a ratchet wrench with a 1/2" square extension, which immediately deformed the plastic, and I ended up cutting off the wheel and buying a new one. The second time I decided to try my impact driver (just about the most useful tool i own). This worked like a charm and did not deform the plastic.
Can you please explain how you used an impact driver to remove the blower wheel. Regards, JP
good video.. just want to ask, i try do like what you said, bypass the door and press start after that give some help to make sure the drum was spin and yes is spin.. that mean my dry motor need replacment right?
great video for us do it yourselfers
thank you
Very helpful thanks!
Great help, thanks.
thanks for the video my man!!!
Very helpful diagnosing bad motor.
Thanks man - by 2m25s, I knew what I had to do.
great vid! I now have the confidence to tackle this one by myself! Semper Fi!
+TheUnclerickie Semper Fi!
+Bill Newberry YO! my dryer ran for about three cycles then shut off. after like 3 weeks of procrastinating I took it to a repair man. RM told me that he plugged it in and it worked well so I should check the plug in and breaker.. did that and there was nothing wrong with either so I plugged it in and it fired right up. few cycles of towels and it shuts down again but this time it emitted a burning smell. after about 3 hours I pressed the start button and it didn't start but sounded like it was going too. every trouble shooting tip I've found said if it shuts down 10 minutes (or so) into a cycle then it's the motor over heating but nothing about after a few cycles. any ideas??
+TheUnclerickie BTW sorry for commenting with a question on your post but for some reason I couldn't tag Bill in my own post.
Alyster Woo no problem.
Exactly as you said, it worked for few weeks but now it won't move even with help. After disassembling the dryer, I tired to rotate the motor by hand but there is a lot of resistance and it won't move even with belt removed.
Very good video. You are awesome.
So glad I know where your bigger vice grips are..
Thank you for this video it saved me tonight
Hi bill
thanks a lot for sharing very helpful troubleshooting same issue as mine and changed the motor it works good but time drying non stop a given min
do you have something to fix
thanks
Good video, you're a amazing guy.
BitgodExperience Thanks!
NICE video I just want see some readers getting that back clip install they are going to have fun ,,,
Very useful. Thanks
Good video, thanks for posting. I have a Kenmore/Maytag drier and when I press the start knob the drier starts for a few seconds then I can see there is a draw on the electric as the lights in the room dims for a second then the drier stops. If I do nothing in about a 90-120 seconds the drier tries to start again with the same results. The motor does not get hot as the drier doesn't run for more than a few seconds.Any suggestions?
Thank you...exact symptom...It worked...
Also if I reach inside and spin the drum by hand I feel something start to spin on its own and then I will hear the same rumble sound for a second or two. I just tried this so now i'm thinking its not a belt. could it be the wheel support for the drum?
I bought myself some time by watching this video, cleaning and lubercating my motor, now I just need to order me a new one.
wish I would've found your channel before I blew $25 on a new thermostat... great information!
um.. they do not have a t-stat. you must have got scammed.
I have a Kenmore 417 series gas dryer, motor hum, with top off, I can hand start the drum turning, bad motor?
Well done - you're a good teacher!! Thanks!
I have watched many of your videos and really like them.
That being said, I usually take those blower wheels off by using a wrench on the hex head on the other end just opposite the pulley, if I am lucky.
I have two questions - Does that dryer motor have a reversed thread pulley?
When the motor hums when you try to start, do you ever replace a capacitor? I am not sure I have worked on an American made dryer that has a start capacitor. It has been a while since I have done much with dryers.
thank you . can i use a motor from a different dryer on my frigidaire dryer ?
Thanks so much for this video it sure helped out every other video useless 🙏🏼
its also worth checking the cap on the motors. replacing the capacitors on these motors if they hum but you have to kickstart it manually can save an otherwise healthy motor.
I have a question..... i cant seem to find a video anywhere, my dryer doesnt appear to have any issue like this, but i found an oily substance under the dryer this morning. What should i be looking at underneath or inside, and what should be done to fix it?
I changed my thermostat and thermostat operator and my dryer still wont start. Is my problem the motor of the timer?..it does not make a sound when i hit the start switch..thanks
good instructions
This video was a great way to visualize how to replace my dryer motor. My dryer is a 1995 Kenmore (writing this in 2023). The symptoms are exactly as you describe (humming and strange sound and then shuts off). My only question is you took off two clips held with channel locks when disassessembling - do you clip on the second clip after the first one and then clip on the vice grips (opposite way from the unclipping) prior to reassembling the blower wheel at the back? Thank you for a great video and you have saved me $100s.
Could a bad motor or something else wrong with the dryer causes a breaker to trip? Breaker keeps tripping and I already replaced the breaker. Breaker is 30 amp and so is the dryer. Dryer outlet reads 116.5 volts on each side of 3 prong outlet. Thanks for your videos. Michael
Thanks for helping us save hundreds of dollars! $130 for a new motor and we're good to go!
Hey Bill. My Whirpool dryer keeps blowing the start relay upon starting. Could this be a symptom of a bad motor? Thanks.
great videos
Bill,
I have replaced the dryer motor switch on my WED8300SWO. It will heat the first run. but then will not heat anymore after that. The motror will just keep turning the drum. Do you have any suggestions?
The best advise thank you
I have a Kenmore 80 series elec. dryer when I push the start button it'll run for about two 2nds and turn back off, can you suggest what to trouble shoot so that I can fix our dryer?
Hi I would like to know how to reconnect the wires because the motor I bought is a little different from the old one
Hey Bill. I replaced the belt on my dryer with your help, because mine wore and snapped. Now the drum barely turns when empty and not at all with any weight. It seems like the motor is running just very weak. I feel confident I can change the motor from watching your video. Is a new motor the answer or would you try other things first? Motors are expensive, so I wanted to ask advice before buying it.
Great video. However an easier way to take the blower wheel off is to take the back clip off the motor and put a 13/16 open end wrench on the nut, and use a 7/16 on the shaft on the front and hold them and turn the front wrench clockwise. That way you don't damage the fins. Worked well for me.
Nothin's easy. I had to use a dremel and cut the wheel off. It was stuck to the motor shaft. All a 13/16 wrench did was round off the corners.
This video was a great help. Made the removal of the old and installation of the new motor easy. However, when I put on the new motor and put everything back together and pushed the start button the dryer is making a loud grinding noise. I checked my installation steps and it seems to be installed correctly. Is the motor defective?
I have the same problem! Replaced the motor twice with a brand new unit and grinding starts on the 1st load. Can't figure out why.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED. HOW TO WATCH A VIDEO THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TESTING THE MOTOR. how to test your motor...........replace it.yeah brilliat why didnt I think of that
hi bill i have a ge front loader dryer. i think its a 2006 with the electronic control panel. it turns on but will not heat or spin and i have no clue how to take the sides off to get to the enter part at the bottom where the motor is. do u have any idea or clue what might be wrong or how i might be able to fix it? thank you for your time..