Great.
After some troubleshooting, I figure out that the heating element works, and the fan works, but the drum isn't turning. No big deal, so I turn to the internet.
"Dryer Drum Won't Turn" in Google, and I get a ton of pages back.
As it turns out, most dryers are pretty simple devices (not including the fancy new washer dryer combos that lets you wash and dry clothes without moving them between two separate machines)... mostly empty space. With some minor differences in design (top loading vs. front loading), there are just a few elements:
1. A sheet metal box
2. control panel
3. A heating element (with a fan)
4. A large drum on rollers, turned by a belt running off of an...
5. Electric motor
Usually what happens with these things is the belt breaks or the heating element goes bad. Since my dryer blows hot air, I knew the heating element worked and since I could hear the electric motor that turns the drum, my repair job turned into a simple belt replacement project, same as a car.
I went to http://www.repairclinic.com/ and lo and behold, they sell a kit that comes with a belt, drum rollers, and belt tensioner lever and wheel for my dryer... which will work on most dryers since 1965. Thats right... My dryer, which is maybe 5 years old, is essentially the same dryer I would have bought almost 50 years ago. Maybe that Dyson vacuum cleaner guy needs to take a look at common household dryers... or maybe not.
The kit I ordered
Cut to... two days later.
Package arrives in the mail and I get to work.
Step 1: Use a putty knife or drywall spackle blade to pry the top off the dryer.
Step 2: Remove the drum. I had to remove a few sheet metal screws so I could move the front of the unit out about an inch so I could lift the drum out of the gasket.
This is what it looks like with the drum removed. Not only was the belt broken, the belt tensioner wheel was broken and melted. I think what happened was the wheel was seized and the belt burned through it, melting the wheel and shredding the belt. It's a good thing I bought the kit instead of just the belt, since it came with new hardware.
Now would be a good time to get the shop vac and vacuum up all the lint and change that's probably collected down there.
Step 3: The belt tensioner slides in to some holes stamped into the bottom plate of the dryer body.
The tensioner doesn't click or clamp in... it's held in place by the tension on the belt, so you have to put the belt on and keep some upward tension on the belt to keep it in place while replacing the drum.
The belt will center itself on the drum when you put it back in. Close the top and enjoy dry clothes.
All told:
Belt replacement kit: $29
Time investment: 30 minutes
Difficulty on a scale of 1 to 5: 1... the job is easier with a second set of hands.
NBD.
