Monday, January 11, 2016

Another Appliance Headache

Last night the dryer started a horrendous grinding grating sound.  Gosh darn it.

I hate appliance failures.  They require time consuming often expensive repair or replacement and their loss even temporarily can be stressful.

I let it go last night and just turned it off.  This morning I had to deal with it.  I had other things needing done, but I got nothing done today.

I tried to call repair services, but there is currently only one in Albany and their prices to even come out have vastly increased.  I decided against it, since I can if need be find a used dryer for about the amount the repair service charges to just come, let alone additional they would charge for any parts, or labor beyond an hour.

Then I took to youtube to look for solutions.  I knew from the sound it was something impeding the drum turning.  That means rollers at the rear or the felts around the rims at front and back or the sliders at the front.

I took the thing apart and was glad I did, because.....

A wee bit dirty in there.  That is the motor under all that dirt and lint.  It's all completely clean now.
I took a photo of the belt placement so I'd remember.  Then removed it.  It's in good shape.  I was slightly worried over maybe voltage still in the motor coils, since I read something about that possibility when trying to fix the microwave, and that it should be discharged safely, but in the end, I ignored my thoughts and cleaned the coils even with a brush.   My cousin sent me a suggestion via fb on this worry, that I can safely discharge coil current using jumper cables.  Attach one pincher to something grounded like a water pipe and then the other to the coil.  What a great idea.



I took the drum out and was spinning the front "bearing" which is the plastic part it sits in up front with the felt around the edge and the gliders in brackets that hold it in place as it spins.  The grating sounds were quite significant in spots where the felt was thinnest.  The felt is worn down, one glider bracket is broken, and the gliders themselves, worn.

This is the bracket with the glide pad that isn't broken.  Judging from marks on the drum, the gliders have been rubbing it silver for awhile. 
I ordered a new felt, one new bracket and two new slider pads.  In the meantime, I will take my wet laundry that won't dry hanging over a door to the laundrymat.
Should be all fine in a few days.

10 comments:

  1. I can't even imagine doing what you did today.... heck, I had a hard time extricating my son from the drum when he decided to hide there when playing hide and seek with his sister (and he got stuck)... you are certainly a "jack (jill?) of all trades".... hope you get it working again soon!

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    Replies
    1. Have to be the jack of all trades here, too expensive not to be. But youtube is my savior! LOL, cracking myself up. Your son hid in the drum? Oh my gosh.

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  2. Anonymous6:24 PM

    Boy, you would be a useful person to have around.

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    Replies
    1. I'm useful and overly helpful and like to stick my nose where it doesn't belong. LOL. I'm up for hire (a trip to Australia sounds good, even to become a domestic servant--litter boxes always shining and fleas always dead. That's my motto, one of them)

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  3. Necessity and perserverance have given you a LOT of useful skills. I hope the parts arrive soon.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks EC, yes necessity drives a need to learn all sorts of skills. It's a good thing, I figure. I was just lecturing my cats about that same thing, about how if that dryer hadn't broken, I'd know nothing about dryers today so it was not a lost day at all. They did not seem impressed whatsoever, however.

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  4. I"m glad you were able to analyze the problem and order the parts. Looking at your motor makes me wonder how much lint we have around ours.

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    Replies
    1. Mine is sparkling clean now. But, watched one youtube video where a guys dryer quit because the blower was so clogged in lint and dirt. I took a shower with dryer parts yesterday that needed washed.

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  5. You truly inspire me. Way to go! I hope your efforts have it working soon.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks. Parts won't be here til Friday, so we shall see!

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