Help repairing a dryer?

Grant Lamontagne · **on:** February 24, 2011, 11:43:26 PM

A few nights ago my dryer started to have some issues, so I took it apart and it seems to have a different set of issues now!

Seriously, I am trying to line up the drum and baffle to put back on the hub and I think I'd have more luck painting a mural at the bottom of the ocean. I can't see the parts to line them up and it's driving me bonkers. I currently have duct tape holding the baffle more or less in place on the end of the drum, but I can't seem to line up the drum and hub properly. I am trying to peek through the other screw holes to see if I can line it up and I'm having no success whatsoever.

Any tricks, techniques or advice? I'd hate to have to buy a new dryer simply because I can't get three little screws put in.

Def

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2011, 11:54:29 PM

Not sure I'm picturing what you're talking about...how about inserting some matchsticks or some sort of headless pins to act as guides?

Were you trying to dry Dunc's brick?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2011, 12:05:24 AM

The pivot (hub) is bolted to the back wall of the dryer. There's a heating coil around that, which is all in a big pan, about an inch and a half deep. The baffle fits between the drum and the hub. There are three screws that hold the drum to the hub. In order to put the drum back in, I have to line up the hub, baffle and drum, and try to get all three screws through all three pieces, but because the baffle fits inside the pan, it's all happening in a place I can't see.

I tried looking through the screw holes in the drum to see if they were all lined up, but I've had no success getting the screw all the way through to the hub. It's really a pain in the arse.

I thought of using wire in the same way you suggested matchsticks (I think they's just fall out though) but I've no way of getting the wire out afterwards, since there's really no way to access the backside of the drum. If I could see what was going on there, I'd have a chance, but trying to line up three screws on one part that is quite free to move is almost impossible, especially when there's another part (baffle) in between.

Def

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2011, 12:15:34 AM

Screw in a long piece of all-thread (or long bolt with head cut off)

place the baffle on, then the drum, pivot it around until you can get a bolt in.

Put in 2 bolts, remove the all-thread and put in the last bolt.

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2011, 12:17:55 AM

So the screw heads are pointed towards the back of the dryer? You're having to insert them blind?

Any way to use a nail or scribe to feel when the holes are lined up?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2011, 01:01:23 AM

The heads are in the drum, easy to access. The problem is that I can't get them lined up into the hub, and the baffle is making it that much more of a pain in the arse. I'll see if I have any all thread and give that a shot.

Def

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2011, 01:12:12 AM

Did I mention what a pain in the arse it is to move the awkward drum around while trying to do some fine work like fitting screws blindly?

Def

Swiss Man · **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2011, 01:50:15 AM

There is alot of manual on line just look up your model and see if there is a pdf for it, I am fortunate I have a friend that repairs washer and dryers and all I do is call him and he walks me thru it.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2011, 02:24:33 AM

Well I finally got the damned thing on. Man what a fight that was....

Now there's power to turn the light on, but the dryer itself won't turn on. I think it's just a loose wire somewhere though, probably caused while I was screwing around with all the guts and the top (with the switches) was hanging off the back of the machine!

I have a friend who has a multimeter coming over tomorrow to help, so hopefully I just saved myself $500.

Def

Nikos · **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2011, 02:37:04 AM

Jeremy Clarkson would have used a hammer from the get-go...

J-sews · **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2011, 03:03:03 AM

Quote from: Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! on February 24, 2011, 11:54:29 PM

Not sure I'm picturing what you're talking about...how about inserting some matchsticks or some sort of headless pins to act as guides?

Were you trying to dry Dunc's brick?

That's the first thing I thought of too!

(Only I don't have any useful advice to add, I'm just here for the laughs!)

NutSAK · **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2011, 04:25:31 AM

You're obviously not holding your mouth right when you try to line it up.

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2011, 05:49:56 AM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on February 25, 2011, 02:24:33 AM

Well I finally got the damned thing on. Man what a fight that was...

The question is now.....which Multitool did you use?

Stormdrane · **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2011, 09:07:16 AM

Vacuum out any lint that you can while you've got access. A loose wire and a little spark can easily get a fire going with dryer lint, don't ask me how I know...

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2011, 01:08:25 PM

Quote from: Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! on February 25, 2011, 05:49:56 AM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on February 25, 2011, 02:24:33 AM
Well I finally got the damned thing on. Man what a fight that was...

The question is now.....which Multitool did you use?

I used a B&D cordless screwdriver, a selection of Mastercraft and Craftsman screwdrivers and a Photon Proton.

I wanted to use a Remington 870 though....

Quote from: Stormdrane on February 25, 2011, 09:07:16 AM

Vacuum out any lint that you can while you've got access. A loose wire and a little spark can easily get a fire going with dryer lint, don't ask me how I know...

First thing I did when I got it apart!

Def

RaptorMan · **Reply #15 on:** February 26, 2011, 11:53:47 PM

what type of dryer? i had the same issue and it was a small resistor. cost me $5

Whoey · **Reply #16 on:** February 27, 2011, 10:53:22 AM

$5 for a resistor?!?!

RaptorMan · **Reply #17 on:** February 27, 2011, 08:05:12 PM

Quote from: Whoey on February 27, 2011, 10:53:22 AM

$5 for a resistor?!?!

I thought it was cheap considering the guy had the same dryer in his shop and showed me how to check replace and verify. All I had to do was drive there and tell him my problem.

Mercury · **Reply #18 on:** February 27, 2011, 08:35:50 PM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on February 25, 2011, 01:08:25 PM

Quote from: Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! on February 25, 2011, 05:49:56 AM
Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on February 25, 2011, 02:24:33 AM
Well I finally got the damned thing on. Man what a fight that was...

The question is now.....which Multitool did you use?

I used a B&D cordless screwdriver, a selection of Mastercraft and Craftsman screwdrivers and a Photon Proton. I wanted to use a Remington 870 though....

Quote from: Stormdrane on February 25, 2011, 09:07:16 AM
Vacuum out any lint that you can while you've got access. A loose wire and a little spark can easily get a fire going with dryer lint, don't ask me how I know...

First thing I did when I got it apart!

Def

I have a B&D cordless screwdriver, I love that tool! When I was in building Maintenance, that was my most used tool.

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