http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=287x8083Oh my.
Paper Roses (314 posts) Wed Nov-11-09 01:36 PM
Original message
Is my dryer belt loose? Funny 'thunk' sound at each rotation.
I have had this Maytag for about 10 years and I hope it is not giving up the ghost. I think it is taking longer to dry the clothes too. For the past two days, I have heard this fairly quiet sound that seems to be every time the drum rotates.
I am washing some heavier clothes right now. Perhaps it always did this, I don't think so.
Is replacing the belt a do-it-yourself job? I bet the repair folks will charge a bundle to fix it.
The "repair folks" are probably union members.
These are not good times for union members, especially in the manual trades.
The primitives are supposed to show solidarity with their union brothers, by hiring them.
Wash. state Desk Jet (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-11-09 02:34 PM
Response to Original message
1. Paper Roses
Regarding taking longer to dry your cloths. Have you cleaned out exhaust hose ? If there is a build up in the hose and at the point of connection to the dryer ,as it backs up in the machine, than it will not dry properly.OK so blockage will cause the dryer to function improperly.
Or, the heating element is on it's way out. When is the last time the exhaust was checked out? Sometimes it is more so easy to simply remove the exhaust hose ,clean out the trapped lint and such in the connection at the dryer,than replace the exhaust hose with a new one. You can do that. And check out where it vents on the outside of the house.
On the belt, it either works or it don't. If than the basket turns or rotates, than it simply works. What that means is when the belt goes, the basket will not turn-,it works or it don't.
Ok so, same as working on yer car, you look fer the obvious first,the obvious is blockage in the venting system. Time for cleaning.
Paper Roses (314 posts) Wed Nov-11-09 02:57 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. Hi WsDJ, Thanks for your quick reply.
I always empty the lint filter, and every so often, un-clamp the white exhaust hose and vac it out. I never checked into the back of the machine to see if there is anything there. Tomorrow I will take it apart, clean it out and see if that makes a difference. I hope this machine is not going belly up. Guess if it does, I'll have to keep my eye on Craigslist. Maybe someone is moving
Wash. state Desk Jet (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-11-09 03:19 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. Make sure you have a light or a flash light so you can look in there good. Pull back and accumulated stuff trapped in there ,than run the dryer without the hose attached. After a few minutes open the door and feel the heat. If it gets hot in there, that was the problem. Best if that experiment is done without cloths in the dryer.
Stuff can accumulate on the outside of the basket too.
Post the results of the experiment.
From there it is switch, and heating element. Different kind of test/experiment.Otherwise known as the trouble shooting process.
The defrocked warped primitive:
Warpy (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-11-09 04:57 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. Good advice but if you don't have one, this is a job where a head lamp comes in handy.
It lights whatever you're looking at and frees both your hands for the job.
I have an LED lamp that gets 150 hours on an AAA battery. It's one of those things I never knew I needed until I got it and now I use it all the time.
