[Amie]

Our dryer just stopped working. It has been squeaking/squealing during operation off and on for the last few months. Should I have it repaired, or just replace it? Is it a repair I can do myself? I can't seem to find an access panel.

[SublimeMasterJW]

This dryer is well worth repairing. The parts are fairly cheap and the repair is simple. You probably need a rear bearingrear dryer bearing kit.jpg and a slide kita gibson door glide.jpg for the front.The top is held down by spring clips. Use a putty knife to release it and then you can remove the front panel. The drum comes out and then you can inspect the front panel and bearing for yourself.

[SublimeMasterJW]

top removal.jpgIt is very simple, make sure you unplug machine
use a putty knife to push in the spring clips
that hold down the top and raise that first.
Inside the front panel is a cupla screws need removing,
then the front can come off ,then take the belt loose from Idler;
grab the belt at the top of the drum and yank straight up about 2 inch's and using the belt as sort of a handle gently remove the tub out the front of the dryer.There is just enough room to do so.
the plastic bearing will be attached to the rear wall of the cabinet and the metal ball attaches to the drum.
when replacing the bearing be sure to put the tiny ball bearing in the hole,this stops static electricity in the clothes,also put as much grease from the tube that comes with the kit in the plastic bearing. When installing the metal ball to the tub go ahead and run the screws all the way down to get the threads easy to turn before installing it on the tub.
The front slide kit comes with glue and everything you need to attach the slides to the top of the front panel. This is fairly easy for a DIY person.

[Amie]

I guess I should have been more specific . . . is it an easy repair-it-yourself job if you don't know anything about dryer repair? For example, what's an idler?

I did get the top off, though.

[SublimeMasterJW]

The Idler looks like thisdryer idler for westinghouse.jpgIt keeps the belt on track and tight to the drum. Go here: http://www.applianceaid.com/images/belt-config.JPG to get a pick of how the belt goes back on in case you can't figure it out.

[Nelson Camara]

Model: DNSR473GVOWW
Serial: SS724273A

[Amie]

Turns out the breaker somehow got tripped. The dryer works after all!

[Amie]

The breaker continued to trip after I reset it (3-4 times before I finally gave up). Additionally, there was a smell of ozone in the air. Is this a dryer problem, or a breaker problem?

[SublimeMasterJW]

Captain the scrubing problem we have been experiencing has now becaome an electrical problem. Whats wrong spock?The drum is slowly getting closer and closer to the lithium crystals. How long have we got Spock. The shields are fading fast. The heat is unbearable the power is failing. We need a new hanger bearing to make the ship right again captain. Scotty how bad is it? Shes breaking up captain. I dunno how long she gonna last. Sulu chart a course for Sublime Master JW he know what up! Seriously that dryer is gonna need attention. And it is very simple to fix. Buy your brother in law a 12 pack and he will fix it faster than you can say. Fottball season is fast approaching hand me a beer!

[Amie]

My brother-in-laws are useless! Hopefully it won't take a starship engineer to fix the problem . . . a hanger bearing, you say?