[ptc123]

Hello, I have replaced a belt in this dryer. The tensioner is a non pulley type that is indented, is this wear or by design? Also the upper right drum support disc is able to move back and forth along the lenght of it's shaft were as the left disc does not. All clips are in place. I checked the drum for a potential cause for the noise but it is clear. Should that right disc be able to move like that? How tight should the drum seals be? Thank you for your attention, PTC

[sidfink43]

Hi Ptc

This is hard to diagnose from afar, because the way we try to find out what is wrong is to listen to the source, and well, we cannot do that here.

I suspect you drum is not seated correctly after you took off the front to replace the belt, so I would take it apart again and put it back together. The fit should be pretty tight. If this does not solve it, replacing the rollers would be the next act.

Here is what your tensioner should look like

Part number: AP2911909

Good luck, hope this helps.

[ptc123]

Thank you for the response. The tensioner does not look like the one in your image. It is similar in the spring part but does not have a roller. Instead it is a metalic half moon shape with a silicon strip the the back of the belt runs over. I was wondering if the indentation in the tensioner head was by design or is it a sign of wear? The other question I have is the upper(right) support wheel travels the full lenght of the shaft it is on, is that supposed to be so? Thanks for your help, PTC

[sidfink43]

Gosh, I don't know. (How's that for honesty?)

The tensioner in the picture is the one I am familiar with, it is the typical Whirlpool part and it is the one the specs say should be in your machine.

Why don't you change it out and see if it cures your problem.

[magician59]

You can replace the tensioner you have with the one in the picture. Yours is that way by design, in order to reduce manufacturing costs. For your thumping noise, you may want to check for a loose baffle inside the tumbler (they're attached with screws from the outside of the tumbler). Also a common cause of thumping noises is wear in the support rollers.

[ptc123]

sidfink43, Promptness and honesty are traits I greatly admire! Thank you for your advice. The tensioner is probably not part of the noise problem and the support wheels seem to be in very good shape. The noise is not critical but being around machines like I have makes me wonder.
magician59, I made a quick survey of the baffles the first time around and found one alittle loose which also had change inside it,so I tightened it. I will check them more closely and see if that helps. Thank you both again for your able assistance, you are a valued resource! PTC