thanks for the reply.
noises at start up seem normal, a brief squeek and it runs.
model number is correct FFT-7289-87A, although i did see i dropped the first dash. it looks like it is matched with the washer FFT-6289-87A (if that is helpful.)

Signature 2000 Electric Dryer c. 1991.
On any setting, high heat, moderate heat, low heat, air fluff, drier starts, runs for a minute or so, then stops. It will restart immediately, but then run for only a few seconds. Sometimes, before it stops, the drum sounds clunky. The drum seems to turn freely by hand. We've cleaned it of lint. Problem remains even with the venting disconnected. Before this problem presented it seemed to run pretty hot on the hot cycle. The warning tag on the back appears toasted brown from the heat coils.