My model number is DLB3600SBLWH

I have a Hotpoint 5 cycle clothes dryer that is making a piercing, shrieking sound at regular intervals, the intensity seems to decrease as the machine warms up. The machine is probably a bit more than ten years old, though in great shape.

I have researched a bit, and am thinking that the rear drum bearing kit may be what I am looking for, however, could you recommend another kit, in addition to, etc? Kit Part Number: AP2619300.

Also, do these kits come with relatively good instructions? I am pretty mechanically inclined, but no expert, so instructions are critical.



Any advice would be most helpful. Thanks!

Thanks very much for the advice! I appreciate it and will post my results when complete. I am ordering the kit now.

Well, I finally had a few hours that I could devote without worry, when the laundry was all caught up. Took about two hours in all. I was quite shocked to see all the lint that accumulated in the front panel that you had warned me to clean, around the drum, and especially surprised at what had accumulated in the heating assembly area. That stuff was a little crispy. Thank goodness for the deteriorating bearing, for had I not been given the chance to clean this whole appliance out we may have been discussing a terrible topic.

Thank you very much for the advice, and giving me the starting steps. I probably would not have attempted this without the simple 'where to begin' your post provided.

Wow I replied on another post, thinking that was this one, sorry for any duplicate posting. Edited to be up to speed with earlier postings (on the right thread!).

Within a week, the shrieking sound returned. I again opened it up and looked in there and the whole plastic door track that the drum rides on was in very bad shape. And yeah, when I replaced the bearing assembly, I saw the wear and missing pieces of plastic, but I didn't think a lot of it at the time - just trim? So the fix to that?

I made sure I closed the basement door when the dryer was on. So looking at my earlier post, I think I put the parts in near the end of August. It lasted 6 months.

The old thing gave it's last spin this morning, in fact. Saw the reply in my email and decided to update my post. Heading to craigslist!

Thanks for the help,
Jim

How does the belt wrap around the idler pully and motor drive on this unit/ any Pics?

When I removed to drum, the belt came off so I missed seeing how to put it back correctly!! AHHHHHHH:( :( :(

will try to put this thing back together tonight