Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/2/2011(UTC)
Posts: 4
|
OK, for the problem I could really use your help with, which I would truly appreciate. The dryer I am attempting to repair when starting out would heat when start button was pushed but the motor would not run. I researched on some appliance repair forums and could only find 3 possible causes. One was the start winding not disengaging because of excess lint and the second being the motor itself the third said it could be caused by the element being grounded by touching its frame. So I got a motor which I can easily return because they know me so well there and put it on and the new motor didn't work. Then I pulled the element out and it was positioned exactly where it should be. After that I stared testing continuities starting with the thermal fuse. The thermal fuse bad so I connect the terminals and tape them to test it with that part of the circuit closed. When I plugged the dryer in the element came on without the motor working or even pushing the start button. At this point I thought of writing to you for your help and wondering why I hadn't subscribed. Then my phone rang(being on call this week) and I had to take a call at the complex. So I put the bad thermal fuse back on quickly, plugged in back in and element on as soon as plugged in again. And that is where I left off. I explained to the mother of the asst. mgr. where I work and her husband, it being there dryer, and am kind of doing this as a favor where things stood and that I would be returning. If you could help me figure this out I would really appreciate your input and adding to my knowledge of dryer repair.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Expert
Joined: 10/16/2012(UTC)
Posts: 3,806
Was thanked: 7 time(s) in 7 post(s)
|
The only way the heater coil can be powered with motor not running is if the motor switch is stuck closed, the heater coil is grounded or the red wire from heater terminal to motor switch is grounded somewhere (possibly chaffed, cut or broken and contacting ground). You said you put a new motor in and it didn't work, then you found a bad thermal fuse. Did you put the original motor back in before you found the bad thermal fuse?
Eric
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/2/2011(UTC)
Posts: 4
|
No, I didn't put the old motor because I had to respond to a call where I work, and haven't made it back yet. Am going back when parts stores are open as the fan blade cracked at the 13/16 shaft connection when turning against the old motor. Will definitely check the red wire for flaws, thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Expert
Joined: 10/16/2012(UTC)
Posts: 3,806
Was thanked: 7 time(s) in 7 post(s)
|
You said the thermal fuse was bad. People often confuse the thermal fuse with the thermal cutoff. Which one is it, the one on the heater box or the one on the blower housing? The thermal fuse is the one on the blower housing and is in the motor circuit. The thermal cutoff is in the heat circuit. You said that after replacing the motor, you turned dryer on and heat came on right away without starting motor. This can't be a stuck motor switch since you just replaced the motor so it has to be either the heater element is grounded or the wire between heater element and motor switch is grounded. That doesn't explain the motor not starting though. That could be caused by the door switch, timer, start relay or thermal fuse which you say you have jumped out (if that's the one you were talking about).
Eric
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/2/2011(UTC)
Posts: 4
|
I checked the thermal -fuse-, it has been my experience( I have replaced a few in the laundry where I work, once on my own dryer, and some for people I know) that a bad thermal fuse will prevent anything from working at all, so the grounded wire seem very plausible. It seems that grounded wire might also cause it to activate the element without the switch on or maybe I'm just "reaching"?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Expert
Joined: 10/16/2012(UTC)
Posts: 3,806
Was thanked: 7 time(s) in 7 post(s)
|
Depends on the dryer. On a gas dryer, an open thermal fuse will kill power to the gas valves but motor will still operate. On your dryer, an open thermal fuse will kill power to the motor which will open one leg of power to the heater coil. Timer will still run and if heater coil is grounded, it will come on as the other 120vac leg is still connected to heater coil through timer and heat circuit.
Eric
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Jump
You can post new topics in this forum.
You can reply to topics in this forum.
You can delete your posts in this forum.
You can edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You can vote in polls in this forum.
Important Information:
The AppliancePartsPros.com uses cookies. By continuing to browse this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
More Details
Close
