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dryer runs AND heats for 10 minutes then stops heating and turning
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Model: DX4500EA3WW Brand: GE Age: 1 - 5 years
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awaywardson  
#1 Posted : Monday, April 20, 2009 6:00:56 PM(UTC)
awaywardson

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Our electric dryer runs for about 10 minutes, heating and turning normally. Then it just stops turning and heating. Does this over and over again. What do I need to replace/repair? Thanks! Joel
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denman  
#2 Posted : Tuesday, April 21, 2009 1:59:25 AM(UTC)
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Here are your parts
Replacement parts for GE DX4500EA3WW | AppliancePartsPros.com

Sounds like your motor is on it's last legs.

When it stops do you have to wait quite a while before you can restart it.
This is an indication that it is the motor that is overheating, it's internal thermal cutoff opens and the motor must then cool down for the cutoff to reset so you can start it again.

Try turning the drum by hand, it should turn fairly easily. This checks if a mechanical overload is causing a problem.

Clean the motor and interior of the unit, perhaps it is just clogged up with lint and is not cooling properly.

Note: In about 90% of the cases it ends up being the motor.
THIS FORUM IS DEAD!!!!!!!
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awaywardson  
#3 Posted : Wednesday, April 22, 2009 5:29:36 AM(UTC)
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denman - no, i don't have to wait to turn it back on. the top of the dryer gets very hot, but i can restart it right away. i pulled the dryer out from the wall, and disconnected the lint trap so it was just blowing the hot air out the back. I'll take the back off the unit this evening and see if there's any more lint somewhere.
thanks
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denman  
#4 Posted : Wednesday, April 22, 2009 9:17:06 AM(UTC)
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Does not sound like the motor.

Could be a loose connection in the house wiring or electrical panel or the terminal block in the machine.
May be the door switch is just making.

I do not have a wiring diagram for this unit but on most the motor circuit is separate from the heater circuit as it runs on half the line (120 volts) so I would concentrate on that.
THIS FORUM IS DEAD!!!!!!!
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awaywardson  
#5 Posted : Wednesday, April 22, 2009 4:20:53 PM(UTC)
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okay, took it apart. can't find any loose connections or anything. no lint buildup either. do you think maybe a new belt would help? maybe the belt is getting worn, the drum stops turning causing the motor to get hot? is that any kind of possibility??
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denman  
#6 Posted : Wednesday, April 22, 2009 4:42:36 PM(UTC)
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okay, took it apart. can't find any loose connections or anything. no lint buildup either. do you think maybe a new belt would help? maybe the belt is getting worn, the drum stops turning causing the motor to get hot? is that any kind of possibility??

It does not sound like you motor is overheating because you can restart it right away. Because of the thermal mass of the motor it takes a while to cool down and it's thermal cutout to reset.
Flip the breaker off and check the wiring connections, I have had several of these lately for some reason.

Could be the door switch perhaps when the unit heats up the metal expands and if the switch is just making, it opens killing the motor.
THIS FORUM IS DEAD!!!!!!!
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awaywardson  
#7 Posted : Thursday, April 23, 2009 7:07:17 PM(UTC)
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ok - i guess i misunderstood the first part about restarting it. it takes about a minute before i can restart it. i don't know what i was thinking - sorry. so that means it IS the motor after all, huh? yikes. it's almost worth buying a new dryer instead. figures.

i can turn the drum easily by hand, and there's no lint buildup so it shouldn't be a cooling issue. do motors just start overheating like this?
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denman  
#8 Posted : Friday, April 24, 2009 8:00:13 AM(UTC)
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Yes: Sometimes they just start to overheat.
Sometimes the centrifugal switch for the start winding does not open, this keeps the start winding in circuit and overheats the motor. Unfortunately these days you have to buy a complete motor assembly.

When the motor goes is when I seriously look at replacing the dyer.
This is not a great machine to start with. It uses a rear center mount for the drum instead of rear support rollers which are better.

A minute does seem awful fast for a reset.
Let it trip, then start it right away, do this a few times.
Now does it trip faster and take longer to reset?
Just trying to get a little confirmation that it is the motor.
If shut down and reset times remain the same then I do not think it is the motor.
THIS FORUM IS DEAD!!!!!!!
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moucherons@hotmail.com  
#9 Posted : Saturday, May 3, 2014 10:56:28 AM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: denman Go to Quoted Post
Here are your parts
Replacement parts for GE DX4500EA3WW | AppliancePartsPros.com

Sounds like your motor is on it's last legs.

When it stops do you have to wait quite a while before you can restart it.
This is an indication that it is the motor that is overheating, it's internal thermal cutoff opens and the motor must then cool down for the cutoff to reset so you can start it again.

Try turning the drum by hand, it should turn fairly easily. This checks if a mechanical overload is causing a problem.

Clean the motor and interior of the unit, perhaps it is just clogged up with lint and is not cooling properly.

Note: In about 90% of the cases it ends up being the motor.

I would like to thank denman, after replacing the motor my dryer is again purring like a kitten after 19 years of service. My dryer is a Kenmore 70 series 11097576200.
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