Here is the wiring diagram
http://www.servicematters.com/docs/wiring/Wiring%20Sheet%20-%203406688.pdf[COLOR="DarkGreen"]First Post[/COLOR]
[COLOR="DarkGreen"]So I checked the thermal fuse and it is good. the thermostat was also giving me a good reading. The thermal cut-off was not reading so I replaced it.[/COLOR]
I am assuming this is the thermal cut-off (fuse) near the heater.
Did you also replace the hi-limit thermostat?
They often come as a set, see item 6 in Section 3
[COLOR="DarkGreen"]
what could be causing the thermal cut-off to keep tripping or blowing?[/COLOR]
See below. It is not unheard of to get a heating element that is grounded right out of the box.
[COLOR="DarkGreen"]is it the thermostat not working properly even though it shows a good reading?[/COLOR]
It could be the thermostat is not opening.
[COLOR="DarkGreen"]should I have replaced the thermostat at the same time I replaced the thermal cut-off?[/COLOR]
See below
[COLOR="Blue"]Second Post
thanks for the reply. when you say the heating coil are you talking about the heating element that the thermostat is attached to.[/COLOR]
Yes
[COLOR="Blue"]I just put a new heating element on the dryer but I re-used the thermostat. according to my meter the heating element and the thermostat are good.[/COLOR]
Did you check it to ground/case/frame?
Here are things to look for with your type of problem.
When the thermal cut-off is blown you have to find out what caused it to go.
Note: that sometimes they do just blow on their own but changing it without checking other things is a gamble.
Check the heating coil.
Unplug the unit and both wires to the coil.
Check it with a meter, should be around 10 ohms.
Then check from each side of the coil to the case/frame, both should be infinite ohms (open). If not the coil may have sagged or broken and is touching the case. This can cause it to run on high and the thermostats cannot regulate it.
If the above is OK then you will also have to replace the hi-limit as it should have regulated the temperature so the fuse did not blow.
You still have to find out why it blew.
Check that the belt is OK.
Check the seals (drum etc) in the unit. The air is pulled over the heating coils, through the drum and pushed out the exhaust. So any large seal leak will pull in room air and the cycling thermostat on the blower will run the unit hot.
Check that the lint filter is not coated with fabric softener residue which greatly reduces air flow.
Check/clean your vent system.
Check/clean the blower wheel.
If all OK you may want to replace the cycling thermostat as it's contacts may not be opening (welded shut).
