If this dryer is run on any setting except “Delicate,” after perhaps 10 minutes it will shut off. Open the door, let it cool, and it will run again, stop again. My wife has been complaining for months that it seems to be too hot, but only recently has it begun doing this stopping. There is no lint buildup; on the Delicate setting, the vent exit temperature goes up to nearly 150, then drops back to 125 or so and repeats; on the Cotton setting it goes up to perhaps 160, drops back, but then as I said, it shuts off.
My guess is there is overheating taking place; but I don’t know what I should try replacing.
Thanks!
Beach004
We need the model number to be of much help.
Eric
Sorry; the model is 110.64892401
Well, it is overheating somewhat but that should not cause the dryer to shut off, assuming you mean that it stops tumbling, not just stops heating? So, you have inspected all internal and external ducting for excessive lint, including the blower housing? The drive motor has a thermal overload inside of it which will cut the motor off if the motor overheats. It will reset itself when it cools off. Sounds like that is what’s happening. Make sure you inspect the motor (it has an open frame) for lint buildup as well.
Eric
That’s correct; on any setting such as Cotton, the motor stops turning, and the interior does feel hotter than usual; wait awhile and it will run again.
I’ve gone outside and checked the exit vent: It’s free of lint, and has a strong air flow–that’s of course where I measured the exit air temperature with an instant-read thermometer.
Is there anyplace else I can look without taking the dryer apart? I can do that; but we go on vacation tomorrow, and I’ll be in the doghouse if I start dismantling the dryer this evening…
How long is the duct from dryer to outside vent?
Almost no distance at all; a nearly straight shot through the wall to the outside.
Well, you really need to take the dryer apart and ensure that all internal ducting including inside the blower housing is cleaned out as well as the motor. Make sure the blower wheel is not slipping on the motor shaft.
Eric
OK. So, it doesn’t matter that there’s a strong current of air coming out of the vent, outdoors? I’m just asking, I have no knowledge in this area, at all. Thanks for sharing yours.
Excessive lint buildup is the most common cause of a dryer overheating. This should be ruled out first. Your dryer is not overheating excessively, otherwise it should blow either the thermal fuse or the thermal cutoff. An overheating dryer does not generally cause the motor to shut off unless the motor is full of lint as well. You may have more than one problem such as excessive lint and a faulty operating thermostat. I would take the dryer apart and get all the lint out of it first and go from there.
Eric
That makes sense. I had just not heard of lint around the motor. When I get back from the beach 
I will tackle taking it apart and see what’s what. Thanks very much; I’ll be back!
OK; with the help of a video on You Tube I took the front panel off, then the blower cover, and cleaned out the lint I could see, both “floating” and in the blower itself; to be over ten years old, there wasn’t a great deal; now to try drying on “Cotton” and see if this has remedied the problem.
UPDATE: I’ve dried two loads on Cotton without a shut-off. Looks like cleaning was the answer. Thank you!