Tumble drier not working (drum not turning) - any ideas?

[UTH]

I have cleaned out everything, including the heat exchanger.....the problem seems to be more often than not the drum just doesn't spin. I have tried running a programme the 'normal' way, and also hooking it up to the app and setting it off that way. I can see the heating element comes on as the orange glow appears at the back, but the drum doesn't move.
But.....on the odd occasion, it does move and work fine!

Any ideas what else I can be checking before I have to pay someone to sort it?

[alangla]

If it s belt drive, has the belt snapped?
Is the motor turning?

Edit: you said it turns occasionally. Does it look like the motor is trying to turn it when it doesn’t move?

[UTH]

alangla said:

If it s belt drive, has the belt snapped?
Is the motor turning?

Edit: you said it turns occasionally. Does it look like the motor is trying to turn it when it doesn t move?

Yeah I'd say so. I did it just a few mins ago, worked fine first time, so I stopped it to then put a few clothes in it (tried it empty first) and then it did look like it was trying to turn, as it moved a MM or two, but nothing more.....

[woodypup59]

If the belt is good and it just sits there and hums, its the big capacitor on the motor which has failed.

An easy fix, esp when there was a Maplin in every town.

[UTH]

woodypup59 said:

If the belt is good and it just sits there and hums, its the big capacitor on the motor which has failed.

An easy fix, esp when there was a Maplin in every town.

I'm guessing if that has failed, it would never turn though? Or would that suggest it's on the way out, so works sometimes?
Is it easy to find inside the drier? Happy to start taking it apart to find it....

[Collectingbrass]

Google the model and fault and you will more than likely find a a video of the fix. Also look on https://www.espares.co.uk/ for the bits you need.

[FlyVintage]

Likely the belt is on its way out and overly slack; just enough traction to turn occasionally, but not with anything in the drum.

[woodypup59]

If you take back off and turn the big pulley with the machine trying to go, it should start and keep going until the next direction change.

The start capacitor enables the motor to start from stationary.

[CMTMB]

Collectingbrass said:

Google the model and fault and you will more than likely find a a video of the fix.

I did this with mine a few weeks ago when it stopped working and I was ready to buy a new machine. A few minutes research diagnosed a snapped belt - £8 on a new belt and a few skint knuckles later I had it working again.

[Peanut Gallery]

Replacing a cap is cheap, you can go bigger, not smaller.

If it has brushes, how much have they worn?

[netherfield]

If you get in there, try take the belt off the motor, then see if the motor will spin, if it won't then it 's more than likely the Capacitor or Brushes. At which point you'll have discovered if the belt appears slack anyway, I think over the last few years motors have gone Brushless as well.

Edited by netherfield on Thursday 29th January 16:02

[UTH]

Thanks chaps, I will be getting the tool kit out on Sunday and having a fun few hours. Will report back.

[ColinM50]

As others have said, my money's on the belt. Had the same just before Xmas and You tube showed how to fix it. Belt from espares was about six quid, cost more in plasters for my knuckles

[UTH]

I know I've reached my 40s when I'm very much looking forward to taking apart a tumble drier.

[clockworks]

Motor start capacitor failed on our old tumbler a few years ago. Easy to prove:

Take off the top cover, turn on the drier, and give the drum pulley a push. If it bursts into life and keeps going until it pauses to reverse the drum, a new cap will fix it

[CMTMB]

UTH said:

I know I've reached my 40s when I'm very much looking forward to taking apart a tumble drier.

Wear some decent gloves!

[CHLEMCBC]

Could be brushes on an old style motor.

[UTH]

Of course it took way longer than I I’d hoped. Couldn’t for the life of me work out how to release the drum to get it out which would have made the capacitor a piece of piss to access. But I got it eventually. Getting it back in might prove harder. Part arrives Tuesday

[jimmyjimjim]

CMTMB said:

UTH said:

I know I've reached my 40s when I'm very much looking forward to taking apart a tumble drier.

Wear some decent gloves!

Seconded. I've had ours apart several times (sensors, bearing, belt) and have an excellent scar from when a push fit connector eventualy came loose and my thumb was sliced open on the frame.

"Mum, daddy said the F word"

Yes, yes he did, and he stands by that as being completely justified.

[B'stard Child]

UTH said:

Of course it took way longer than I I d hoped. Couldn t for the life of me work out how to release the drum to get it out which would have made the capacitor a piece of piss to access. But I got it eventually. Getting it back in might prove harder. Part arrives Tuesday

Bravo - that was me this weekend with the washing machine that had decided no load should ever need any conditioner