Dryer question

[Rusman]

Sorry for the non-car tech question, but I think my dryer (the household appliance) is going out. On the standard setting (I forget the name) it sometimes heats the close up until they are *very* hot. I also have noticed that on the Timed setting, it does not heat at all, or very little. I have run a few sheets through the timed cycle twice and they are still damp.

It's about a 20 year old Kennmore gas dryer. I'd like to fix it if I can, but I have no idea what to look for. I was hoping there'd be an expert lurking around here somewhere :).

[Neighbors]

Rusty,

I went through a similar deal with our Kenmore electric dryer a couple of weeks ago; ours just quite heating...

It sounds like a thermostat problem. Take the lower bottom front cover off to expose the innards (and hopefully a wiring diagram). It'll give you a hint as to what may be wrong. In our case, lint from 10 years had accumulated, insulated the heater element chamber, and caused the thermal breaker to trip. The breaker is non-resettable, so a new one (and a new thermostatic switch) were purchased at Sears Service Center for ~$20. Took about fifteen minutes to replace, and another hour to clean all the lint up, LOL!

You can go on-line at http://www.sears.com and find the exploded views of your particular appliance (if you know the model number; you did keep the service pack, huh?)...

Wish I could be more definitive, but...

Nay!

[Rusman]

Thanks Chris :).

Actuallyk, I've been looking at it for the last 30 minutes. After giving a thorough cleaning of the exahust duct (oops!), it seems that it is no longer cooling, period. I have a feeling that because of the duct being nearly clogged, and quite possibly the inside as well, it has done the same thing as yours. I'll go back out there now and see if I can open 'er up :).

I do not have the original materials, unless my mother has them, but I do believe the model number is on it somewhere (I know it's on the washer).

Thanks!!

[Rusman]

Heh, re-reading my post above, it should say "no longer HEATING" not cooling. :D

Well I spent about an hour and a half messing with it and thought I fixed it, only to find it wasn't fixed. I checked the breaker, which I thought was tripped, but maybe it wasn't. After I reset it, it started heating. I came out to check on it later and it was cold again..bah!

I did not check the thermostat(s) yet, but I will tomorrow. I do believe that there is something wrong with the timer/selector as it does not advance when you set it to dry. It will run, but it just sits there in the same spot. The selector needle also used to advance when set to "Timed" mode whether the dryer was running or not. You could also hear a little whirr noise that I do not hear now. If this component has failed, would it keep the dryer from operating?

[Rusman]

Oh, damn, I forgot to mention that whilst cleaning all the lint out of the dryer, I found $3.36 in change!!! Woo! Strangely, I didn't find any socks.

[Neighbors]

psst, what do you think the lint is :D? They escape the tumbler only to be vaporized into an unidentifiable lint film...

[Rusman]

Hehe.
You know, I think my friend has a dryer similar to this unit. He's not using it, so perhaps he'll let me steal some parts from it :).

[HoustonLX]

ROFL...I keep telling people its the dryer monster. I swear I have lost more socks in the dryer then I care to count. That and a few pair of boxers from time to time. I tell you the dryer is the next Bermuda Triangle of laundry. It is and always will be one of the great unsolved mysteries of life.

[HangNail]

psst, what do you think the lint is ? They escape the tumbler only to be vaporized into an unidentifiable lint film...
hahah! i knew that stuff came from _somewhere_!