How can I replace the belt on an old Kenmore gas dryer?

Question

It has been such a good machine, and to replace it would not be an option. Any help would be really appreciated, but only serious answers please. Thanks

Answer 1

flip it over and change the belt. there are built on tensioners. its very easy

Answer 2

Nearly every older Kenmore dryer I've ever repaired has been manufactured by Whirlpool. They are, by far, the easiest machines on the market to repair. There are no screws holding the top down, other than the two that hold the channel for the lint filter. They are under the filter lid, there are, however, a couple of spring clips, that can be released by pushing a putty knife or skinny flat bladed screwdriver thru the slit where the top meets the bottom case. Take the putty knife and start at the outside edge, insert it into the slit, work your way toward the center of the unit till you hit an obstruction, that will be the clip. Pull the pk out and and move it just a bit past the point where you hit the edge of the clip, then reinsert it and push in while lifting slightly with either your fingers or the blade itself. The top will pop up on that side, repeat the procedure for the other side. Now the top should be loose and able to life up from the front on hinges at the back. You'll need to have the unit out away from the wall a bit so there is room for the top to lean back against the wall. You really don't want this falling on your head or your hands while you're in there working on this thing. Next, if the belt is broken completely, it may not be on the drum at all, but laying in the bottom of the machine. You will need to have the unit unplugged, as you need to remove the two or three, (depending on whether there's a light inside the drum when you open the door), wires from the door switch near the upper right side on the front panel. Sometimes you can remove them while the panel is still tight in place, other times you have to release the two screws, (usually 5/16" hex head), that hold the front to the main case, and tip the top out a bit. Careful not to cut yourself on the edges of the cabinet, sometimes the edges are quite sharp. Once these screws are removed and the wires disconnected, you should be able to slowly lift the front off the two screws on the bottom of the main case. Sometimes you have to loosen them a bit to get the fork to slide up and off, but they are usually not real tight. When the front is off, you can remove the drum simply by inserting your hands into it and lifting it off the rear drum support rollers. There are none on the front, only the back. This is usually a good time to get the vac out, if it has a hose, and pick out any loose lint that may have accumulated inside the case, especially around the motor. Remove the old belt, wherever it is, and install the new one over the drum, before you put the drum back in. You can actually lift the drum by pulling up on the belt and guiding the drum thru the front opening with the other hand, onto the rear rollers, which you should have cleaned and put a few drops of oil on the shafts. You will have to reach back into the case and put the belt on the tension idler pulley and over the motor shaft, with the front off, then lift the drum enough to let it slip over the top of the front opening flare and seal and push the front back into place, taking care to get it on the two lower screws first. Replace the screws for the front, put the wires back on the door switch in the same place they came off and drop the top back on to the lower case. Plug it in and you should be good to go.

Answer 3

first look at the unit IT should have 2 screws under the filter then look at the body and frame there should be a space about 1/8 in. size pop the top very carefully with a screwdriver then look to the left and right corners and release the 5/16 nut there (don;t drop them) pull out the drum and get the belt ! you can order a new belt on sears.com . or through a good parts supply in your town .REPEAT STEPS TO REASSEMBLE CAREFUL OF ALL WIRES.

Answer 4

If you just need to replace the belt. Use a tape measure and run it around the pulleys the same way the belt did. Take the measurement to an real auto parts store. Not Autozone for example and they can give you a belt that should fit.

Answer 5

http://whirlpool.com/custserv/index.jsp

You should be able to get a service manual here.