How do you replace the belt on an old Kenmore gas dryer?

Question

It is old, but it has been such a good machine, and replacing it isn't an option. I have the belt, but not a clue how to get to the pully. Please help!! thanks

Answer 1

PULL THE FRONT OFF THE MACHINE BY OPENING THE DOOR AND REMOVING SCREWS THAT HOLD THE TOP DOWN AND THE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE FRONT IN PLACE. CHECK AND SEE IF THE TENSION PULLEY IS WORN AND LOOSE ON ITS SHAFT. CHECK AND SEE IF THE DRUM SUPPORT ROLLERS ARE LOOSE ON THE SHAFTS/AXLES. IF THEY ARE THE PULLEY AND/OR ROLLERS MUST BE REPLACED. THE AXLES SELDOM WEAR OUT SO YOU PROBABLY DO NOT NEED TO REPLACE THEM-BUT DO CHECK THEM.
DRAPE THE BELT OVER THE DRUM-LIFTING THE FRONT OF THE DRUM UP OFF THE ROLLERS AND SLIDING THE BELT INTO PLACE. HOOK THE BELT OVER THE MOTOR SHAFT PULLEY BY FEEDING IT BETWEEN THE IDLER PULLEY AND THE IDLER PULLEY SPRING TENSIONER. THE IDLER PULLEY IS COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED AND HOOKED INTO THE BOTTOM FLOOR OF THE DRYER WHEN YOU THREAD THE BELT (DOUBLED)THROUGH THE IDLER ASSY ONTO THE MOTOR PULLEY. BELTS LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND FAIL DUE TO AGE OR BAD ROLLERS/PULLEY. IF DUE TO AGE YOU WILL SEE MANY SMALL AGE CRACKS IN THE BELT. IF IT LOOKS LIKE THE NEW BELT-WITH NO CRACKS-IT HAS NOT FAILED DUE TO AGE.
BELOW IS SHOWN THE URL FOR A WEBSITE THAT SHOWS SEVERAL TYPES OF DRYERS IN CASE YOUR DRYER IS NOT THE TYPE I THINK IT IS. YOU MAY FIND THAT WEBSITE USEFUL.
OPEN YOUR DOOR AND GET THE COMPLETE MODEL No. OFF THE NAMEPLATE TO GO ANY FURTHER.

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

If you have the type with the lint filter on top, you have to remove the two screws so that you can pop the top up by releasing a couple of catches with a putty knife. There is a screw on each side holding the front on from the inside that have to be removed and then the front just lifts up after removing the wires from the door switch. put the belt around the drum and the bag for the belt will have a picture telling you how to hook up the tensor. Put it back in the reverse order. For more information on gas dryers, check -
http://appliancequickfix.com/GASDRYER.html

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

Google it. How to do repairs on your dryer.

I also have Kenmore stuff, some of it now over 20 years old and still working fine.

Answer 6

I am not mechanical, but always had Kenmore. In your local paper there should be a "Handyman" section. Most can fix for you in a few minutes and won't charge much. (I've damaged too many appliances trying to be Mr. Fix-it, however having the part ready for them should make this job easy and cheap).

Answer 7

most dryers i have worked you need to remove the front, where the door is, and work the new belt over the drum and around the pulleys. good luck.

Answer 8

Check the following site and it will explain how to get to where you need to be in order to change the belt. http://fixitnow.com/wp/2004/03/22/appliance-tip-of-the-day-encore-dryer-disassembly/ ...Good Luck...