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Posted by JoeSpareBedroom on December 10, 2007, 10:58 pm
>
>>>I have a 20 year old Kenmore electric dryer (essentially a Whirlpool).
>>>It's held up pretty good overall. About 4 years ago the motor wouldn't
>>>turn, so I replaced the motor along with the rollers, belt, and front and
>>>back bearings. Everything has been working fine since then (it was
>>>running quieter than when it was new!).
>>>
>>> About 2 weeks ago we started getting an intermittent rumble/heavy
>>> vibration about every 10 seconds or so. It would only last a few
>>> seconds, but it would really shake the dryer. Sometimes it's worse than
>>> others.
>>>
>>> I figured one of the rollers was loose or worn and I took it apart to
>>> check it. However, I'm not seeing anything that seems like it's out of
>>> alignment. The front and back bearings seem OK and I don't see any play
>>> in the back support rollers. The fan wasn't replaced 4 years ago; it's
>>> still the original one, but it doesn't seem loose or have any damage on
>>> the blades except a few tiny nicks and scratches.
>>>
>>> I've done some searching using words like "electric dryer rumble", but
>>> most of the hits seem to point to worn out bearings, rollers, or blower
>>> wheel, and as I said those are all in good shape and/or fairly new. I
>>> may go ahead and replace the fan; it's about the only original moving
>>> part on the dryer.
>>>
>>> A dryer is such a simple item, but I don't really want to have to scrap
>>> it if it's something fairly easy (and inexpensive) to replace.
>>>
>>> Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>>>
>>> - Mike O.
>>
>> Any irregularities on the belt?
>>
> Not that I could see. It's only about 3-1/2 years old and doesn't seem to
> have any problems.
>
> The other thing that's odd it that the rumble doesn't seem to be in time
> with the drum rotation; it seems like the vibration times are farther
> apart than the diameter of the drum.
>
> I also checked the fan. It's very solid on the motor with no "wiggle". I
> ran the motor with just the fan (on the "air" cycle, with no heating!),
> and it is very quiet and smooth, so I don't think it's the fan.
>
> I did notice one thing on one of the rollers. It doesn't wiggle on the
> shaft, but it looks like it's not quite perpendicular to the shaft. As I
> rotate it, and you look at it along the edge, it seems like it's warped.
> Kind of like if you're looking down on a bicycle wheel that's warped, as
> it rotates the tire seems to wobble. It's not much, probably about 1/4
> inch, but could that be causing it? Possibly some kind of harmonic
> vibration along with the drum, belt, etc.? The other roller is perfectly
> straight. I could replace the roller, but don't want to if I don't have
> to.
>
>
That roller could make the belt ride funny on revolution #1, but not funny
enough to make a rumble until revolution #2. Maybe.
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