Whirlpool WED87HED Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement

ID: 160398

Description: Use this guide to replace the blower wheel on...

Steps:

1. Before you begin your repair, unplug your dryer.
2. Your power cord may have four prongs rather than three. The additional prong is a ground connection.

3. Throughout this guide, keep track of each screw and reinstall it exactly where it came from.
4. Use a 5/16 inch nut driver to remove the two 15.7 mm-long screws securing the top panel to the rear panel bracket.

5. Grasp the top and slide it 1/2 to 1 inch toward the rear of the machine.

6. Lift the top panel upward to separate it from the chassis.
7. Remove the top panel from the machine.

8. Disconnect the control panel cable from the main board.

9. Disconnect the drum light connector.

10. Use a 1/4 inch nut driver to remove the two 16.3 mm‑long sheet metal screws located at each end of the control panel.

11. Lift the control panel up and tilt it away from the chassis to remove it.
12. Make sure to thread the cable through the hole in the chassis.
13. During reassembly, thread the cable through its proper hole before reinstalling the control panel.

14. Use a small flat blade screwdriver or a spudger to unlatch both sides of the door switch connector.
15. Unplug the connector.

16. Use a 1/4 inch nut driver to remove the three upper front panel 16.4 mm-long sheet metal screws.
17. Tilt the machine backwards and prop it securely, or have a friend hold it.
18. Use a 1/4 inch nut driver to remove the four sheet metal screws on the bottom edge of the panel:
19. Two 16.4 mm screws
20. Two 13 mm screws

21. Use a Phillips driver to remove the two 15.8 mm‑long screws inside the door area below the drum opening.

22. The panel is heavy and awkward. You may want to have a friend help you with this step.
23. Pull the bottom of the panel away from the chassis about two to three inches.
24. Lift the front panel off the small tabs on the chassis near the top of the panel and remove it.
25. Make sure you don't snag the door switch wire harness as you remove the panel.

26. Use a 5/16 inch nut driver to remove the 16.2 mm-long cover plate screw.

27. Remove the cover plate.

28. Mark the cables with a permanent marker if needed and take a picture or draw a diagram.
29. Use a Phillips driver or a 1/4 inch nut driver to remove the three 21.4 mm-long screws.
30. If your plug has 4 prongs, there will be a ground connection from the cord as well. Use a 5/16 inch nut driver to remove this connection.

31. Pull the cord carefully down through the round hole.
32. Make sure you replace the connections correctly when you reassemble.

33. Use a 5/16 inch hex driver to remove the 16.5 mm-long green ground screw.
34. Use a Phillips driver to remove the two 15.3 mm‑long cord terminal block screws.

35. Move the cord terminal block behind the rear panel.

36. Use a 1/4 inch nut driver to remove the eleven rear panel screws.
37. Ten 20 mm-long screws
38. One 12.9 mm-long screw under the water inlet.
39. Throughout this guide, keep track of each screw and reinstall it exactly where it came from.

40. Use a 1/4 inch nut driver to remove the 16.4 mm-length screw holding the main board bracket to the chassis.
41. Use a 1/4 inch nut driver to remove the two 20 mm-long screws from the top rear of the machine.

42. Put on gloves before continuing, as the rear panel is sharp.
43. Lift the panel about 1/2 inch and tilt it to the rear to release it from the vent pipe.
44. Slide the panel off the vent pipe and remove it.

45. During reassembly, perform the following:
46. Make sure that the vent pipe is fitted into the collar on the panel.
47. Make sure the tabs at the bottom are aligned to the bottom rim of the chassis.
48. Position the panel so its screw holes match with the chassis.

49. Pull the lint filter up out of the lint filter slot to remove it.
50. These photos show the front panel in place, but the procedure is the same if the front panel is already removed.

51. Use a 1/4 inch nut driver to remove the 16.4 mm‑long mounting screws securing the lint filter housing.

52. Pull the filter housing outward from the chassis and down to remove it.

53. Use a 1/4 inch nut driver to unfasten the 12.9 mm-long blower cover screw.

54. Lift the blower cover slightly and slide it to free the tabs which hold it in place.
55. Remove the blower cover.
56. The photos show the lower front bulkhead in place. The bulkhead doesn't affect the blower cover removal and reassembly.

57. Move to the rear of the machine to access the drive shaft.
58. Hold the drive shaft with an adjustable wrench, or a 1 inch wrench, on the hex portion of the drum drive pulley.
59. The threads on the blower wheel are left-hand threads. The wrench must be installed to the left of the pulley to keep it from rotating counterclockwise.

60. Use a 1/2 inch drive socket wrench with a 5 or 6 inch extension bar and no socket to fit into the square hole on the blower wheel.
61. Turn the wheel clockwise (to the right) to free it enough to remove it by hand.

62. Rotate the blower wheel clockwise by hand until it's free from the motor shaft.
63. Remove the wheel from the blower housing.