Maytag Dependable Care Dryer Belt Replacement

ID: 221373

Description: [youtubevideo|4bHOjysr5nU]Use this guide to...

Steps:

1. Unplug the dryer before opening the cabinet.
2. If this is a gas dryer, shut off the gas supply before moving or opening it.
3. Let the dryer cool before working near the drum, motor, or heater area.
4. Remove the panels needed to access the drum, rear rollers, idler pulley, and motor pulley.
5. Disassemble the dryer far enough that the drum can be lifted out and reinstalled.
6. Spin each rear drum roller by hand.
7. A good roller should spin freely for a couple of turns on its own.
8. Replace any roller that feels stiff, rusty, or seized.
9. Stiff rollers add friction and can wear out the belt early.
10. Use pliers to free a rusted roller only long enough to inspect it.
11. If a roller had to be freed with pliers, replace it.
12. Spin the idler pulley with a finger.
13. A good idler pulley should spin freely for a couple of turns on its own.
14. Replace the idler pulley if it feels stiff or doesn't keep spinning after you flick it.
15. Clean lint from the pulley area if the pulley is only slightly dirty.
16. Cleaning can extend pulley life, but it won't fix a stiff or worn pulley.
17. Inspect the old belt for cracks, missing ribs, and worn areas.
18. Replace a cracked belt even if the dryer still tumbles.
19. A belt can keep working while only a few ribs remain, but it will eventually break.
20. If the old belt failed early, recheck the rollers and idler pulley before installing the new belt.
21. Slip the new dryer belt around the drum.
22. Make sure the belt is flat and not twisted.
23. Line the belt up with the wear marks left by the old belt.
24. Use the wear marks as your guide for the correct belt position on the drum.
25. Keep light tension on the belt while lifting the drum back into the cabinet.
26. Set the drum onto the rear rollers.
27. Confirm the belt is still lined up with the old wear marks.
28. Let the belt hang down over the motor-pulley and idler-pulley area.
29. Plan to route the belt by feel because this dryer has no rear access panel.
30. Put your head inside the drum only while the dryer is unplugged.
31. Reach through the opening under the drum with both hands.
32. Feel for the idler pulley, motor pulley, and the two hanging sides of the belt.
33. The belt must run down from both sides of the drum before it hooks around the pulleys.
34. Use your left hand to pull the idler pulley toward the motor pulley.
35. Hold the idler pulley there to create enough slack in the belt.
36. Use your right hand to push the belt down along the side of the idler pulley.
37. Hook the belt over the motor pulley.
38. Release the idler pulley slowly so it tensions the belt.
39. Confirm by touch that the belt rises up both sides of the drum.
40. If you don't pull the idler pulley over far enough, the belt won't reach the motor pulley.
41. Rotate the drum slowly clockwise.
42. Keep turning until the belt makes at least one full rotation.
43. Watch the top of the dryer as the belt moves.
44. The belt may drift briefly and then settle back into place.
45. Keep rotating until the belt stays lined up with the wear marks.
46. Don't skip this check, or the belt may pop off when the dryer starts.
47. Confirm the drum is still sitting on the rollers and the belt is still on the pulleys.
48. Remove loose lint, old belt pieces, and tools from inside the cabinet.
49. Reinstall the removed dryer parts by reversing the disassembly.
50. Reconnect power after the dryer is fully assembled.
51. Turn the gas supply back on if this is a gas dryer.
52. Start the dryer and confirm the drum tumbles without the belt popping off.
53. If the belt pops off, unplug the dryer and recheck the belt routing, alignment, rollers, and idler pulley.