GE Electric Dryer - Belt / slide fix, did I break something?

Dryer Repair
1

Hello folks,

My parents in law purchased a used GE Electric Dryer on craigslist for my wife and I for our first place. After a few months, it became very squeaky so I decided I would try and fix it.

Anyways, the dryer is literally wedged into the corner of a small room and I was unable to remove it on my own so I decided to try and dissemble it as is. I was able to get the drum out but I did bend the metal frame, the portion that forms a lip over the front of it. I took the pictures below to show it.

Removing the belt was a pain. I noticed that a small white plastic piece with red goo fell off of the pulley that you loop the belt on.

Is this a major issue? Should I be able to rectify the issue despite having bent the frame a bit and loosened this white circular piece? I haven’t purchased a repair kit yet but I was looking at the following:

http://www.amazon.com/WE3M26-WE49X20697-OEM-DRYER-BEARING/dp/B00PKI760E/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1440363990&sr=1-2&keywords=DPSR475EW0WW

It has all the parts I believe that I need.

Is it doable? Should I be good to go or is it time for a new dryer?

https://flic.kr/p/xHqxuJhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/648/20815824782_59bba9ae23_b.jpg

https://flic.kr/p/wMoxH8https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5773/20204344493_d4876a49d5_b.jpg

https://flic.kr/p/xJgeuRhttps://farm6.staticflickr.com/5722/20825324725_007982c5d3_b.jpg

3

Here are your parts
http://www.appliancepartspros.com/partsearch/modelsearch.aspx?model=DPSR475EW0WW

I am not sure about the part you reference unless you see that it was the cause of your noise re: worn slide bearings etc.

I also cannot tell if the bent frame will cause a problem. I would try to straighten it.

The following video may be helpful.
AP5955118

For the idler wheel I would replace it item 216 in section 01.
You will also need a cap nut item 234 in section 01.
A drop of oil on the shaft would not hurt but do not go crazy with it as oul and grease will collect lint.

4

Thank you for your response!

Was that little circular pulley piece connected to the larger one that holds the belt? Or did that fall off from somewhere else?

The replacement pulley doesn’t have this feature. Is it just new design?

5

What type of grease should I get? I am not a handy person but learning to be.

6

I do not know where it came from.
Could have been from the idler wheel. Check if it fits on the outside of the wheel.
The grease is there is not normal.
Check to see if there is red grease elsewhere in the unit.

You do not need grease a couple drops of sewing machine or 3in1 oil will do.

7

I was able to get the new pulley on, replaced all the pieces of the door and I went to place the drum back in place.

It seriously won’t go back in. It’s in such a tight corner that the walls of the dryer have no place to go and I did my best to push it back. I mangled the side of the dryer and I still can’t get the drum back in place.

I am so frustrated beyond belief and believe I just destroyed my dryer. I spent at least 45 minutes trying to get the damn nut off of the pulley and that simply wouldn’t come off.

I could seriously take a sledge hammer to it. I don’t know what to do because I literally cannot get it out of the corner of this room. It’s blocked off in all angles and I’ve had to do yoga positions just to access it.

Am I just out of luck?

8

Perhaps the following video will be helpful to you.
AP2619954

Yes getting the keeper washer off the idler wheel is a pain.
Often the wheel is destroyed doing it but by the sound of it you have that problem beat.

I do not know if the following will help but often I find if things get frustrating it is best to walk away for half an hour or so.
As my blood pressure rise the difficulty of the job also seems to rise.

9

Miraculously with a second breath, I was able to rectify the problem and got the dryer running. It’s running but the squeAK has returned. I notice that the drum has some play back and forth, so I pushed it far back as I could which reduces the squeak temporarily. Any ideas?

Does the back axle need grease maybe

10

The rear bearing should not require lubrication.
But a light coating of grease would not hurt although I cannot say if this will eliminate the squeak or how long it will last.
If you do this be sure to use a high temperature grease.

Another possible cause are the front glides.

Below is info on the rear bearing.
Note that if you click on the picture and take a look at the Q&A’s, there are over 60 of them so there is probably info there that will be useful to you.

AP2619300

11

— Begin quote from bmilcs;891318

Hello folks,

My parents in law purchased a used GE Electric Dryer on craigslist for my wife and I for our first place. After a few months, it became very squeaky so I decided I would try and fix it.

Anyways, the dryer is literally wedged into the corner of a small room and I was unable to remove it on my own so I decided to try and dissemble it as is. I was able to get the drum out but I did bend the metal frame, the portion that forms a lip over the front of it. I took the pictures below to show it.

Removing the belt was a pain. I noticed that a small white plastic piece with red goo fell off of the pulley that you loop the belt on.

Is this a major issue? Should I be able to rectify the issue despite having bent the frame a bit and loosened this white circular piece? I haven’t purchased a repair kit yet but I was looking at the following:

http://www.amazon.com/WE3M26-WE49X20697-OEM-DRYER-BEARING/dp/B00PKI760E/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1440363990&sr=1-2&keywords=DPSR475EW0WW

It has all the parts I believe that I need.

Is it doable? Should I be good to go or is it time for a new dryer?

[](https://flic.kr/p/xHqxuJ"][/URL]

[URL="https://flic.kr/p/xJgeuR)

— End quote

I think I’ve figured it out. When I removed the drum from the dryer, this little plastic piece came flying out.

Drum Bearing Sleeve

I think this was a cheap original / replacement drum bearing for the rear drum bearing assembly.

I imagine this is the cause for the squeak in the first place and the reason why the drum has so much play now. I didn’t put it back on when I put the dryer back together.

So, do you think that because I bought it used, that they tried replacing the Drum Bearing Sleeve with a cheap plastic replacement part instead of

12

GE WE1M462 Rear Drum Bearing Sleeve - AppliancePartsPros.com

Does this make sense?

When I put the drum back in place, the only thing over the metal pole sticking out was a red o-ring. It doesn’t have a sleeve on it.

13

If I post a video clip of the squeaking, can you identify the issue?

14

I sort of doubt it.
If you cannot find/localize it then odds are slim that i can.

15

denman said:
I sort of doubt it.
If you cannot find/localize it then odds are slim that i can.

It definitely sounds like it’s coming from the back. Should replacing the sleeve be worth trying before replacing the entire bearing kit

16

Probably worth a try.
Especially since you are probably now a pro at taking this thing apart and reassembling it.

17

Alright.

So, the first time I went to repair the dryer, before I did anything, I got shocked when touching the black outlet for the dryer connected to the wall. It scared me but I thought it was a fluke so I kept on using it to test the dryer.

Today, when I went to install the rear bearing kit, the outlet sparked when unplugging the dryer cord. I went ahead with the installation, reinstalled everything and went to plug in the cord again.

Nothing. The dryer has no lights, no power when turning it on.

I had my wife check the breaker and she flipped it on/off. I went to plug in the dryer again and it sparked again.

I called my landlord and we have an electrician coming. Does this sound like an issue with our apt? I would say so because it was iffy to begin with before any work was done to the dryer.

It kills me because I want to see if I fixed it. Hopefully it didn’t blow anything within the dryer and it will work once things are fixed.

18

Does this sound like an issue with our apt?
Yes the shock sounds like a wiring problem probably with the wall receptacle.
Best to let the electrician deal with it.

19

— Begin quote from denman;891819

Does this sound like an issue with our apt?
Yes the shock sounds like a wiring problem probably with the wall receptacle.
Best to let the electrician deal with it.

— End quote

I had the electrician come while at work and he replaced the receptacle. Sadly, the dryer has no power and is still causing a spark. I have a feeling that it’s not grounding properly with the new bearing kit. I installed it just as recommended in the video.

Do you think that I knocked a wire lose inside or maybe it isn’t completely secure? I am not sure what step to take next. I have to get it going because we absolutely need this dryer with a family of 4… two being young boys. Lots of dirty clothes that need addressing.

20

Sadly, the dryer has no power and is still causing a spark.
What kind of spark?
Is it a true electrical spark like 120 volts or is it just static electricity?

I have a feeling that it’s not grounding properly with the new bearing kit.
The grounding strap (item 515 in section 04) should be touching the metal end of the drum support shaft. If not bend it so it does.

Do you think that I knocked a wire lose inside or maybe it isn’t completely secure?
Sorry only you would know this.
It is always a possibility.

I do not have access to GE wiring diagrams so cannot guide you on how to check the unit’s start circuit with a meter.
Perhaps start a new thread asking for help on getting the unit running and with luck someone will answer that has a wiring diagram.

21

The story has a happy ending. I had pulled the wire lose in the back. Reattached it and the dryer is working great. Thanks for all the help.