Kenmore dryer ( Kelvinator model#) will not stay startes

This is my sister’s dryer.

You can push the start button. The dryer makes a loud buzzing noise and immediately cuts off. You can hear the timer ticking away. Have tried holding door shut in case it is the door switch same thing happens.

Any clues? Based on the first three digits this dryer was made by Kelvinator

Sounds like the motor’s thermal protect is tripping.

Try turning the drum by hand. Should turn fairly easily. If not could be the drum is jammed for some reason. You may want to try this on a couple other dryers to get a feel for it.
If it is difficult to turn run your fingers around the back and front of the tub to machine seal. To see if something has jammed between the tub and frame (bra wires are famous for this). Be careful in case the object is something sharp.
If nothing is jammed in there you will have to open it up and find the cause.

If it rotates OK.
This may take 2 people
Open the door
Manually hold the door switch closed
Push the start button and manually rotate the drum in the correct direction.
Watch your knuckles in case it starts up.
If it does start up, odds are high that you need a new motor.

Could also be that the motor is jammed solid with lint and this is preventing the Start/Run centrifugal switch from resetting (the unit is trying to start with out the motor’s start winding in circuit. This is a doubtful on your unit as the drum does not rotate at all.

— Begin quote from denman;254096

Sounds like the motor’s thermal protect is tripping.

Try turning the drum by hand. Should turn fairly easily. If not could be the drum is jammed for some reason. You may want to try this on a couple other dryers to get a feel for it.
If it is difficult to turn run your fingers around the back and front of the tub to machine seal. To see if something has jammed between the tub and frame (bra wires are famous for this). Be careful in case the object is something sharp.
If nothing is jammed in there you will have to open it up and find the cause.

If it rotates OK.
This may take 2 people
Open the door
Manually hold the door switch closed
Push the start button and manually rotate the drum in the correct direction.
Watch your knuckles in case it starts up.
If it does start up, odds are high that you need a new motor.

Could also be that the motor is jammed solid with lint and this is preventing the Start/Run centrifugal switch from resetting (the unit is trying to start with out the motor’s start winding in circuit. This is a doubtful on your unit as the drum does not rotate at all.

— End quote


Thanks - I have passed on the information to her. Hopefully, we can figure it out. Will post when I hear back from her. We live about an hour apart.