If your tumble dryer is running but the drum no longer moves - you could have a faulty belt. Understanding how to replace the damaged belt will help to save you money and prolong the life of your dryer.
A lengthy process, however once completed you can feel achieved that you have fixed your tumble dryer all by yourself.
This video shows an example on how to remove or replace the part on a typical machine, some models may be different but the procedure should be similar.
What You Will Need:
Step 1 - Safety Advice
Safety First! Please ensure that you have disconnected the appliance from the mains before starting any repair and due to the sharp edges exposed we suggest suitable Safety Gloves are worn to help prevent injury.
Stripping the Machine
Step 2 - Removing the Top Cover
To begin we first need to remove the top cover and to do this you’ll need to remove the two screws located on the back at the top. With the screws removed you can now take the top cover off - you may need to knock the cover back to allow it to release.
With the top off you can now put that to the side and begin removing the right-hand side panel.
Step 3 - And the Side Panel
To take off the side panel you will need to remove the screws which hold it in place, there will be one at the top and four at the back.
With the side cover gone you should now be able to see the broken belt.
Step 4 - Uncoupling the Electrical Connectors
To fit the new belt it will either need to drop it in at either the front or back of the drum and in for you to accomplish this you’ll need to continue to strip the dryer and we’ll carry on by removing the other side panel.
Once you have removed the second panel you can now look at removing the water container housing. Before you begin unscrewing it you need to first unclip the hoses at the back and the two screws holding it in place.
You need to remove the electrical connectors from the mains filter and another two screws which hold the top bracket in place. The electrical connectors should be held in place by a tab - you can simply remove these.
Now you will only need to remove the connectors which run down the top bracket. Once removed you can disconnect the top bracket by unscrewing it.
Fitting the Belt Part 1
Step 5 - Creating some Space
With the top bracket released you should be able to see you’ll have a bit of movement in the cabinet. However to be certain we have enough space to drop the belt in place, you’re going to need to release a couple of the screws at the bottom, at the back of the motor assembly side.
Step 6 - Dropping the Belt into Position
Once the screws at the rear have been removed, you can now take the new belt and you should have just enough space to drop the belt around the front and underneath the drum.
With the belt now in place you can use the belt to lift the drum into position - if you now find that the front panel isn’t going back into place, it's ok because it's just that the ducting behind the lower front panel has dropped down and is now out of position.
This is easy to deal with, you can undo the three screws which hold the lower front panel and ducting in place and giving both the front panels a little jiggle to get them back into their correct position. Once in place you can refit the screws.
Partial Assembly
Step 7 - Recoupling the Electrics
Before we can fit the belt correctly, we need to first secure the cabinet you just need to reconnect the electrical connectors on the mains filter.
Don’t Forget: Remember to put the brown wire next the brown wire and blue next to blue.
Now you can easily re-screw the upper bracket together.
Step 8 - Not Forgetting the Water Container
Now you can reconnect the water container housing, by redoing the two screws and putting the hoses back in place - you can then reconnect this side panel. When replacing the side panels be careful of the edges as they can be extremely sharp.
Fitting the Belt Part 2
Step 9 - Opening up the fan motor
To fit the belt, it needs to be placed over the motor spindle, to get to the motor spindle though you’ll need to remove the condenser fan cover. You can do this by using a flathead screwdriver to work it very gently away from the clips.
With the condenser fan cover out of the way you also need to remove the condenser fan itself, this is held in place by a spring clip. Taking a pair of pliers and pinching the clip should help it come away, you can then remove the fan from the spindle.
If the fan is a bit stiff you can use a flat head you can use a flat head screwdriver just give it a couple of knocks which should help it release.
Step 10 - Slipping the Belt into Place
With the fan out of the way you’ll need to get the belt underneath the motor spindle, and to do that pull it nice and tight, making sure it's spinning quickly because there isn't much room between the frame underneath and the spindle itself.
So just pulling it tight and at an angle should allow it to ease its way through and in place.
Step 11 - The Tension Pulley
Now we’ll need to get the belt over the tension pulley, give the belt a good stretch to give it a bit of give, and make sure it's centrally on the spindle. Using the mark left behind by the old belt on the drum you can put the belt by pulling it slightly over the tension pulley.
Next, you can pull the belt down with your other hand to wrap the belt around the pulley.
Complete Assembly
Step 12 - Putting It all Back Together
With the belt perfectly in place you can reattach the fan, spring clip and the cover, with the fan and the cover in place - you need to replace the side panel. Once you have fitted it and screwed it in place you can then refit the top cover and remaining screws and you’re done!
Not a simple task but as you can see - following the guide, replacing the belt yourself can be done. Many people, when faced with a faulty belt would either call and pay the hefty cost of an engineer to repair it or simply purchase a new machine.
Understanding how to perform such repairs can help prolong the life of your appliances - not only your tumble dryer but also other appliances.
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