How to Replace a Drive Belt in a Tumble Dryer (Hoover)

The tumble dryer is a very convenient appliance to have in your home - without out them you will have to wait sometime before your clothes are dried.

If the drum is not turning and the motor is still running then you can deduct the fault lies with the belt. Please be aware that this guide will take you through the process of dismantling your tumble dryer to remove the faulty belt and replace it.

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:

• Belt
• Screwdriver
• Box Driver
• Screwdriver Extender
• Pliers

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.

To begin this repair we need to start by removing the top cover - held in place with screws which are located at the back. Once unscrewed you can take the top cover away from the tumble dryer.

Once you have removed the top cover the next step is to take off the control panel. Held in place by two screws - remove these and the control panel will come away from the appliance.

Now the control panel is out the way the lower front panel now needs to be removed. The lower panel simply pops off, also do not forget to remove the door seal. With the seal and lower front panel off you can now unscrew the door.

Once the door has been taken out of the way the front panel can then be removed - held in place with eight screws. These should be found like so:

• X2 at the top
• X2 at the bottom
• X4 around the centre
•  

With the panel out of the way you can now disconnect the two electrical connections that are holding the lock into place on the front panel.

Now we can start getting into the nitty gritty of this repair - we must now need to access the lower fan and remove this however it is protected by a cover. So of course this will need to be removed too. So first unscrew the cover - once that has been moved out of the way you will find a smaller cover protecting the fan itself - this can be pulled out and with that out of the way you can now remove the fan. To remove the fan you are going to need an extension to reach it - it is also recommended to also hold the fan to unscrew the nut.

Once the nut has been loosened you can pull it and the washer out, be careful as there may be another washer sitting behind the fan. The upper surround in the fan cavity now needs to be removed, a tad bit fiddly but when you are pulling it out twist it also, pull that out and twist it to bring it fully out. You now need to start unscrewing the drum support but also don’t forget to remove the electrical connector. This should be a wire coming from the fan cavity - well follow this to where it is connected and unplug it.

With the screws holding the support in place you can now remove it - easy enough to do, lift up it up about a quarter of an inch and then unhook the piece before pulling away.

Now the drum support has been removed you can simply remove the existing broken belt. Simple enough to fit the new belt - lift it and fit it over the top of the drum, and begin to work it round the sides. Make sure that you have put it into the correct position, you will be able to confirm this by the original mark left on the drum from the first belt.

Once in position you will then need to work the new belt around the jockey wheel and motor spindle at the bottom.

When lining the belt up it is recommended to line up the belt slightly in front of the marking on the drum. This will help you get it onto the motor spindle.

Once in position you should be able to simply stretch the belt over the motor spindle and in place. Now the belt should be in place around the spindle - you need to reattach the front drum support but ensure that the drum is in the correct position first.

To correctly fit the support, fit the two top hooks in place and then you can lift the drum slightly, this will help the drum get in position. With the support screwed back in place and the electrical connector at the bottom fitted you will then be able to attach the belt to the jockey wheels.

Once the top two hooks are in place, lift the drum to get the bottom in position, you should now be able to reattach the four bolts and the electrical connector. If the wires are all loose, you can push them back into the holder.

This ensures that they are nice and neat and now we can begin to fit the belt to the jockey wheels.

Concentrating on one of the wheels (either right or left, there is no difference), simply push it away from you to loosen the tension to allow you to feed the belt around the pulley wheel. Once in place you can give the drum a spin and make sure the belt is aligned correctly.

With the new belt back in its correct position, you can now start to reassemble the dryer. To begin assembling the pieces refit the fan make sure you don’t forget the washer which sits behind the fan and the fan housing cover.

With the fan in place you can then fit the front panels and the top of the appliance back in place. When fitting the front panel, remember to reattach the door lock electrical connections and to refit the door seal. We are almost done, just fit your control panel, and screw the top cover back in place and you’re all set.

And You’re Done

There you have it! Not the quickest or easiest of tasks however with the replacement belt fitted - not only have you saved money on not calling a repairman but you have also increased your own knowledge and DIY skills.

You should genuinely feel achieved as most would either throw in the towel before even starting the repair and pay an expensive call out fee to have someone else come to do it.