Gas dryer shuts down after 5 minutes ? !

Kenmore "Ultra Fabric Care" gas clothes dryer, "Heavy duty 80 series", Model #97586210 75862...

It runs well... gas warms the clothes, and the drum turns... for about 5 minutes only. Then it shuts itself off. After an hour or two, it will run again... for about 5 minutes only.

After it shuts itself off, it won't start... it just Clicks. It will start again after 1 or 2 hours.

WHAT is shutting it down?

Thanks very much for your input.

Mark246

Reply to
Mark246
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It may be overheating and the safety circuit shuts it down. To check this turn the heat off. This may be called the "fluff" setting. See if the dryer stays on for more than 5 minutes. If so then assume that this is a heat problem. Inspect the exhaust vent to see if it is plugged or routed incorrectly.

Reply to
tnom

It could continue to shut down even on the 'air only' or 'fluff' setting. It might be that the motor is overheating and the thermocouple is shutting it down, not related to the heat of the drier. If it still shuts down on the air only setting,open the access panel, or remove the back and see how much dust and lint is collecting around an in the openings to the motor. Use a shopvac, brush, even compressed air, to get the dust and lint out of the motor. Clean the entire area while you are in there.

While the drier is running, even if it will only do so for a few minutes, check to see if there is air coming out the exhaust vent. If there is none, or very little, then there must be blockage in the vent line that needs cleaned.

Reply to
Mark

Hi, Is the vent clean?

Reply to
Tony Hwang

Suggestions: The air vent is blocked? Broken belt driving the air fan? Air fan/blower or lint filter is blocked by lint or is jammed? (We once found the metal part of a bra jammed in one! A size 'D' IIRC). Broken blades on the air fan, particularly if the fan is mounted low down in the machine. (We encountered one fan that had been smashed up by loose coins! The plastic blades of the air circulating fan were in handfuls, along with some coins!) Any of the above possibly resulting in no or reduced air flow and thus rapid overheating. Or; the overheat switch has become too sensitive or damaged and operates at too low a temperature. As a momentary fix find it and try by-passing it; having first checked all the above. Having fixed and rebuilt a quite a number of dryers/washers/microwaves etc. etc.; this kind of a problem just requires a logical trouble shooting procedure based on an understanding of how the machine operates. There is usually a circuit diagram (and timer sequence chart) by the way, often on back panel, which is a great help. However, unless it is a well known and common problem with a certain product it is unlikely that anyone can, remotely point at the exact item that is faulty. If not able to trouble shoot; hire someone with the technical ability and the practical know-how of what is most likely to be the problem with that product, as evidenced by that fault It appears that in this machine operation of the overheat switch shuts off the whole machine. Probably a good safety feature! Good luck.

Reply to
terry

Could be an overheat protection mechanism turning on--better to turn off than have a possible fire. Open the dryer and vacuum it out, clean the vent, clean the pipes, make sure the exhuast flap(s) is not stuck. For a two-person family, clean the ductwork every year or more.

Reply to
Phisherman

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