dryer motor

Jerry Trumball · 2008-03-30T18:28:24+00:00

I have a GE DDE7208 dryer with a 5KH26JJ motor. When the motor is stationary, the centrifugal switch energizes the start winding along with the run winding. When I depress the starter, the motor hums but does not turn even with the belt off. That points to a bad motor, but I want to be sure.Winding resistances are 3 and 4 ohms. That doesn't prove the insulation is holding up at 120 VAC, but if there were a leak so bad that the motor wouldn't turn even unloaded, wouldn't the overload protector break the circuit?At 2 amps DC, there are only 6 mv across the centrifugal switch, so the contacts appear to be fine.Bearings have no slop or noise but more friction than some motors I've seen. It takes 0.7 inch-pounds to get the shaft moving.What could be wrong?

Mar 30, 2008 21 Replies

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Jerry Trumball 18 years ago

I haven't dried any laundry yet, but with a new cord it starts every time, runs quietly, and heats.

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Jerry Trumball 18 years ago

I used Marvel Lubricating Oil. Its recommended uses include small motors, but I don't know if 1/4 hp is what they mean by small. Apparently the bearings were doing fine, so it would have been better to leave them alone. I don't think enough Marvel got into the bearings to wash away any original lubricant.

That seems to happen with things like headphone cords. I think oxidation can keep current from flowing from one strand to another. In that case you replace the cord or the headphones.

I found no broken strands in the dryer cord. Apparently it was a bad connection in the molded rubber plug.

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