gas dryer drum not turning...

[Chris]

I have an OLD.. maybe 20 year old Kenmore dryer.. Tonight, the drum stopped turning. Everything else is working- controls, gas, etc.

Does anyone know what the price range will be to get this thing running again? I just set up an appointment for a service call from Sears.

Would the price to get this old clunker back on track be just the same as buying a new one? $500 will be my limit.. I just want to get 1-2 more years out of this thing before getting a new washer and dryer-- I want to put it off as I am planning to get new kitchen appliances in a few months.. thanks.

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, Check the drive belt.

[Ed Pawlowski]

Why Sears? Do you have too much money?

Call a local appliance repair shop. Chances are it is a belt or the motor. Belt is probably $30 plus a service call of $100 or so. Motor can be much more.

The last place I'd call for any service is Sears. They have a poor reputation for cost.

[Doug Miller]

Most likely, the drive belt broke.

Cancel it. If you have even basic mechanical abilities, it's an easy fix in most cases. Replacing a drive belt isn't likely to require any tools beyond a screwdriver; the hardest part is going to be figuring out how to get the case off of the dryer, and there are online resources that can help with that.

One tip: when replacing the belt, you'll need something to hold up the front of the drum while you thread the belt through the tensioner assembly. Try a quart paint can -- should be just the right size.

Not if the problem is a broken drive belt. Replacement belt should be about $25-30, and readily available at any appliance repair shop. About a 30-minute do-it-yourself job, counting the time it takes to figure out how to open the case.

[Ulysses]

While looking for a washing machine motor on eBay I found very little info/parts using Kenmore as a search word but found lots using Whirlpool. There is a good chance your dryer was made by Whirlpool and a good chance that's it's worth repairing. Like everyone else said, take a look at it try to determine what's wrong then come back here and ask more questions. I knew almost nothing about washing machines and, thanks to this newsgroup, it is now working again and I spent less than $40 on parts and now I know that I should probably keep it because many of the new ones are crap.

[Stormin Mormon]

If money is a concern, cancell the Shears call, and get someone local to you. Shears is Exshpensive.

[Stormin Mormon]

I'd suggest to check the belt, and the motor of course. Seriously, Sears is far too expensive in everything. Open your yellow pages under appliance repair, and make some phone calls.

[clare]

Not sure of the gas driers, but on an electric the drive belt is about $17 and a reasonably handy guy or gal can change it in just over an hour - about 20 minutes the second time 'round unless you have a bad memory.

Just did the one at the cottage 2 weeks ago - not counting running in to town to buy the part it took just over 15 minutes, including vacuuming out some lint. It had been over 5 years since I had last done one, and my memory isn't what it used to be.

[clare]

On an Inglis built Kenmore, you pop the bottom front cover off to check it - and then pop the top (hinges up to the back) and pull the front off to change it. Needed to remove 4 scres, loosen 2 more, disconnect 2 wires, and that was it. The top has 2 spring clips after you remoce the screws in the lint filter, the bottom panel has 3 snaps across the top and hinge/clips at the bottom.

2 screws from the inside at the top come out, and 2 at the bottom (covered by the lower panel) come loose to pop the front off. Disconnect the wiires from the door switch first!!