How to Replace a Broken Drive Belt in a Clothes Dryer

Safety first!, Remove the top cover of the machine by undoing the 2 bolts at the back of the top panel. , You should now be able to see if the belt is broken or not., Remove the plastic cover at the bottom rear of the machine and take off the black...

29 Steps 1 min read Advanced

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Safety first!

Unplug the machine from the wall-socket and make sure the machine has been idle long enough so that the heater elements, etc. have cooled.

Step 2: Remove the top cover of the machine by undoing the 2 bolts at the back of the top panel.

, It should be wrapped around the back of the drum.

In this picture, you can see it has snapped and is loose on the drum. ,,,,,, Take care to support the panel (and the drum) as the screws are removed.

A second pair of hands is useful here! , Do not move more than a few inches yet! ,,,,,,, Rotate the drum slowly by hand to make sure the belt is able to travel unhindered.

Now is your chance to hoover out the back of the machine! Reconnect the heating element connector. ,, Replace the washers/e-ring securing the drum.

Make sure you put back on everything you removed (such as the belt for the fan). ,,

Step 3: You should now be able to see if the belt is broken or not.

Step 4: Remove the plastic cover at the bottom rear of the machine and take off the black belt going from the red pulley to the white pulley (this turns the fan).

Step 5: At the back of the machine

Step 6: undo the 5 or 6 bolts securing the air-flow cover...

Step 7: ...revealing the drum securing e-ring and washers.

Step 8: Remove these and keep them in a safe place for now.

Step 9: The drum is no longer holding in the back panel of the machine.

Step 10: Using a 7mm socket wrench

Step 11: remove the screws holding in the back panel of the machine.

Step 12: Taking care to support the drum

Step 13: move the back panel away from the machine slightly.

Step 14: Before removing the back panel any more

Step 15: carefully undo the electrical connector for the heating element.

Step 16: Remove the broken belt if not already done.

Step 17: Move the back panel away from the drum and put the new belt over the top of the drum (towards the rear) and feed it through between the drum and the back panel and finally around the motor-shaft.

Step 18: The motor can pivot and has a spring securing it to the body of the machine.

Step 19: NOTE CAREFULLY how the belt needs to pass over the pulley-wheel

Step 20: then under the motor-shaft!

Step 21: The trick to fitting the belt is to hold the belt with your left hand as shown in Step 14 - and with your other hand

Step 22: push the pulley-wheel anti-clockwise until you can get the belt to loop over it.

Step 23: Once this is in place

Step 24: the hard work is over.

Step 25: Re-fit the back cover

Step 26: taking care to line up the drum with the hole.

Step 27: Screw on the back panel.

Step 28: Re-fit the top cover.

Step 29: You're good to go!

Detailed Guide