GE dryer

Thread Starter

inwo

Joined Nov 7, 2013
2,419
Maybe #12 has an idea.

My daughters dryer start making bad rubbing/dragging noises a while ago.

She's been using a spare while finding time to fix it.

It is well worn and the slides seemed worn.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281202186809&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:US:3160

I ordered those and a belt and bearing kit.

Only one came in the package.:(

Anyhow, today we put it together. I put the one in that was worn the most.

Didn't fix the noise. I then shimmed the other two a little.

No good.

Now it's in my pickup ready for the landfill.:D (with new parts)

Any thing I missed. It's hard to find when not running. And can't run it with the front off.

Seems it was ok without the belt. But then no load on the motor/blower either.
 

Dr.killjoy

Joined Apr 28, 2013
1,196
With dryers there are many bearing surfaces ..
How you discribe the nosie???
Also pm the serial and part# and I will help out alot more ..
 

Thread Starter

inwo

Joined Nov 7, 2013
2,419
Hard to describe other than a rubbing/scraping noise.

Makes a couple turns before the noise starts.

Seems more in sync with the drum than the blower.

I'm nearly deaf however. Daughter thought right away it was the blower.
Can't get you the #s until I unload it.

Was thinking of just dumping it, but I'll give it one more shot. Maybe the wife can help hear it.

thanks, I''ll see if I can unload it myself.
 
Last edited:

Thread Starter

inwo

Joined Nov 7, 2013
2,419
Well, that wasn't too bad.............

It's a DLB3400 SBLW

sn ZL216894H not too sure about the first two letters.
 

Thread Starter

inwo

Joined Nov 7, 2013
2,419
Well, that sucks! Works fine in my cold garage.

Is that a clue?

ps.
Seems really noisy when running it with all the spare parts in the drum.:)
 

Dr.killjoy

Joined Apr 28, 2013
1,196
Well, that sucks! Works fine in my cold garage.

Is that a clue?

ps.
Seems really noisy when running it with all the spare parts in the drum.:)
Did you check the rest of the bearing ????
Is the drum full seated on the front bearing ???
How are the bearing ???
 

Thread Starter

inwo

Joined Nov 7, 2013
2,419
Do you mean the slides.

They were all worn.

The left was the worst. I replaced it and noise persisted.

I then cut part of the thin part off the old one and used as a test shim under the remaining two.

Noise persisted.

Next I none too carefully threw it in the back of the pick up.
Flopped it out in my cold garage.

Plugged in to 120 just to test for noise, and it sounds fine.

Guess I'll have to drag it in the house and run for an hour.
Either way I'll order the other two slides.

I can't believe they come individually packaged, rather than a set. Oh well, my bad!
 

PatM

Joined Dec 31, 2010
86
If the fan is a squirrel cage type, check that it hasn't come loose from the shaft. I had one that acted that way and it made quite a racket.
 

Potato Pudding

Joined Jun 11, 2010
688
The rough treatment seeming to fix it is probably a clue.

Many times the noise you describe is something like a bobby pin, a coin, or a button that works itself into a place in the dryer where it isn't meant to be.

A few knocks on the side and it can shift loose.

Will seem to work fine after that.

An older dryer is more prone to letting debris sneak out of the drum.
 

#12

Joined Nov 30, 2010
18,224
In my mind, the support for the front of the drum is mounted on the front panel (that the door is connected to). In a Kenmore, it is just a piece of felt! Either 454 or 501
Could it be that you let it go so long that the inside of the front lip of the drum is mangled and just eats the new support piece?

I have failed miserably with a Frigidaire dryer. New rear rollers and bearings, front drum support, and couldn't keep it running long enough to sell it.
 

Thread Starter

inwo

Joined Nov 7, 2013
2,419
I'll check, but they weren't that bad. Not worn thru.

I'm thinking the motor bearings. Blower is only noisy when drum belt is pulling up?

It did make a couple noise free rotations at her house before "warming up".

I'll see if bringing it inside or heat brings the noise back.
If not, it can't be trusted this way.

Back when I repaired dryers they had real bearings front and back that lasted sometimes 30 years.
 

Thread Starter

inwo

Joined Nov 7, 2013
2,419
Connected to 240. Ran for a half hour. No problem.

I guess she just wanted to go for a ride in my pick-up.:D
 

Thread Starter

inwo

Joined Nov 7, 2013
2,419
I've got an old (1958) Harley like that.:p

I think PotatoPudding's idea is the most likely explanation.
I agree, and I did note her post.:D

How it survived previous rough treatment while changing parts, I don't know.

This is the first time it was slammed down on the back however.
 

killivolt

Joined Jan 10, 2010
835
I agree, and I did note her post.:D

How it survived previous rough treatment while changing parts, I don't know.

This is the first time it was slammed down on the back however.
I've worked on dozens of these and yes you can get stuff in the front seal that gets in between the drum and front panel. There is a ground clip the touches the rear shaft. Sometimes it makes noises; that is if it's a slow off and on squeak. If it's almost constant, it's something lodged between the front felt seal and the drum. Don't exclude the rear retainer clip either, if the plastic bearing in the rear develops rust deposits it can happen as well.
 

Thread Starter

inwo

Joined Nov 7, 2013
2,419
What's puzzling is, all of that was disassembled. All suspect parts replaced.

Noise persisted after.:confused:
 

shortbus

Joined Sep 30, 2009
10,045
Maybe it was one of those socks that seems to disappear in the dryer? Still think dryers are a sock worm hole to another dimension. :)
 
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