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My dryer stopped working, now the motor just loudly hums and it does not turn at all. The belt is still on and if I push the door trigger in and turn the drum manually and press start the motor will turn the drum in whichever direction that I turn it. I took the lid off and tried to turn drum but hand, it did turn and as it is supposed to be, it was stiff to turn. I decided to test the strength of the motor so while i has it turning i put some resistance on the drum from the inside and it was plenty strong, the problem seems to be just getting the motor started. Any clue on what could be causing this? thanks Update (06/14/2017) I read online it could also be a lint jam… so, i have cleaned it all out, blew and vacuumed it… the support wheels seemed fine, I can turn the motor which turns the drum with just a pinky. I will put it back together tonight and see how it goes.
@slack, Dan, Do check to see if there is any foreign object that could be putting undo stress on drum/motor to keep it from turning. Use the link below for your service guide for trouble shooting Kenmore Elite HE3 : TEST #3 Motor Circuit, This test will check the wiring to the motor and the motor itself, Page #5 in guide and then required repair can be made. Good luck. I hope this helped you out, if so let me know by pressing the helpful button. Kenmore-Elite-HE3-Dryer-Tech-Sheet.pdf
Cause 1 Drive Belt The drive belt is a very long, slender belt that wraps all the way around the dryer drum, around a tension pulley, and then around the drive motor pulley. Over time, the belt can break from normal use. If the belt is broken, the dryer won’t turn. To quickly determine if the belt is broken, reach into the dryer and turn the drum by hand. If the drum spins very easily, the belt is likely broken. Next, inspect the belt to confirm that it is broken. If the belt is broken, replace it. Cause 2 Drum Roller Most dryers have two drum rollers on the rear of the drum, and some dryers have two more rollers supporting the front of the drum. The rollers must spin freely to work properly. If the drum rollers are worn out, the dryer won’t turn properly. To determine if the support rollers are worn out, remove the belt from the dryer and try turning the drum by hand. If the drum does not rotate freely, check the support rollers for wear. If one or more of the rollers are worn out, we recommend replacing all of the rollers at the same time as a preventative measure. (The roller shaft can often be reused if it is in good condition. Clean the shaft thoroughly before installing the new rollers.) Cause 3 Drum Roller Axle Most dryers have two drum support rollers on the rear of the drum, and some dryers have two more rollers supporting the front of the drum. The rollers must spin freely to work properly. Over time, the drum roller axles can wear out, causing the rollers to bind. If the rollers are worn out or start binding, the motor will get overloaded and the dryer won’t turn. To determine if the support rollers are worn out, remove the belt from the dryer and try turning the drum by hand. If the drum does not rotate freely, check the support rollers for wear. If the rollers spin freely without wobbling, they do not need to be replaced. If a roller wobbles and/or does not spin freely, we recommend replacing all of the axles and rollers as a preventative measure.
The motor in the dryer is bad
