My 505ed Hoover Dryer is struggling to turn the drum with only a damp large towel in it, can hear the motor trying, would the belt be the issue?

When your dryer stopped spinning it is most likely caused by a broken belt, you can reach to the drum and try turning it by hand and if it spins easily, the belt is probably broken or slipped off. A not spinning dryer can be also due to a faulty drum roller. In rare cases the motor is faulty and the dryer won't spin.

I got this from https://www.electrafixbc.ca/appliances/dryer.html
Check it out for more info on your dryer drum issue. Good luck!

may be a stretched belt. i would start with replacing it.

When you start the dryer do you hear the motor running if so the belt from the motor to the drum of the dryer is broken has to be replaced.

Okay, approach the dryer and first unplug it from power. Now very carefully take a flat blade screw driver and push the blade into the right or left front corners of the dryer box exterior between the mani box housing and the top. Carefully pry upward trying not to scar the porcelain paint finish. You will hear apop as the lid hold down spring detaches and releases. repeat on the other side. Place a hand on each of the lid corners and lift. the top will rise a angle upwards and to the back, use something to prop up the lid. Now looking down you will see the drum and a large narrow band running around the drums circumference . This is the drum belt if it is tight with no play. It is in
a proper position if it is about 4 to 6 inches from the back of the drum.
If it is displaced or hanging off the back see if it will move back up onto the drum. If when you do this it is loose or not tensioned tightly the belt will need adjusting down near the motor. To do this you must remove the back of the dryer, please be careful not break or disconnect the wires unless you mark them with tape to show where they were attached. Now this step works for both broken and displaced ,or improperly tensioned belts. at the motor near the bottom of the dryer you will see a pulleythat the belt attaches to on the motor right above the motor pulley you will see a tensioning bar or a pulley .this tensions the belt so it will tightly grip the drum of the dryer and the motor pulley.
Loosen the bracket position the belt and then retighten making sure the belt tension is tight on the drum. Now hand rotate the drum and see if the tension of the belt turns with the motor and does not slip.
IF it slips retension and recheck. If everything turns the way it should
Put the dryer back together, but do not entirely close the lid.Plug the dryer in, Set a dryer preset such as air dry and turn it on. if the
drum turns and doesn't squeal every thing is a okay . Turn it off and close the lid. Make sure the lid holddown catches lock the lid down.
Pop in a mid size load of clothes or Towels turn the unit on. If it squels it needs re tensioning. Now worst case scenario, the belt wont tension because it is stressed, frayed or stretched, go through the replacement procedure again. Proper Tension of the belt is key to peak operation. Good Luck if you are a stickler for proper belt deflection, a
technical term used forhow tight a belt can be before a belt is too tight, go to the dryer company's website and look for drum belt deflection measurements. I always used the belt rotation slip or no slip test. Have fun !!

If you hear the motor starting then it normally wouldn't be the start capacitor. It is when it doesn't start that you suspect the capacitor.

If your motor is turning and belt is NOT slipping then your drum should be turning! Those things do tell you that your electronic (control board and timer) are good, but you are wrong about either the motor or the belt!

I am a little puzzled! Normally the difficulty is with startup rather than stopping after starting. Are you sure that the drum actually turns or maybe it just sounds like it is turning? If it never actually turns then it is probably the belt or the motor. You can make sure by placing only a few items in the dryer (try a couple towels or different colors) place the towels inside, (pay attention to where they are) begin the cycle, open the door to see if the towels have changed position. If the drum has been rotating then try adding a few more items to see if things change.
If the drum does not turn at all it maybe the drum belt. If, as you increase the load, the drum has difficulty starting then it is probably the motor or a control circuit. Hope this helps...Good Luck. Douglas

here is a picture of some belt diagrams:

http://www.applianceaid.com/images/belt-config.JPG

Now there may be a problem with the drum rollers/glides or idler arm:

rollers/glides:

http://www.partselect.com/dryer+dryer-tears-clothes+repair.htm

idler pulley(third on list right under motor):

http://www.partselect.com/dryer+dryer-wont-tumble+repair.htm

Hope this helped Tim

If the drum won't move but you can hear a motor running, the drive belt has probably slipped off of the drum or motor pulley or has broken. Try turning it by hand with the motor off and then turning the dryer on again.

The drum belt is worn or the belt tensioner is malfunctioning. Needs service. A good handyman/woman can do the job.

Charlie

If the drum is very stiff to turn could be the drum bearings shot which would account for the broken belt, replace belt and it liable to break shortly after again. hover are known for there bad bearings and they cost a small fortune.

check it out have a look and see if there is nothing jaming the drum inside, i am certain your belt has gone and maybe down to the stiff drum making belt break, replace belt but bare in mind it may break again if the drum is too stiff.

choice is yours really. bearing kits cost more than 50 quid in general