Whirlpool Dryer Question - Drum sometimes doesn't spin

If you can hear the motor running, but the dryer is not spinning the drum belt is broken. Replace the belt.

Sounds like a bad timer

Hello, welcome to FixYa.

Based on your post I understand you have a Whirlpool dryer that you stated "set the timer and press the start button, you can hear the timer running but, the drum doesn't and the heating elements don't heat", correct ?

Having said that, by far and away the most common and the first thing I'd look for on these dryers is the fuse which is located on the blower housing, not likely the timer or start switch.

**Unplug the dryer from the wall before performing any service or removing any panels...safety first**

You can use the link below for a tutorial video to locate, test and replace the fuse that is specific to your model.
**please check the part with an ohm meter or "jump it out" (if you know how, if not, check the second link it will show you) before replacing it...the timer or start switch is possible, just not as likely as I mentioned**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUQQJAxkZ0g&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nicyh6EUHc

Let me know if I can assist you in any other manner going forward and I'll be glad to do so.

If this info provided solves your problem, please take a second to accept my solution and rate it accordingly. Good luck and thank you for choosing FixYa today.

Regards,

Macmarkus :)

the belt broke,you can buy a kit with the belt,rollers and pulley,change out everything and you'll be good to go.next time send the model number.good luck.while you have the dryer apart,vac out all the dust and lint and if you have a shop vac put it on blow and blow the motor out and clean out the duct that the lint filter slides into,also if your vent line is a long run remove it from the back of the dryer and blow it out with a leaf blower if you have one.

When the drum doesn't turn the belt is most often the cause. But it could also be the timer. Suggest you try to rotate the drum and see if you can feel or hear belt and motor resistance. But unfortunately you are going to have to open up the machine to be sure.

ALWAYS UNPLUG YOUR DRYER BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO DO ANY WORK ON IT.
Sounds like your problem may be a broken belt, or the belt may have slipped off of the motor pulley, or idler arm pulley.
If you have to replace your drum belt and if you have a front loading machine.
Remove the electrical console that holds the timer switch, start switch, etc. from the top of the dryer. Be real careful not to knock any of the wires off of the timer switch. Then remove the top of the dryer.
Remove the front of the machine, this will expose the belt and drum, remove the drum and belt and this will expose the drum rollers, idler arm bracket with pulley, and motor with pulley. Pay attention to the route of the belt, this will come in handy when you go to reinstall the belt and drum.
Sometimes the belt will slip off of the idler arm or motor causing the drum not to turn.
While you have the drum out, I would recommend that you lubricate the drum rollers at the shaft of the roller with a good grade of machine oil like 3 in One oil. This will save you a problem later with the rollers getting noisy, also check your drum rollers for flat spots, if they have flat spots on them this will cause a noise like a thumping type noise. You will need to replace the drum rollers if they have flat spots on them.
I will include these two websites for parts and further help:
http://www.partselect.com/
http://www.appliancepartspros.com/index.aspx
Both also have chat assistance 24/7.
Good luck,
I hope this helps
Please do not forget to rate me
Thank you

tumble dryer / spin dryer seems to be making the right sort of noises, but the drum is not turning, unplug it, take the rear cover off and check to see if the drive belt is still intact and on the pulleys. If the belt has broken or stretched

So,. basically your drum doesnt turn. SO your getting heat still even though the drum isnt turning. Is this right? Sounds strange??? Do you hear any humming noise when you push the start button? I need to know a little more about the problem because im kinda confused as how you decribed the problem. Iv never seen a dryer heat but the drum not spinning. especially your model dryer. Its electric heat right? because if the drum doesnt spin, maybe your motor is bad. and if your motor is bad, then your heating element wont heat up because the centrifical switch in the motor is not switching to complete the circuit to the heating element. So this is why im confused when you said" Dryer heats when knob turned but when "push button" pressed, drum doesnt run." Because your belt wraps around the motor pully and the motor is what makes the drum turn. Like i said, i never seen this model dryer heat with out the motor operating. So if you can give me some more info, ill do my best to help you out....Thanks!!!!

More likely does have a belt. Get me the model number and I will see if I can help you on this problem, Thanks, Sea Breeze

full size free standing whirlpool dryer???? part number 341241, on a scale 1-10 it might be a 3 for a first timer, the package i belive even comes with direction on installing