As describe earlier, my dryer started smoking, and maing a burning smell from behind the drum. There is no evidence of lint buildup in the exhaust, and the dryer still starts smelling as if it is on fire when it is disconnected from the exhaust pipe.This smoking/fire smell has never occurred before. I had just dried a medium load, and was just restarting it with a few items to toss before I put them on the clothes line,when it started smoking. I found this site, and thought I would try and contact you, before calling for service.

The burning smell is usually one of two things. If it smells like burning rubber the dryer belt is on its last leg and is slipping or stuck. If you are a diy'er the replacement of the belt is more time consuming than difficult. If it just a burning smell, then it is most likely lint built up inside the exhaust. You'll need to scoot the dryer out and get behind it to take off the dryer hose that vents from the dryer to the outside. Take off both ends for the most convenient and thorough cleaning. You'll need to blow out the hose with an air compressor and/or push a cylindrical brush through the hose or a rag on the end of a long stick. Be care not to puncture the hose! Once done, you are not finished cleaning. The back panel of the dryer needs to be removed to access the exhaust's internal pathway. You can try to clean it from the lint trap and the place in the rear where the dryer hose attaches, but be aware that cleaning cannot remove all the lint stuck to the exhaust pathway lining. At Home Depot, Lowe's or Menard's they sell brushes on wire, etc to clean the dryer's inside exhaust pathway.

Hope this helps!!

be careful as this sounds like a big fire hazard. Could be aa faulty thermal cut-off or lint buildup trying to catch on fire.

Firt make sure the lint filter is clear and the air exhaust pipe is clear. Then check the drum gasket. Behind the drum, there is a heater.The drum rotates and the heated air is passed from the stationary heater to the drum via a gasket, usually stuck to the back of the drum andthis rubs against the stationary heater wall. This gasket can become frayed or broken and bits can be ignited by the heater. The gasket will need to be replaced if this is the problem.

Sounds like you have a lint problem within the vent hose and or the dryer...
Clear you lint from both and follow the parts needed in the solution below.
Or could be a belt also burning...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BE SURE TO UNPLUG YOU MACHINE FROM THE WALL BEFORE YOU START ANY WORK.
Your problem could be a Thermostats/Thermistors malfunction.
But this overheat condition also could be caused by a buildup of lint in the duct work, or a faulty blower motor/fan blade.
This will cause an overheat condition that you describe.
You will have to locate the air tube that is going to the dryer drum. Some general area the heater is located.
Is also where you will find most of them.
They normally are round/oval shaped and have two wires connected to them. Take off the wires and with an Ohm meter set to "continuity" check your thermostat/thermistor.
If you have continuity across the terminal it is not faulty.
Be sure to check all of the thermostats/Thermistors.
If this is not your problem then it will be the Control board if you have one on your machine.
Look for the fan blade to be in the air tube going to the dryer drum.
This is a FREE answer, Please Rate Me

belts dont really burn the main reason for buring smell is lint on the element did you take the whole barrel out? as 90% of the lint that burns is formed around the heating coil behind the barrel

best of luck sir

Check for lint buildup in the vent discharge hose/pipe and the inside of the dryer blower housing.
Heavy wet lint buildup will cause a moldy/mildewy smell that you describe.
Heavy lint build up will also increase the drying time, and it is a fire hazzard
This is a free answer, Please rate me

I highly recommend opening the dryer by removing the front panel.
Unplug the machine, remove the front cover and be prepared to vacuum out the lint build-up inside the housing of the dryer.
Also clean the exhaust duct of lint buildup too.

first is first ,,, disconnect dryer from plug,, now open bottom panel 2 screws ,, now go and get youre vaccum,shop vac, anything ,, reason for burning smell ,, usually catching on fire ,, we recommend do this 1 as year,,, after cleaning , put about 2-3 fabric sheets inside dryer and let it runn for about 30 minutes to remive smoke from drum,,, thank you

you can unplug the unit , and reomve the lower aces panel (3 screws along the front bottom of unit) youll probalby see an excess of lint built up in which case you can vacuum it out, and then check/clean and or replace your dryer vent

IF THERE IS A RESTRICTION IN THE EXHAUST(LINT BUILDUP OR FOLDED FLEX ATTACHED TO THE DRYER AND PUSHED UP AGAINST THE WALL) THE DRYER WILL NOT DRY PROPERLY. IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED, A THERMAL FUSE WILL OPEN SHUTTING DOWN THE CIRCUIT TO THE MAIN MOTOR. THE THERMAL FUSE IS A SMALL WHITE OBJECT LOCATED BEHIND THE BACK PANEL DOWN BY THE EXHAUST OUTLET. THERE ARE TWO WIRES ATTACHED TO IT. IF IT IS BAD, REPLACE IT AND CHECK THE DUCT WORK FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS.

PART COST APPROX 30 DOLLARS