Buzzing Motor, Drum doesn't turn on its own.

Hi - I made a reply comment above because I was still in the discovery phase of my dryer, a Kenmore 800 series…I think also referred to as Elite. But that doesn’t matter….here are the findings and resolution on mine in case it is helpful for you.

# My motor was bad. These dryer motors don’t use a “starting capacitor” like some of us electrical types might expect. Instead it uses a separate “Start Winding” on the motor to get it going. Bad start winding…motor needs to be replaced. As everybody agrees, if your drum runs normal after a manual push….the start winding is bad….period.

1. It’s important to consider the root-cause of the start winding going bad. Turns out my dryer had a seized idler pulley. The pulley was completely seized and the belt was dragging across the pulley and wore through most of it. My wife reported strange drum/rotation sounds many months ago. So my conclusion is that the pulley started seizing MANY months ago and the motor has had to endure those tough starts for all that time…..and continued to dry that way without ever breaking the belt or failing!! So we can credit the great motor and kevlar belt for doing all that extra work…..and no credit for the piece of crap pulley that used to last 50 years on old dryers!!

CONCLUSION: if your dryer hums, but the drum will start running with a manual push (while holding door switch), then you need the motor…probably a #279787. Unless your motor failed because you’re throwing 150-LBS of wet clothes in it…there is probably another issue in there, so I would recommend an automatic change of the belt and the pulley. If you’re taking the whole thing apart…you might as well have the parts you will probably need.

Hi @richardjgabel,

If possible manually operate the door switch and with the motor humming, manually rotate the drum and check if it then continues to rotate by itself.

Be safety aware if it does continue operating. Don't get your hand/arm caught

If it continues to turn this usually indicates that it is either a faulty start capacitor connected to the motor (if there is one) or a faulty start winding in the motor.

What is the model number of the dryer?

Hi @richardgab31622

Here's the service manual that may help.

Om p.17 it shows how to check the motor.

If the centrifugal switch is OK it may be that the start winding is faulty.

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.

Hi @scottcrawshaw

What is the model number of your washer?

Try disconnecting the power to the dryer and removing the drive belt and check if the drum is hard to turn by hand. It may be a faulty roller bearing or even a tub shaft bearing that is initially stiff but frees up after use.

ok folks hope this helps someone i have the maytag centennial dryer mgd3000bw0 and i noticed a spring on the bottom that had fallen out of one of the weights that opens the cintrifugal switch. once i figured out how to put it back on my dryer was working like new. with it staying open it was causing it to humm and not want to spin the drum. hope that helps.

The motor in the dryer is bad