FIXED Maytag LDE712, Replaced belt after overload - Now dryer only runs when start button held down, no heat either.

[defrag4]

Model Number

LDE712

Brand

Maytag

Age

More than 10 years

Hi friends,

I have an old Maytag LDE712 dryer, my wife overloaded the poor thing and broke the belt. I was able to get it replaced but now the dryer will only run when I hold down the start button, it is also not getting hot anymore.

I checked all the thermostats and the heating element, all ohm'd out OK, I checked both legs at the drier for 120v and they look ok.

I checked the voltage at the heating element and it is only getting 120v

There is a switch that is screwed to the front of the motor, It sounds like it is being activated by the motor when I am holding the start button, but not sure how I can test it?

Backstory: I am renting this house, the dryer always ran fine but the timer never worked, basically you would press start and it would just run forever until you came and opened the door to stop it. Not sure if that makes any difference.

Here is a wiring diagram:

 

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This old dryer does not appear to have any thermal cutoffs for the tumbler or heating elements, though I can see someone rigged something up attached the motor, which looks like some sort of thermal breaker called a Klixon, perhaps this is the old school cutoff

Looks similar to this

It has continuity across so it so I believe it is fine

 

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Some more photos

The beast

Motor and switch

Thermal breaker?

Quite complicated start/timer/temp switches for the 80s, seems like none of this stuff works anymore and the dryer would just run full blast 24/7 till you open the door to stop it, which I will take over not working at all!

Timer

Bell?

 

[defrag4]

So I was creeping around on old threads, all signs lead to the centrifugal switch not working

Now apparently on the new dryers this thing is part of the motor and can’t be replaced but on this old girl I learned it is in that box bolted to the front of the motor

I came across a YouTube video of a guy who was bench testing a similar motor who noted that the switch almost came apart in his hand when he pulled it off the motor

I figured maybe I could crack mine open and take a look, headed back out to the garage for the 100th time today to mess with the dryer

Took some pics of the wiring and pulled off the switch, it split easily in my hands

Check out what I found!

Thing was jammed full of lint and dead ants! I guess they decided to make a home in my switch during the few weeks I was waiting for the dryer belt to arrive!!

Their dead bodies and lint were blocking up the contacts not allowing the switch to activate!

Blew them out and gave the contacts a quick scrub w some sandpaper for good measure, slapped it back together and BOOM! Running like a champ!

Yay baby we’re back in business! Start button works properly now and we got heat!

Now that I am pretty much an expert of old Maytags I think I’ll try and tackle that timer tomorrow, it’s not making any noise at all and doesn’t seem to effect the dryer operation no matter where I set it

 

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Cost of fix: $0

well actually I paid a few bucks to a service tech who told me the dryer was too old, i would never be able to find parts and i needed to buy a new one...

kids these days!

 

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bench testing video which shows the general idea of how this thing works

 

[Jake]

Excellent @defrag4 good job fixing your dryer.

Thanks for posting the photos and all the information, that will help others. Paying it Forward is ALWAYS GOOD KARMA!!!

Jake