Tumble dryer drum not turning how to repair and replace the motor capacitor.

by / Monday, 19 August 2013 / Published in Motors & Capacitors, Repair Guides, Tumble Dryers

How to replace a tumble dryer motor capacitor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If your tumble dryer is not turning or you can only hear a low humming noise with no drum action then it is probably your capacitor or motor. This video will show you a step by step procedure on how to diagnose the fault and how to replace a motor capacitor.

See other Video Tutorials on Tumble Dryer Drum Not Turning!  

 How to replace a tumble dryer motor capacitor. 

If power is getting to the tumble dryer but all you can hear is a humming noise then the motor or drum could be physically jammed. A more common explanation though is a faulty motor capacitor. Many tumble dryer motors use a capacitor start and if the tumble dryer capacitor goes faulty it may not produce the big kick of electricity which is needed to jump start the motor. It’s also possible for the motor itself to be at fault, maybe it has start windings instead of a capacitor and what you think is a capacitor could be a suppressor filter. Do not mess with this fault if you don’t know about capacitors, they can carry a large electrical charge and can give a very nasty shock – even some time after the dryer has been unplugged! They always need to be discharged first.

A good way to test is push the tumble dryer’s drum by hand and quickly shut the door which has allowed the motor to run see video for this. This implicates the start capacitor if one is fitted. Basically I put the dryer on and when it hums open the door, spin the drum and close the door quickly. It’s difficult to do as you can’t get the drum to turn much as it has a lot of resistance. I do it a differnt way in the video so be very careful not to do this if you do not have any idea about electrics

If this general advice doesn't reveal anything simple you need to call in an engineer or friend who has electrical knowledge.

Common faults on Tumble Dryers:

1 The heating elements can fail (meaning open circuit)

2 There are cut-outs (T.O.C's) that might need resetting

3 The thermostats (stats) can trip out or burn out (meaning open circuit)

4 Modern tumble dryers also have sensors and pcb's (Printed circuit boards) these have programs that can fail and circuitry although most should produce an error code showing you were the fault is.

5 Faulty connections and burned wires may also be the fault.

push-the-tumble-dryer’s-drum-by-hand

PUSH-THE-TUMBLE-DRYER’S-DRUM-BY-HAND

 

listing-for-the-humming-noise-on-the-tumble-dryer

LISTING-FOR-THE-HUMMING-NOISE-ON-THE-TUMBLE-DRYER

 

shorting-out-a-tumble-dryers-motor-capacitor

SHORTING-OUT-A-TUMBLE-DRYERS-MOTOR-CAPACITOR

 




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10 Responses to “Tumble dryer drum not turning how to repair and replace the motor capacitor.”

  1. Roger says : Reply
    May 24, 2017 at 7:49 am

    Hi how do I access my Miele condenser dryer T4453c to replace a broken belt thanks

  2. Dave Huxham says : Reply
    December 28, 2017 at 4:41 pm

    Hi Paul I have a white knight gas tumble drier the drum has stopped turning,Lid removed . Drum is stiff – usual noise when timer turned on, but with hand rotation it still wont start. Belt looks ok. Could it be motor?
    Cheaper to get new machine?
    Thanks

  3. lisa gough says : Reply
    July 25, 2018 at 5:38 am

    Hiya my swan 7k class dryer isn’t working I don’t think the drum is go in round but when I move it by hand it goes round before I close the Dr plz help

  4. lisa gough says : Reply
    July 25, 2018 at 5:44 am

    Hiya my swan 7k class dryer isn’t working I don’t think the drum is go in round but when I move it by hand it goes round before I close the Dr plz help serial num is 508134003 model num ST408BBUK

  5. Karl says : Reply
    December 27, 2018 at 6:30 pm

    Hello ,

    I have an Indesit condensing dryer . It had stopped rotating. Found tensioner pulley bush had worn out allowing belt to Hang freely . Repaired rebushed small pulley , refitted . Motor not rotating. Tried to switch motor on with no belt fitted and spin shaft but nothing happening . Is there a motor cut off sensor to reset

  6. You are a legend - it’s the start capacitor says : Reply
    February 5, 2019 at 5:00 am

    We are renting and the drier packed in. Getting heat but the drum is not turning. I tried spinning the drum, slamming the door and pressing start. Woohoo off it went! Thanks for saving me during Chinese New Year shut down in Singapore.

  7. Tony Butcher says : Reply
    January 8, 2020 at 9:43 am

    idc8t3 tumble dryer – door switch wires have been mixed up ( red/white : brown : slate) causing mains fuse to blow. Now dryer starts straight away when plugged in and keeps running when door is opened. Any help would be much appreciated, many thanks.

  8. donna shaw says : Reply
    February 8, 2021 at 8:23 pm

    i have a beko dcu7230 and the capacitor has gone, where is it located please?

  9. Sammie says : Reply
    June 14, 2021 at 6:20 am

    Can u please help my swan dryer won’t spin I have changed the capacitor and thought I had fixed the problem how ever it only does a few mins then stops again

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