Dryer runs but drum won't spin
If your dryer runs but the drum won't spin, the drive belt has usually broken or slipped off. The giveaway is a drum that turns by hand with almost no resistance. A new belt costs about $10 to $30 and is a reasonable job if you're comfortable opening the cabinet. If the drum is hard to turn, or the motor only hums, the problem is somewhere else. If the drum spins free by hand, it's the belt, and that's a fixable job.
How the drum is turned
A dryer drum doesn't have a motor of its own. A long, thin belt wraps all the way around the outside of the drum, then runs down to a small pulley on the motor. A spring-loaded idler pulley pushes on the belt to keep it tight. When the motor runs, it pulls the belt and the belt turns the drum.
Belts stretch, crack and eventually snap, and when that happens the motor keeps running (and on many dryers the heat still comes on) while the drum just sits there. On some dryers, a switch near the idler pulley shuts the motor off when the belt breaks, so the dryer seems not to start at all. A worn idler pulley or a broken idler spring can also let the belt slip.
Why the drum stops turning
The drum spins freely by hand.
It came off the idler or motor pulley.
The belt loses tension and slips.
The drum is too stiff to turn.
It hums but doesn't run. Call a pro.
| You notice | Likely cause | Start at |
|---|---|---|
| Drum spins freely by hand | Broken or loose belt | Step 3 |
| Loud thump, then drum stopped | Belt snapped | Step 3 |
| Squealing before it stopped | Worn idler pulley | Step 4 |
| Drum hard to turn by hand | Seized rollers or a jam | Call a pro |
| Motor only hums | Motor or start switch | Call a pro |
Let's fix it
- Unplug it and find your model numberUnplug the dryer. On a gas dryer, also turn off the gas valve behind it if you can reach it without straining the gas line. Find the model number on a sticker inside the door or on the back, and look up the belt and the parts diagram for that model; the diagram shows how the cabinet comes apart and how the belt is routed.
- Turn the drum by handOpen the door and turn the empty drum with your hand. If it spins freely with almost no resistance, the belt is broken or off. If it turns but feels normal, the belt is likely fine and the problem may be the idler pulley or the motor. If it barely turns or won't move, the drum rollers or something caught in the drum is binding it.
- Open the cabinetFollow the parts diagram for your model. On many dryers, you take out the lint screen screws and slide a putty knife under the front edge of the top to release two clips, then lift the top and remove the front panel. Others come apart from the front or back. Take a photo at each stage so you can put it back the same way, and wear gloves; the sheet metal edges are sharp.
- Check the belt and idler pulleyLook for a broken belt or one that has slipped off. Then find the idler pulley near the motor at the bottom. Spin it by hand: it should turn smoothly and quietly with no wobble, and its spring should be intact and pull firmly. Replace a pulley that wobbles, grinds or has a broken spring. Vacuum out any lint while it's open.
- Put on the new beltWrap the new belt around the drum, usually with the grooved side against the drum; the old belt often leaves a track on the drum to line up with. Then reach under, push the idler pulley against its spring to make slack, and loop the belt around the idler pulley and the motor pulley in the path shown in your diagram, usually a zigzag. Let the idler pulley take up the slack.
- Test before you close it upTurn the drum by hand a few full turns to make sure the belt stays centered and tight. Put the front panel and top back on, plug the dryer in and turn the gas back on if you shut it off. Run it empty for a minute and listen. If the drum still won't turn, or the motor hums without spinning, stop and call a technician.
Watch it done
- The drum turns when the dryer runs
- No squealing or slipping
- The belt stays centered when you turn the drum by hand
Still not turning with a new belt? Call a technician to check the motor.
If it won't start at all
If the dryer won't start at all, the belt may still be broken, since some dryers have a belt switch that stops the motor. Turn the drum by hand first, then see the guide for a dryer that won't start.
If the drum turns but the dryer is loud, see the guide for a dryer making noise.
What a pro typically charges (a rough estimate; prices vary by area): An appliance repair visit usually runs $100–$200, and replacing a belt and idler pulley typically costs $150–$300 total. A motor replacement runs about $250–$500.
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Dryer drum questions
Why is my dryer running but the drum is not turning?
Most often the drive belt broke or slipped off. If the drum spins freely by hand, it's almost certainly the belt.
How do I know if my dryer belt is broken?
Unplug it and turn the empty drum by hand. A broken belt lets it spin with almost no resistance.
Can I replace a dryer belt myself?
Yes, if you're comfortable opening the cabinet. Unplug it, follow your model's parts diagram, and route the new belt around the idler and motor pulleys.
Which side of the dryer belt goes against the drum?
On most dryers the grooved side faces the drum. The old belt usually leaves a track to line up with; your parts diagram shows the route.
Why does my dryer hum but not spin?
A humming motor that won't run usually means the motor or its start switch has failed, or the drum is jammed. Unplug it and call a technician.