Fixing our cloth dryer, total cost under $20

Wife called yesterday and said " Dryer is not working, it stopped in the middle of drying cycle and nothing is moving now, no lights inside the drum either."  I ask her to make sure the circuit breaker on the outer wall is not tripped, and it wasn't.  I did some research online (this is a Maytag model HYE3657AYW purchased in 7/2004) before headed home and most online posts indicated the thermal fuse that monitors the temperature of the heater is the most likely culprit.  Lint accumulated over time blocking the exhaust vent and causing heat blockage.  Clothes will take longer to dry.

When I got home, I pulled the dryer out, and clean around it, there were lots of lint and dirt accumulate around it.  I was looking for a panel in the back where I can remove and look for the thermal fuse.  Instead, the back of the dryer is all one piece, no panel to remove.  I noticed there is some kind of hinge on the back of the dryer.  I thought to myself, it can't be this easy.  I came  around the front of the dryer and lifted the top cover.  One loud popping sound and top of the dryer opens revealing the drum and the heating element behind it.

From reading the posts online, there were two thermal fuses in the dryer, a thermal fuse and a hi-limit thermal fuse.  If one is tripped, both should be replaced.  A simple continuity test with a multimeter will tell if the fuse is bad.

This is the Hi-Limit Thermostat (Electric model) 53-0771

Thermal Fuse 53-1182 (Electric model)

I just ordered an oem replacement part from ebay for around $17 (Thermal fuse kit LA-1053) and should arrive hopefully by this weekend.

10/6/2012

The part arrived this afternoon in the mail.  Installed both thermostat in about 15 min.  Also clean up the lint around the lint filter.  All is well now.  Total cost $18.43

Now the clothes take half the time to dry, lesson learned, clean up the lint filter area and periodically checking the flexible pipe behind the dryer.

January 2024

Some 12 years after weekly faithful service from this Maytag dryer, The driving belt circled the drum had had it.  Read on here