DE806 HOH Dryer not stopping

[radioboy75]

My DE806 will not turn off even when the clothes are dry. My wife said it has run more than three hours and when she finally stopped it the clothes were very dry.

I have done several things. I have soldered the wires to the terminals. I have replaced the capacitor. I have tried running the damp dry cycle. It keeps running. We tried the removing the yellow wire trick, which should make the capacitor charge quickly and shut off the dryer after less than a minute. It doesn't.

A couple of interesting wrinkles. The air fluff cycle, which is supposedly timed and is supposed to shut off in 10 minutes or so -- doesn't.

Also, after we ran the test cycle in damp dry (yellow wire attached), my daughter reached into the drum and touched the wires on a baffle, and got a shock.

So I'm wondering if this is a grounding issue. Maybe I'll try that. But does anyone have any other suggestions? Could it be the control? Especially since even the air fluff cycle (not connected to the moisture sensing circuit) doesn't turn off either?

 

[d-jones]

A search of the archives here turned up some information posted by swestoyz a couple of years ago that may prove useful. Follow the link below, then scroll down to replies 42 through 46.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?34443

In addition to the possible grounding issue you mentioned (the service manual mentions it as well) have a look at the carbon brush that rides along the slip ring behind the drum. I've seen a few of these plastic housings become brittle with age and break apart, allowing the little carbon brush and spring to escape. This renders the moisture sensing circuits completely inoperable. But as far as I know these circuits aren't used in the air fluff setting, so I'll leave it to someone else to try to explain that one. I've posted a photo of a carbon brush assembly below so you'll know what to look for.

 

[combo52]

DE 806 Dryer Not Shutting Off

Be sure the dryer is grounded, other than this you likely need a new electronic control.

 

[kenmore71]

It really sounds to me that you have tried all of the usual "tricks" to try and fix this issue without actually replacing the whole electronic control.  Sometimes the solid state electronics in this control DO fail (aside from the capacitor).  Unless you are skilled with bench diagnostics and repair of solid state electronics, it is easier to replace the whole control.

 

[lightedcontrols]

Things to check.....

Check and make sure the carbon brush is there and the spring is still intact on the rear of the drum. Be sure to check the copper ring attachment as well. Check the wire(s) on the dryer drum and make sure that they are still connected and are not loose or corroded. The best way to check this is with an ohm meter from the sensor inside the drum to the ends of the wires outside the drum. It really sounds like a control problem. If you can't find one from Larry at modern parts, or your parts dealer, I have a few of these controls, just let me know. Mark

 

[radioboy75]

Update: For whatever reason it's turning off like it should again. But now we have to make sure that it's actually heating before we leave the room. If not, we turn it from permanent press to regular or from regular to permanent press. Usually that turns the heat on, and we can dry normally again . . .

Also -- this dryer's bell hasn't worked in several years.

Sounds like the control unit, doesn't it? I've never looked into that. How much do they run if you can find one used or new?

 

[combo52]

Intermittently Non Heating DE806

It sounds like if restarting it on on different cycles causes it to heat you have a bad push-button switch, the electronic control CANNOT cause the dryer not to heat.