Help me fix my 1967 Lady Kenmore Dryer

[Marky_Mark]

Hi guys

 

I recently bought this Lady Kenmore dryer with the “Soft Heat” modulating burner. 

The dryer will only run when I press and hold the “Air” or “Heat” buttons and the buzzer sounds constantly.  As soon as I release the button the motor shuts off and the buzzer continues to sound until the motor’s centrifugal switch clicks. 

The relay coil doesn’t seem to move at all.  However if I tape down the relay, then the dryer starts and runs and the burner’s igniter fires as soon as I plug it in without pressing anything. 

So what could it be?  What should I check?

 

Help very much appreciated,

Mark

 

[Marky_Mark]

Success!

I checked the connections and now it runs fine -- but only when the belt is disconnected.  The motor cannot manage to start when the belt is on.  I don't know if the motor is faulty or if the drum is binding.  Is there any way to check?

 

Without the belt connected, the dryer seems to work correctly.  The modulating burner fires and the flame reduces to maintain a temperature of 73 °C / 163 °F that I measured at the exhaust.  Then the cool down kicks in and seems to end correctly with the buzzer.  Looking forward to getting it up and running!

 

Mark

 

[maytag85]

The motor is on its way out but thankfully they are still readily available since Whirlpool still makes these 29” top filter dryers.

 

[bradfordwhite]

new motor should look similar, though the old one probably has more metal on it.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Before you order a motor I would test the dryer drum to see if it is binding.

 

With the front in place and the belt disconnected you should be able to open the door and push against the baffles and get the drum to turn manually.  It's not the smoothest but it should turn.  If it doesn't turn or is loose or binding, you may well need a roller kit.

 

[Marky_Mark]

Thank you very much for the help. I’ve just ordered a new motor and I have the roller, pulley and belt kit. 

I can turn the drum by hand fairly easily with or without the belt on. There is some resistance but it’s the same as in my Speed Queen dryer. However the resistance is not “even” all the way round, whereas my SQ dryer is consistent in its resistance. 

 

Hoping to get it up and running soon!

Mark

 

[maytag85]

These Whirlpool/Kenmore 29” dryers are one of the easiest dryers to work on and dry fairly quickly especially with the modulating burner.

 

[henene4]

Do these dryers use a starting capacitor for the motor?
Or some kind of starting winding running through the centrifugal switch?

 

[maytag85]

Centrifugal switch. No Whirlpool/Kenmore 29” dryer has ever used a capacitor for the motor that I’m aware of.

 

[combo52]

Hi Mark, You either have a bad relay or a bad electronic control. test the relay by applying 120 volts to the coil.

 

John L.

 

[vacerator]

Correct Sean!

My dad told me about that. They always replaced the motor. I don't think the centrifugal switch is accessable without tearing down the motor.
Am I mistaken? My ad had a big argument with a Sears customer in the 70's on a service call. The man was a Ford engineer. He argued no way the motor had anything to do with the burner igniting. He was refusing to pay for a motor, only an ignitor. Then the entire visit. After a few minutes my dad lost it, and told him his car used to start until they deleted the starter solenoid too, and if he decided he wanted the repair completed, to call the service dept. back. He D&C'd the visit as incomplete. Two days later, he was sent back per the man's wife.
Man the stories we heard at the dinner table growing up.
My dad used to bring home deserts and tell us he made them. We'd ask how and where.
"In my truck, That box over the engine bonnet is an oven." It was a microfische reader. One evening he told us about a woman who offered payment in the form of an erotic favor, not money. Another, it was a 17 or 18 year old guy who hit on him. You can imagine me spitting my milk all over, as 4 years from then they learned my orientation. Unless they were trying to break the ice. I was 16, and a mom especially always knows her kids.

 

[combo52]

Dryer Motor Centrifugal Switches

On Whirlpool built dryers and most other US brands are replaceable without taking the motor apart after 1964.

 

All WP dryers after 1965 used motors that were either welded or glued together so the only thing you can replace is the CS and sometimes the overload protector.

 

John L.

 

[Marky_Mark]

Fixed!

Thank you very much, guys. I bought a new motor and I’ve got it working perfectly. I also replaced the belt, idler pulley, fluorescent tube, starter and ballast. 

 

It works really well. It’s a shame that this model was made before they had wrinkle guard. The buzzer sounds at the end of the thermostatically-controlled cool down and that’s that. It dries well and the modulating gas burner works great and tapers the flame down. It’s fast and the sensor is accurate. I’m pleased. 

 

[combo52]

1965 Gas LKM Dryer, 1966 Revived Edition

Wow it looks great Mark glad you got it all working.

 

These were great performing dryers, this dryer could probably keep up with 4 or 5 new compact FL washers drying loads in under 1/2 hour.

 

Are you looking for a matching washer ?

 

John L.

 

[appnut]

Mark, glad you got everything functioning perfectly!!!

 

[maytag85]

This will definitely dry very quickly since it has the modulating burner and is the newer 29” dryer design with the solid bulkhead. This would definitely be a very fast dryer if it had the 37,000 burner in it.