Help needed with SQ dryer.....

[kenmoreguy89]

Hi all:
One day out of the blue my dryer quitted working just in the middle of the cycle, I could hear the motor running, blower turning but no basket turning, or at least very very slowly like one inch every two second...
So, I immediately took it apart, and checked the belt, the belt was kind of worn especially on one part of it, but not excessively, so hopingt that somehow it was just the worn belt I ordered a new one....
Well, the new belt arrived today, I just assembled the unit and it would do just the same....
If I run the motor with no belt and nothing of course it works, blower wheel turns, belt spline also.....
So....what coukd it be?
Please don't tell me it's the motor.......
Capacitor?

 

[peterlondon]

Dryer

Your smptoms indicate capacitor.
This is going to be the problem if the motor turns and runs ok without a load (the belt)
pete

 

[peterlondon]

capacitor

oops meant to say make sure you discharge the old one before fitting a new.
It can give you a hefty shock.
pete

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Yeah...I know, these kind of stuff may involve typically the capacitor, I had a capacitor problem in the Bomann I had before, but didn't fix it in person as it was on warranty....well, that dryer was a problem itself.....LOL
But
Motor seems to sound normal, and can't tell if it's going slower, when it had belt and drum on it, the blower would spin as it was usual to it seems...With the bomann it just hummed...so...
Well changing the capacitor should tell whatever think next...
Problem here is that I don't even know where the capacitor is in the speed queen as cannot see one anywhere, I assume under the motor, the only place it could be....i am gonna detach it later to see...
Eventually, how am i going to discharge the capacitor? Should i simply run a wire ends from a capacitor ontact to the ground of a plug or the dryer cabinet...would it work?
Thanks

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Ok, motor unit detached......no Capacitor down there...nor anywhere else in the cabinet...
Where do I locate it in a Speed Queen?
Last guess is inside the control panel.....
How do I open it?

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Control panel opened.....no capacitor in there, but a weird big thing that looks like a rusty transformer....
Will post pics
The motor works with 240 volt, but igniter and valve I was told working with 120.... So that's the transformer, but no capacitor....???
uhm?

Is evident this machine sat in Sicily in a marine base (near the sea) for great part of it's life, whatever that thing is, is all rusty......and even the panel cover inside has rust spots...
I am really afraid this means the motor is dead.....and will not see a dryer for long time...240 volt motors for SQ are hard to find (for a fair price).....dealers peels you alive with parts costs, and it will be about 400 euros...not worth it considering the age....a cheaper one may be okay but where to find it, tried googling the motor model online, and nothing comes out, except a couple websites in South afrrica not having the actual part listed....

I need a dryer asap!

There is a WP set on sale in Naples....But they will sell the set only. At 600 per piece..
http://www.subito.it/elettrodomestici/lavatrice-e-ascugatrice-napoli-77215106.htm

And all the others on the 800 or so... (new goes for 1200-1500 euros).

As Sweet Brown the youtube star would say:
Oh Lord jesus!!! Ain't got money fo dat! LOLOL
Let's turn it on the funny side....
But it's not....

[this post was last edited: 7/14/2014-17:14]

 

[kenmoreguy89]

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[kenmoreguy89]

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[kenmoreguy89]

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[kenmoreguy89]

So.......nobody has something to say?

 

[combo52]

Non Tumbling SQ Dryer

It is not a capacitor or an electrical problem, you have a mechanical failure probably involving the idler pulley, rear rollers, maybe the front drum slides, make sure that all these rollers turn easily, are not flat spotted, that the belt is properly installed and has good tension from the idler assembly, idler spring properly installed, etc.

John L.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Hi John......Thank you for replying.
I am kind of confused also....but I think you may be right on something, especially after today's motor tests.
But I am anyway much confused.
You know...
I have checked these things you mention yesterday, I changed rollers about 4 months ago, they still have a nice roundness and they turns fine and I lubed them with WD 40 before reassembling.
Checking the belt tensioner yesterday I found out it was kind of hard, not stuck but hard, grease inside got mucky and gluish so I did soak it in the afternoon and reassembled it cleaned yesterday evening, lubed it and would turn easily again.
My model is the one with only the 2 rear rollers, in the front it have a couple sliders....
Sliders don't look in good shape, but are not totally gone, as for the both the rear and fronr felts they're obviously old and needs replacement (was infact looking for a cheap place to buy glue and everything).
But cannot think of these two giving problems....
When I reassembled it, I tried turning the basket with my hands, and it would not seem hard to turn....
I think I did put the belt correctly as it was easy to turn......so not twisted, inverted or something...
So I am just puzzled on what else it could be......A part the motor, that though turns and looks like it do it's job without an evident lack of power....

Today I did a couple tests to check motor power during my lunch break.... i detached the tensioner, and put the motor on the floor stepping on it's base, I put the belt on the motor spline and through tensioner holding and keeping it in tension on my hand, so I turned it on, and tried blocking the belt with my other hand to check any motor failure of it's power, under an effort....
It looked well powerful and able to move the basket....belt would even slip on the motor spline at some point, but heck that motor looks good....
Tried doing another test, I pushed the motor with my foot against the wall, I stepped with my other feet on the belt in tension, and again it would rather slip than stop or slow down even minimally the motor....
Speechless.....confused..
Belt is right one, there is nothing that apparently would stop basket to turn.....
Tonight I am going to reassemble everything again....will check again everything, all the felts, sliders and such.....
My last guess is that those felts or sliders are worse than what they appeared...but again, drum seems to turn fine with my hands.
Really confused...
I will let you know developments...
Thanks again.
[this post was last edited: 7/15/2014-09:03]

 

[kenmoreguy89]

It lives!!!!! YAY!

I tried again assembling it checking all the things, it would do just the same.....
Since my father had the electrician at the farm I thought to disassemble it again and take the motor for him to see.....
He could not tell me nothing about, looking at it like if it was an alien object, last thing I could do since I was there was clean it from lint and such, so I tokk the compressor and I cleaned it...
Today I woke up with a good feeling, so I tried to assemble it.....and dah dah... It works!
I have no explanation for this, really......I guess momma heard my prayer when I passed in front of the cemetery coming back from the farm....I am not religious...but sometimes I like to think that among the few good things that happens to me, for some I have to thank her.....I still talk to her....