I am a royal idiot...

[fridgenut]

So I've been using my lovely Maytag pair for the past few months without a hitch. Then I had to wash a pair of shoes. I threw them in the dryer without even thinking. I went to check on them this morning and everything was slightly damp. I thought it just needed more time. I hadn't even noticed that the lint filter had been knocked off. I turned it on and knew that something was wrong. No tumbling and no air. Kind of scary when the burner still turns on! What a great way to start a fire! I immediately turned it off and smelt that wonderful hot dust smell. Yikes. Oh, I should mention that this is a 1959 gas Maytag. Double yikes. So apparently the belt got knocked off. Is there anything that I need to be aware of before I attempt to repair my poor dryer? I'm never throwing shoes in again.

 

[rp2813]

Ray, I hope the dryer doesn't have any sensors inside the drum, or they may have been damaged.  I'm kind of amazed though, that a pair of shoes inside the drum would knock the belt off outside the drum. 

 

It shouldn't be a big deal to re-install the belt.  Just like putting a chain on a bike, I would guess.  But maybe the belt is really old and loose, and it's time for a new one.

 

[yogitunes]

for the most part, sneakers in a washer or dryer is almost a no no....not that it can't be done, just with caution....

especially if you wear a size 15......lol

a lot of times they will get in a jam against a stationary section, and then the turning drum with baffles will jam things up.....

your machine was built way before the 'belt broken' shut down machine equipment...just something to keep your eye on....

probably a good as time as any for a good clean out, lubricate where necessary, and put the belt back on, and see what happens...

if you must dry sneakers, use a rack if available.....there are also netting that holds your sneakers to the door for drying with other garments....

or as JohnL with his great idea, place your sneakers in front of the grills of your fridge, the warm air will dry them, almost overnight...and its free!

 

[washdaddy]

you could also use the heat registers if they happen to be on the floor registers for forced air or maybe sit them on radiators if that is your heat source. They'd be dry by morning

 

[fridgenut]

I got it fixed!

So it turns out that a sock got sucked into the fan and that caused the belt to slip. Oddly enough I never heard a squeal. Took the sock out and then proceeded to try it out. It works! For due diligence I decided to lube everything. I used a combination of grease and oil to lube all of the shafts. Unfortunately it looks like the motor doesn't have oil ports. It still sounds quiet though. I can tell a difference in the sound of the dryer too since I added the lube. Someone really liked this pair and I can tell that someone was here before me...also, what in the heck is this bulb that I can't identify which is dark with age? It looks like it would light up nothing the user could see.

 

[eronie]

Thats a ozone bulb. Makes everything sunshine fresh

 

[fridgenut]

Ozone Bulb?!

What the hay? I've heard of UV fluorescent lights but never an ozone bulb. It looks like the filament is in tact but I couldn't see any light coming from it. I guess it might not produce visible light though. You would think that it would be in the drum in order to kill germs and stop odors. Strange.

 

[gansky1]

There is a light socket for a 40w appliance bulb just behind the filter and hardware mesh or plastic guard in front of the fan. If you have a working bulb in this socket, it acts as a ballast for the lower voltage ozone bulb and it should come on. Not visible from inside the drum, but you can test it with the back panel off.

 

[fridgenut]

Ah! Makes Sense

Of course the appliance bulb was loose when I test ran the dryer. So that would explain the lack of anything seen on this ozone bulb. Does anyone know how these bulbs work if they are just hanging out way outside the drum? I'm just curious, I've never heard of anything like this before. I even have the instruction manual for this dryer and it doesn't mention this bulb at all.