Is this SQ down for the count?

[tumblemedryer]

When we bought our house it came with a gas Speed Queen dryer that has worked like a champ for the last 27 years. We knew it was a bit old since it only had a timer and a three heat selector dial plus a start button. In 2018 one of the belts failed so I replaced it and it has been working great until last weekend. When my wife went out to start it up, she could only hear a faint buzzing sound, no ignitor ignition, no motor, not really much of anything.

The model number is R155FP, serial number Y828622.

I called the local Speed Queen repair guy and he came out and didn't even tinker with it. He said he'd never seen one so old and it was unlikely there would be parts still available. So I thanked him and called another recommended place that wouldn't come out because they don't service SQ.

I'm guessing it might just be a fuse or the ignitor or something fairly simple, but I have no idea where to start because my machine doesn't look like much else out there. (The upfront design of the gas bits on the top of the machine seem so smart!)

Are there any simple diagnostics I can do to figure out if this can be repaired without too much trouble? Should I keep calling around, or will most repair people just say trash it? It kills me to think I'd have to get rid of it because I love how simple it is and that is has an amazing stainless steel drum.

Any suggestions as to what I can try would be greatly appreciated. I am used to doing a bit of wrenching - I've replaced the ignitor on my American range gas oven...twice in 12 years. (dumb design, imho) And I've done other repairs.

Thanks for any suggestions you might have.

 

[combo52]

Early 70s Speed Queen gas dryer

From your description, the first thing to check is the motor it may not be starting, remove the back remove the blower belt. See if you can turn the motor by hand. You can even activate the motor and carefully spin the motor pulley and see if that makes the motor start. ( wear a heavy work glove when you try this)

There are a couple other possibilities the slight hum your hearing could just be the timer running and you could have something like a bad door switch, see if you get the home with or without the door open for example for the dryer.

This dryer is probably repairable, but will be hard to find parts if needed, dryers tend to be very long-term durable appliances, a new Speed Queen whirlpool or Maytag gas dryer is extremely well built and would easily last as long as this one has lasted if you don’t get an extremely complicated model with electronic controls.

Let us know what you find if you want to try to fix it.

John

 

[tumblemedryer]

Thank you John, this is all good advice. Having replaced the belts several years ago I'm not too intimidated about trying repair this machine. I'll keep you all posted with the progress...
John