JCPenney 120v Clothes Dryer needs element?

[eponica]

Hi,

What a neat website! Maybe someone here can help me. I have a very cute little 120v JCPenney dryer, model #861-3150 which has completely stopped heating. I assume it's the element. I don't think this has a thermostat, it has a timer dial only. A couple of online parts stores have come up with wildly different elements for this. Does anyone know how I can find the proper one...??

 

[combo52]

Non Heating JC Penny 120 Volt Dryer

We need pictures of the dryer to tell who made it. It is fairly unlikely that it is a bad element, most common problems with non-heating 120 volt dryers is a burned off wire connection in the heater circuit, maybe at the timer, motor centrifugal switch, or at one of the thermostats, yes this dryer has at least one and maybe two thermostats. Give me a little more to go on and I will try to help.

John L.

 

[arbilab]

Could go to radioshack, get their cheapest test meter. If unfamiliar with appliance wiring, test with the plug OUT so you are not exposed to danger. There should be continuity (ohms) across the terminals of the heater and both thermostats. One of those 3 almost certainly will not have continuity.

Advanced continuity, to check wiring between the 3 go from one to the other to the next, at some point continuity should fail.

These can be done as voltage checks with the machine plugged in but again if you are unfamiliar doing so can be dangerous so don't.

 

[goatfarmer]

I'm with John, it's probably a burned wire.