Late 60s Kenmore Dryer Problem

[lordkenmore]

The late 60s Kenmore dryer I use has developed what I assume is an electrical problem. The dryer starts up when the start button is pushed, but the minute the button is released, the dryer stops. Holding the button in longer than usual (in case something isn't switching as fast as it should) doesn't seem to help.

Any ideas what might be wrong?

 

[arbilab]

Just a couple questions to help the experts (not which I'm).

Schematic inside the kickpanel door?

Gas or electric? Does the heat come on while you hold the button?

Does it have Auto Dry (electronic) or timed only?

If multi cycles, does it do this on all?

IINM, the 'run hold' comes from the motor centrif switch through the timer to a relay. CAREFUL measurement of these connections while it's running should narrow it down. Preferably get someone to hold the button in so you have full attention poking around live mains.

 

[combo52]

NON STARTING KM DRYER

You have a bad motor centrifugal switch, or you could be real lucky and merely have a loose wire on the motor centrifugal switch. But it not you need a new motor.

 

[bendixmark]

relays

Some of the dryers of that era have a relay as part of the push to start system which sometimes fail located in the control panel.

 

[lordkenmore]

Thanks for the answers so far!

I'm sorry I didn't give more info. I'm battling a bad cold, and I'm not thinking as clearly as usual.

To answer questions above:
-The dryer is electric
-There is only a timer to control it. The timer doesn't even have the that cycle I recall from other KM dryers that has the "More Dry" "Less Dry". I'm pretty sure the dryer was low end new.
-The problem seems to hit on all cycles. And it does heat.

When I'm feeling better, I'll take a look inside and see if it's just a loose wire.

 

[arbilab]

Call me lazy but I'm not taking mine apart to see if there are 2 centrif switches, one for run hold and one for heat. Mine is a 120V portable besides, not necessarily the same.

It has 3 timed cycles, air, regular, permpress. Air of course is no heat. Permpress has a longer cooldown. No electronics and that's the way I like it. No relay either. In my previous fullsize Whirlmore I could hear it click behind the panel.

That it starts suggests the timer motor contact is good. The general current path is from plug, to door switch, to timer. From timer it goes to both start button and centrif switch so that if either of those is closed the motor runs. And the centrif switch keeps it running when you let go of the button.

Let's hope it's just a connection that needs to be pulled off and put back on. Otherwise the motor has to come apart or be replaced.

 

[combo52]

NON STARTING KM DRYER

The only relay type device on this dryer is the motor centrifugal switch which is attached to and part of the main drive motor. Even on the older hi end models that had a separate relay the relay would not cause this problem if it were bad.

 

[bendixmark]

push to start swich

I have had several roll top kenmore dryers that would not start or would not stay going because the coil in the switch would not stay energized unless you are referring to something else.

 

[combo52]

NON STARTING KM DRYER

I am referring to late 1960s KM dryers, it was not until much later that the start switch had a relay coil built into the start switch that would behave this way. But most importantly the dryer in question does not even have any relays, except the centrifugal switch in the motor.