Looking for a moisture sensor for a Maytag DE808 dryer

[cashalot]

Just what the title says, I need a moisture sensor for a Maytag DE808 that I just bought that came with the sensor broken/missing. The part number is 304997. Searched high and low on the web and only found one or two that were priced north of $150, since it looks like the part has been discontinued. Anyone have a spare for a more reasonable price?

 

[DADoES]

 
What's the indication that the bar assembly needs replacement?  Is it cracked/broken in some way?

 

[cashalot]

It is pretty much all gone. Only remnant is plastic right around the attachment point where the screw holds it down. The rest, including the second screw, are not there.

 

[DADoES]

 
Ah, so.  That does seem odd to me considering that the part isn't under appreciable wear-and-tear during operation other than from the tumbling clothes brushing against it.  Perhaps the plastic is of a type subject to age deterioration.

 

[combo52]

Broken-Missing MT Dryer Sensor

I have seen many of these missing over the years, like the rest of these dryers they did not hold up as well as Whirlpool built dryers, just too many plastic parts.

 

We also see broken-loose blowers, lint filter housings, broken inner door panels, if you want to keep one of these dryers long term get a low milage donor machine and strip it for good parts.

 

John L.

 

[cashalot]

Hey John,
Yes, that’s where I’m leaning toward. Maybe a later model that shares parts. The only thing keeping me from going that route is that the moisture sensor is the only thing missing. Other than that there’s some warping of the plastic guard in front of the lint filter but that’s it. I was also wondering if there’s a way to adapt a different moisture sensor. There’s plenty from Maytag Neptune series on eBay. Although the size doesn’t match exactly at least it seems thin enough to where it could possibly be placed in a way to prevent clothes catching and ripping it out.

DaDoES,
From what I’ve been able to find online, the plastic body of the sensor tends to crack from heat cycling over time and if that’s not noticed it’s easy for clothes to catch and rip it off.

 

[lowefficiency]

With how comparatively cheap (and available) the Neptune part is, I'd sure be inclined to give it a try if I were in your shoes. Does anyone know how the mounting hole spacing compares? It almost looks like the parts are identical, save for an extra arc of cosmetic plastic on the 808 part....