Maytag DE701 Dryer

[OldBetsy]

I have a lovely DE701 Maytag Dryer, I've kept going. Even though everytime
the Maytag man comes out, he says don't call back on this baby, I kept calling,
and amazingly they were always able to fix it. Sadly today, they are trying to
talk me into putting her out to pasture.

It still dries and works fine, but once it warms up it begins squealing a very loud almost dog whistle - like sound, very piercing. Does anyone know what the problem could be? We took the back off, and the belts and things look OK, but
my husband thought it may be a bearing or something. If it's an easy fix, we could
still fix it, but if it's going to be expensive, I will have to replace her, as
we don't do the work our self. Either way, if she can't be repaired, I can't
just send her to the dump. She's way to cool. Appearance is perfect, and panel light works beautifully.

Does anyone have a suggestion on what the problem could be, and if it would require parts? Would the part be findable? If she's unrepairable at a reasonable cost, anyone interested in buying it?

Help!

 

[turquoisedude]

Don't give up!!

I have a dryer like this and I just love it!
The squealing sounds like something needs oil. I reconditioned a newer (well, 1975) model DE306 and found the drive shaft needed some lubrication so that the fan turned smoothly.
I am not a Maytag expert, though, and this could be a sign of a more serious bearings problem. However, I always like to try out the 'easy' fixes first, so maybe this will help!

 

[combo52]

SQUEALING DRYER

The noise you are hearing is likley a dry or worn out bearing. The most likley canidits are in this order are the idler pulley bearing, the blower beariing , the motor itself and maybe the main drum bearings.

 

The dryer can be fixed, but it may cost a good part of what a new dryer will to go over the complete machine. Your best chance of getting it repaired is to find an independent repair person who remembers and wants to work on an old  Maytag Halo of heat dryer. A new dryer will work much better and be much safer in use, and good Whirlpool and Speed Queen dryers will still easily last 30 years. Just avoid WP machines that are fully electronically controlled.

 

If you decide to give up on the old dryer there may be members here who would like to have the old dryer. Unfortunately they have little monetary value, I have scrapped at least four top of the line MT HOH dryers in the last year alone because I can't seem to even give them away.

 

[pierreandreply4]

if its reparble have it fix but if you need to buy a dryer and need to buy a refurbish one i would recommend you go with eather a vintage whirlpool dryer or try to find one like in this picture wich is also my avy that was my grandmother 's dryer and it lasted her 40 years before she had to buy a new dryer in fall of 2010. Or a use ge dryer

 

[qsd-dan]

Probably worn blower bushings. If you can manage to spin the dryer 180 degrees and remove the rear panel (just a bunch of 5/16" screws), you should be able to easily pinpoint the noise with it running. Motors can still be easily found, blowers are a little harder to come by, but still out there. If it has worn drum bushings, the machine is essentially dead.

 

[goatfarmer]

Where at in Northern Indiana? Jim Smith, at Smith Appliances in Warsaw is well versed in these machines.

 

[washernoob]

What do the red, yellow, and blue squares mean above the left dial/button?

 

[rp2813]

Colored buttons on the Whirly are probably for temperature settings.

 

Meanwhile getting back to the topic, we had a Maytag DG806 for several years.  Bought it used and it still holds the title of best dryer I've ever owned.  But it started to screech and was pronounced dead by the repair man.  You could always cruise Craig's List for a similar Maytag model and vintage.  They usually go for cheap and show up on CL fairly often.