Maytag Dryer Belt Tightening?

[washerlover]

My 1959ish dryer is having tumbling issues. The belt is in decent shape, but I can’t figure out how to adjust the tension. I have a Maytag dryer manual (and BTW, I have two, so if anyone is interested in having one I am more than happy to oblige) but it doesn’t really speak to this issue. Any ideas? The dryer and motor work fine otherwise. When the belt is in place, the drum begins to tumble, then makes a grumbling sound when the belt loosens. The lower belt wheel fastened to the spring seems to be the culprit. The belt wheel moves around a lot and there must be some kind of tensioner there somewhere?

Thanks for any advice. This is a beautiful pink dryer with matching washer (currently undergoing restoration as well) and hope to have both in service soon for a Wine Country Wash-In complete with laundry entertainment and finger buffet next year barring COVID issues...

 

[turquoisedude]

Geez... that sure sounds like what happened to my 59 Frigidaire a year and a half ago - in my case it turned to be a bad drum bearing.  I'm sure someone who knows more about Maytags than I do will chime in.  

 

[goatfarmer]

The only tensioner for the belt is the spring mentioned, IIRC. I believe that pulley is on a sliding mechanism, make sure it's not bound up. And make sure the blower isn't making noise because of a bad bearing. Those dryers can make a scraping sound, with the back off, because of flex in the cabinet. The drum rubs up against the inside of the cabinet.

 

[washerlover]

Thank you for your help. The pulley is definitely on a sliding mechanism, but not sure how to adjust it. Maybe a new belt is in order, yet the belt appears to be fine, just a lot of slack...

 

[goatfarmer]

The spring should put tension on it.

 

[combo52]

Poor Tumbling MT HOH Dryer

Hi Todd, if it still has a pot-metal aluminum motor pulley it is likely worn and needs to be replaced with the replacement pulley that is steel and does not wear out. 

 

This was a very common problem on MT HOH dryers, MT designed the dryer to run with a very loose primary belt, this is normal, the belt is NOT too loose.

 

John L.

 

[repairguy]

In an old post I read a while back Dan (Qsd-dan) insists that the spring should be hooked in the other direction on the pulley for proper operation.

 

[combo52]

Poor Tumbling MT HOH Dryer

Actually in the first picture I can see the old worn out motor pulley, the dryer does have a 70s Westinghouse replacement motor in it, but since replacement motors don't come with new pulleys repair people often used the old worn out pulley not knowing it had been improved by the early 70s when MT switched to a steel pulley that will not wear out.

 

It is also important to be sure the blower bearing is not binding at all this will slow down the tumbling as well.

If the dryer still has the original metal blower the pulley sheave can be worn on it and will impair the blower speed and the dryers air-output.

 

It really will not make any difference which way the loop on the idler tension spring is positioned, the loop floats and pulls from the center of the spring.

 

John L.