Maytag Dryer rumbling and off-center drum

[hereitgoes]

In 2016 you helped me replace the blower wheel on my dryer. It has started to make noise again but I don't think it's quite the same noise. I actually thought I had found a video of the noise with the part I needed but I can't find my notes so I'm back again to figure this out. Is there a way to upload a sound file? This noise is actually much louder than the blower wheel noise from the first time.

In addition, last year one of the paddles fell off and another is loose, which I expect is an easy fix once the drum is out.

But the third issue which started last week - the drum now seems to be off center and is trying to eat clothes. Any suggestions on what that may be would be wonderful.

Fingers crossed this is all fixable. It's a LDE8604ACE Maytag from the mid-90s. Thank you!

 

[qsd-dan]

I'm guessing one of the rollers has bit the dust if the drum is off center.

 

 

[hereitgoes]

Ok thanks, that doesn't look too difficult. So there are two drum rollers. Do you think they are also causing the rumbling noise? That's been going on for quite awhile.

 

[qsd-dan]

Do you think they are also causing the rumbling noise?

 

Could be, but it's hard to diagnose from an internet description. It'll also give you chance to inspect the idler, belt, glides, and clean up any lint.

 

[hereitgoes]

Those baffles (paddles, as I call them).... is there a better place to get them? $60+ at repair clinic! Are they fixable? The one that fell off broke at one of the mounting holes and another is loose. I was going to just buy all 3 but ouch!

 

[DADoES]

 
Tall Baffle P/N 33001004

BDSParts $28.65

PartsDr $33.22

ApplianceParts4All $33.99

Short Baffle P/N 33001012 (NLA)

eBay $39.95 (pre-owned) (LorainFurniture is a member here)

SureViewLaundry $50.61 (suggest contact to confirm availability of NLA item)

 

[maranoman]

Betting the front glide bearings are toast...

Just a guess, but it sounds to me like your front glide bearings wore down to nothing and its possible that the drum starting eating away the metal on your front bulkhead, which is not good. Even if your rear rollers were frozen or sticky, while it would be noisier, it should not cause the drum to be off center. But if your front Teflon glides (and underlying cork) are gone, that would definitely put your drum off-kilter. If the glides/cork have been gone for too long, I've seen it where the bottom of the front bulkhead is shredded completely through. Then you'll need a parts machine to get a new one. Another source of the sound could be that the drum is so low in front that it's rubbing the top of the plastic blower housing.

Hopefully it's not too late to just replace the glides:



If the baffles aren't cracked, then likely you will be able to find the screws/washers for them inside the dryer when you crack it open. Then you can salvage the existing baffles and just use a 5/16" nut driver to reattach them.

 

[hereitgoes]

Thanks! The noise hasn't changed since the drum went off center recently. It's dropped a bit, the gap is at the top just left of center. I think we'll pull it apart first before ordering parts. I'd hate to find out it needs to much after I order everything.

Baffles - the one that came off completely is broken where one screw goes in. Hopefully the loose one is just loose.

Thanks for all the comments and links! Wish me luck

 

[hereitgoes]

I still have to check the support glides, but one of the drum rollers was in rough shape. The idler pulley seems pretty loose too.

I removed the loose baffle and the attaching points seem ok.

But all these balls inside - are they just lint that I can toss? I had forgotten there were some in the one that fell out too.

There is a remnant of... something, on the right side of the baffle at the screw location. Also years of lint or was there originally padding there?

 

[maranoman]

All lint

The balls and the remnant are all lint and can be thrown away. There was no padding on Maytag baffles - just the plastic baffle and the screws/washers that were used to attach it to the drum.

 

[DADoES]

 
Lint balls form in the baffles from drying clothes.  Common (and humorous the first time one sees it) phenomenon.

 

[hereitgoes]

I was just coming back to say I figured it out - the third one was clean as could be.

The second one that had been loose for awhile had a very worn penny and dime in it!

It was a bit humorous, I at first thought they were cat toys lol

 

[hereitgoes]

Here are my pix. The right drum roller is gone on the inside and I'm sure that's why the drum dropped down. The left looks ok but I will replace.

The pulley loose but I'm not sure if that is because the belt isn't on it right now. No harm to replace it.

How do the drum guides look? One has a slightly worn spot but hopefully not enough to have caused other damage? I can still replace them since it's all apart.

Thanks for all the tips!

ps - I found a dime and penny in the loose baffle - wow were they worn away!

 

[repairguy]

If the dryer were mine I would replace the following:

Drum rollers

Drum roller shafts

Idler wheel

Idler shaft assembly

Belt

Drum glides

Front and rear drum seals if in bad shape for example if they are badly torn, etc.

Doing these things will put this dryer back into service for many years.

 

[hereitgoes]

Thanks! I will check all those out

 

[hereitgoes]

Before I press "check out":

Do I indeed need a special tool for the glides?

and if can I replace a short baffle with a tall one? It's not broken but won't snug down so I suspect it's breaking or stripping.

 

[repairguy]

You will need a rivet tool for the glides. A snap ring tool is nice to have to remove and install the rollers.

 

[hereitgoes]

Thanks! I can get those easily.

Anyone have thoughts on replacing the small baffle with a large one?

 

[maranoman]

I don't think the baffle size will matter

At one time, Maytag had all the same size baffles in their dryers. Then they shortened one of them, probably after running tests that showed it slightly improved the clothes travel through the stream of heat. I don't think you will notice any difference if you had three large baffles vs. two large ones and one small one.