Neptune Dryer - sounds like metal on metal?

[oldskool]

What began as an intermittent sound a couple of weeks ago has progressively developed to more consistent and clearly audible in my Neptune Dryer.  Yesterday removed a white cotton blanket from the dryer and noticed faint gray streaks on the blanket?

 

I really like the Neptune dryer - it drys very rapidly and has been reliable, but I'm more familiar with accessing and repairing the Whirlpool/Kenmores and older Maytag dryers - never heard this type of sound in any of those units.

 

Any ideas?  Where would I start? 

 

Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated.

 

John

 

 

 

 

[henene4]

Probably the bearing/rollers. If these streaks are looking kind of metal-shiny, probably the front of the tub is no longer supported and then that produces metal dust that can produce this type of problem...

 

[DADoES]

 
You didn't specify what model ... but assuming they're all the same design, rollers are at rear of the drum.  Front of the drum is supported by a panel with a couple slide "bearing" pads.  Metal edge of the drum will contact the support panel if/when the pads wear down.  If that's what has happened, take care of the problem ASAP or it will cause further damage.

I refurbed an MDE5500AYW Neptune dryer in 2006 obtained via FreeCycle that was tossed out because the pads wore down and the peeps kept running it until the edge of the drum shredded and tore through the front support panel.

 

[henene4]

Yeah, the rollers are at the back of course, but these bearings can be damaged to and that mostly doesn't course the stripes, but can...

 

[oldskool]

Thanks Fellas...

Never took a Neptune apart, what is the most practical way to access the rollers?

 

Thanks for all of your help, greatly appreciated.

 

John

 

[kenmore71]

While there might be some noise coming from a roller, I am 99% certain that one or both of the front glides have disintegrated.  This problem need to be fixed before you do any more damage to the front lip of the drum.  Hopefully it's not too far gone at this point.

 

You will need to remove both layers of the front panel to get to the area where you can work on the glides.  Once it is apart this far you will also want to pull the drum and examine the front and rear drum seals.  It is likely the front one is shot if the glides are bad.  You could also replace the rear rollers at this point, but most often carefully cleaning them some emory cloth and applying ONE drop of turbine oil will get them working almost as good as new.  And, while you have it torn down this far (which is pretty much a complete tear-down, you might as well pull off the blower housing and vacuum everything clean as well as put a new belt on.  If the belt is original it will break at some point and then you'll be tearing it apart again just to change that.

 

I'll email you the Neptune Dryer Service manual.

 

A word to the wise - when a dryer starts making loud squealing or grinding noises STOP USING IT and get it repaired.  More often than not, if it is repaired at this point, the dryer will have a long life ahead of it still. 

 

[combo52]

Worn Out Front Bearing Slides On MT Dryers

If the front slides on a MT dryer have worn through the powder coated finish on the drum to the metal be sure to reverse the drum when you reassemble the dryer, otherwise the bare metal of the drum will destroy the new front slides very fast. The bare metal will have little effect on the life of the rear rollers when a worn drum is reversed.

 

[kenmore71]

John makes a very good point here.  I was not aware that the drum could be reversed on these dryers.  Since that is the case I would do it as a prophylactic measure.

 

[oldskool]

This Is Why...

....I appreciate this web site so much. The vast wealth of knowledge and information alone is priceless, not to mention the great group of people whom I've met and interacted with.

Thanks so much for your input - Kenmore71, Combo52, DADoES, & henene4!

As I'm working so many hours everyday this week, will likely not get to it until the weekend. Will communicate the outcomes when I do.

John

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Get on it... NOW!

What many don't know is that Whirlpool has been busy NLAing all sorts of things. Things like inner front bulkheads and drums for LDE and MDE style Maytag dryers. If the drum eats too far into the front bulkhead, either by digging a huge trench in the top of the inner bulkhead, grinding the lip of the same bulkhead where the glides mount till it's paper thin and useless or both, you have either used or nos that someone hid away as your options or kiss it off.

Advise to all owners of Maytag stream of heat dryers or newer: check your front glides! If the Teflon is worn so thin that it's basically gone and it's going into the cork, change the glides like yesterday. Usually the noise just means you've gone too long.

Hey John, you might just want to stock up on good condition inner front bulkheads when you're junking some dryers. The ones with the sensor bar mounts are getting fun to find!

RCD