Speed Queen Dryer DOA

[stricklybojack]

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Acquired this 9 year old SQ gas dryer from the curbside, but it needs some tlc don’t ya know.
Door switch is good but when depressing the timer dial all I get is a buzzing humming sound, even with the drum out and belt off. I jumped the door switch wires with a small piece of metal witch in turn heated up a tad. Everything turns as it should so I guess the motor is kaput? Seems a bit new to cook a motor already, plus it looks fairly free of dust, are these known for short motor life?
Can I swap in a motor from a Whirlpool or other brand?
I can buy a used motor at a substantial discount, it looks slightly different but the part number is the same...just prefixed with a “D”. See last pic. Perhaps it’s an older style and better motor and thus desirable choice over a new unit?
Sages weigh in...[this post was last edited: 11/5/2019-14:04]

 

[combo52]

SQ Dryer Motor

These can fail in 9 years as can any dryer motor, SQ uses the same type Emerson motor most US makers use.

The GE motor in your forth picture is not a correct replacement, the blower will not mount on the shaft and you will have to rewire to connect to the dryers wiring harness.

John L.

 

[lowefficiency]

With the power off, can you turn the motor by hand?
(is it sticking, or possibly seized?)

 

[turbokinetic]

Motor troubleshooting...

Sounds like the motor is "humming but not starting" when power is applied to the motor by pressing the start control.

 

These are split-phase motors; which means that the motor has mechanical parts inside it to engage and disengage the starting circuit. Normally with a dryer, the motor is powered on once and allowed to run for 30 - 45 minutes uninterrupted. Therefore the starting mechanism "wearing out" is not very likely. 

 

The more likely problem is that the motor's bearings have become dry of oil, and suffered severe wear. Due to this severe wear, the shaft now has up-and-down movement. With the worn bearings, the parts inside the motor can touch each other. Because of electromagnetism, this locks the motor when power is turned on. More than likely, the motor will turn by hand while the power is off; but will lock when the motor is powered on.

With the belt removed, see if you can move the shaft up-and-down, or side-to-side with the power off. If you feel play in the shaft, this is your problem. If there is no play in the shaft, and it turns free and smoothly - you may need to investigate the centrifugal mechanism or the motor's start-switch. 

 

The start-switch is the brown terminal block part at the rear of the motor, where the wires connect. Underneath it is a mechanism which presses against the switch contact when the motor is stopped and retracts into the motor when the motor is running. Inspect this for any sort of dust, gumming, or other problems that would keep it from cycling properly. 

Sincerely,

David 

 

 

 

[stricklybojack]

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Thanks Turbokenetic, that is some excellent info.

In the meantime I dripped some oil on the centrifugal switch (I guess it’s called) and got that operating smoothly...again tried turning it on, this time I helped by spinning the fan by hand...and lo and behold it runs. First slowly, then you hear a sharp “click” sound and it really gets going.
However if I stop it and try starting it again, it still needs help via turning the fan by hand.

Quick question: looking at the fan, do I turn it clockwise or counter clockwise to remove?
Wire connects look relatively clean of corrosion but it will look at them more carefully next, also the start switch.

 

[combo52]

S Q Dryer Motor

If the motor runs properly when hand started you either have a bad centrifugal switch or an open start winding in the motor.

 

The CS is replaceable the open motor winding is 99% of the time the end of the motor.

 

To remove the blower fan hold the motor shaft and turn the fan CCW.

 

John L.