Thoughts on this Kenmore Dryer

[blockeight88]

I came across this Kenmore dryer and it seems to be fully loaded. It is a gas model. The unit is very, very clean. Does anybody have more information on this dryer? I haven't seen one that has a dedicated wrinkle guard option. The seller is asking $250 for it. Is this one better than the one that has the lint trap on top?

 

[repairguy]

They’re not as easy to work on as the top filter models but I have always liked and had good luck with the front filter design.

 

[blockeight88]

What’s likely to need repairing on this?

 

[jmm63]

One of the best dryers I ever had, bought new in 1999 with the matching washer. Had to sell it when I bought this house since we don't have gas.

 

[qsd-dan]

I always felt the 27" dryer was a superior design over the 29" top filter models. Front to back airflow and the drum is support by rollers in both the front and rear bulkheads. Less piping with less angles and lint buildup isn't as much of a problem. No linty mess all over top panel during cleaning periods is a big plus as well. The design looks suspiciously like a Maytag SOH dryer with front rollers instead of glides but made 20 years later. Apparently the Koreans (LG and Samsung) liked the design enough to copy it.

 

[maytag85]

Good dryer but is a real pain to put the belt back onto the motor pulley and tensioner on the 27” dryers. As Dan mentioned, the Whirlpool 29” dryers have a tendency to accumulate lint inside the lint screen plenum which will choke down dryer performance. I don’t have experience with the 1966 and later Whirlpool 29” top filter dryers but have had very good experience with the 1963 RCA Whirlpool imperial dryers that’s paired up with it’s matching Mark XII washer. Replaced the thermostats last October and seems to dry much faster, sped up the drying time about 5 to 10 minutes since I looked towards the air inlet towards the upper left hand corner when drying towels and the heating element stayed on for about a good 40 minutes before cycling off vs the original thermostat that would have cycled it off much sooner.

 

[coldspot66]

27" W/P Kenmore dryers are very well built in comparison to the 29" dryer, but I must disagree about lint buildup. I have seen many more 27" dryer "lint buckets". Also, since the 27" dryer drums are deeper but not as wide, clothing sends to roll into the left corner and not spread out as well as the 29" dryer drums which are wider, but not as deep. Never understood why they put the moisture sensor on the right side of the lint screen cover instead of the left side for better contact with the clothing.
Maytag SOH dryers do have tumbler pads that do wear down. I'm pretty sure 29" dryers first used drum rollers in 1965 so Maytag copied, as did others later on.

 

[blockeight88]

Would it be difficult to open up and just vacuum all the lint out?

 

[ryner1988]

I really like most things about the 29 dryers with the top mounted lint screen except, well, the top mounted lint screen. I have had one for several years now and it's my biggest irritation with this dryer hands down. I would love to have a comparable model but with the lint screen inside the door.

 

[repairguy]

Nothing should need repairing and there should be no lint if the used appliance place selling this did a good job of going through it. The bottom front panel comes off easily for removing lint.

I do have a second thought on this dryer though. It looks like it may be an EvenHeat model that used a circuit board in conjunction with the timer. I’ve had experience with several of these and would recommend staying away from it if it is indeed this model.

 

[maytag85]

Reply #6

The early 60’s Whirlpool built dryers all used a single bearing for the drum and has a Teflon ring at the front that would sit on felt. Whirlpool used rollers in 1966 since that’s when the 29” dryers were redesigned since there were slightly less complex compared the the 1961 to 1965 29” dryers that used a separate belt for the blower and a bearing as well.

 

[panasonicvac]

I thought you've already had a matching dryer for your Kenmore 80 Series and you're just looking for the matching dryer for your Kenmore Elite?

 

[blockeight88]

Reply 9

Good to know. Also which size is the dryer I posted? 27 or 29?

I have a very similar dryer to this, but am looking for something has a few more options on it.

 

[maytag85]

Reply #12

It’s a 27” dryer, the 29” has the lint filter on top along with air inlet and outlet on the rear bulkhead.

 

[blockeight88]

Here is closer picture of the control panel.

 

[maytag85]

No top filter, 27” dryer.

 

[repairguy]

I believe the “Electronic Moisture Sensing” was the predecessor to it being called EvenHeat. While it is purely my opinion from multiple experiences I would not buy this dryer.

 

[repairguy]

I failed to see that on the bottom it does say, “exclusive EvenHeat drying system.” The later ones had this on the cycle where this one says, “Electronic Moisture Sensing.”

 

[blockeight88]

circuit board

Has anyone else experienced the circuit board issue with this machine?