Vintage (72) Kenmore Dryer - How to find parts?

[Sarahww]

I inherited a washer dryer pair my mother purchased in the 70's. The washer, though not working, still sits in the utility room (I have no idea why it doesn't work)
but the dryer was still working like a trooper until the other day when the drum stopped rotating.

The tensioner pulley for the belt snapped off at the base b/c of metal fatigue.

The dryer still works otherwise and I'd like to replace the pulley wheel (the belt didn't even break). but don't know if that's even possible, or if there might be a part made for later machines available that would do the job.

FWIW if anyone needs to cannibalize lady kenmore washer parts or would like to rehab , I do have that old carcass still.

 

[qsd-dan]

I believe Kenmore/Whirlpool used the same tension pulley for over 40 years. Finding parts shouldn't be a problem at all.

 

[volvoguy87]

Pictures!

Please post some pictures of your machines. The washer can be diagnosed later, but first the dryer.

Whirlpool made virtually all of the Sears Kenmore washers and dryers until very recently. The WP/KM dryers with the lint filter on top in the back right corner haven't changed much internally since 1965. The idler pulley is available at virtually every appliance parts store. The idler pulley is part #691366 and costs no more than about $16.

Before you go out and buy an idler pulley, consider buying the rebuild kit. If your dryer started up and made a fast rhythmic thumping nois, you could use 2 new drum support rollers. The rebuild kit comes with 2 new rollers, a new idler pulley, and a new belt, all for between $20 and $30. Installation of the rebuild kit is extremely easy (these dryers are cake to work on). The rebuild kit is part #4392065.

If this is a Lady Kenmore dryer, it was Kenmore's top of the line (TOL) offering. It should have a light in the drum behind an easily-removable plastic cover on the stationary back. It's a 40-watt appliance bulb available at most stores for under $2.00. It should also have a fluorescent light across the top of the control panel. If that doesn't work, I can look up the type of bulb it needs. Also, this type of light requires a starter capsule, which sometimes goes bad, and is als very cheap and easily replicable.

Good Luck,
Dave

http://www.repairclinic.com/SSPartDetail.aspx?s=t-idler-%3d%3di587636&PartID=587636

 

[DADoES]

 
Parts and diagrams for any Kenmore model (and many other brands as well) can be found at www.SearsPartsDirect.com.

What I like about looking up parts at Sears is they list the manufacturer part numbers. The original part number and the current substitution if the original has been updated. I can then do a search on that part number at other sites for price comparison.

Some other sites list their own internal item numbers, not the manufacturer part numbers ... although they will cross-reference the manufacturer number on a search.

I often find the best prices at www.PartsTap.com and their shipping rates are very low.

http://www.partstap.com/searchresults.aspx?model_or_part=4392065&x=36&y=12

 

[Sarahww]

The machines in question

They are lady Kenmores in avocado green the dryer model is 110 72089004; TOL when purchased - the washer has rows of pushbuttons with assorted cycles. I will take photos the next time I am at the house.

I raced over to Ebay on your advice, and looked for similar parts to the idler pulley that cracked off. I have a new substitute part on the way!

However, entering the model number into google was an unproductive excercise... no matches until I truncated it to Lady Kenmore 72...which brought me here.

 

[Sarahww]

the part number

I find I can't edit my previous post, so I will add here that
the idler pulley is part #338946, I substituted # 691366.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Oooohhh!

I just looked that model up at the Sears website... Now, I want pictures!

RCD

 

[bpetersxx]

RCD is right we need pictures as it sounds like a piano key washer dryer set