Whirlpool Gas Dryer Still Squeeking/Screeching After Belt Replacement And Pully Cleaning Model WGD5620HW

[Guest]

Hi! It's been a while...

We have a Whirlpool Gas Dryer (Model WGD5620HW) that started squealing or screeching during operation. I cleaned out the entire interior and then cleaned and oiled the pulley wheel. The belt looked slightly frayed in one small section and the pulley wheel had gone almost completely stiff. Re-assembled and worked fine for one or two loads but then again the squealing and screeching at times.

Disassembled again. Pulley wheel was stiff again.  This time I replaced the belt with a new one and cleaned and oiled the pulley wheel and all the roller wheels.

Re-assembled.  It worked fine for two loads and then the squeaking started again - first subtle and then screeching.

Felt liners look ok.

What am I missing?

 

[Budget Appliance Repair]

Replace the idler pulley and be done with it....

You will be doing this again and again if you just keep trying to clean and oil it.

[16345Ed]

Replace drum rollers and idler pulley. Then make sure the rear felt drum seal is not dry and brittle causing metal to metal contact. If so replace it as well. 

[Guest]

Thank you all!

I don't think it's the felt as the screeching doesn't sound metallic but I will replace the idler pulley. It's strange that the metals should gum up like that. Never seen that before.

I see on Amazon a replacement wheel being sold that has ball bearings to prevent the recurrence.  Anyone have anything to say about that?

[Terry Carmen]

The OEM maintenance kit is really inexpensive. There's no reason to be guessing about mystery parts in this case.