Help! Anyone know about tumble dryers?

[Ratty]

Sorry - VERY off topic but as this wonderful forum has such a huge knowledge base I'm sure SOMEone will be able to advise me.
I have this Zanussi condenser dryer TC482W which I retrieved from my rental cottage. The heater was working but the drum wasn't turning. Removed the back, found the drive belt was in shreds, bought a new belt and after a lot of googling found out how to replace it. So that's all fitted and working and I presumed I had sorted the problem but no...the drum still doesn't turn. When you switch it on, the heater starts to warm up and then there is a sort of click and buzz but nothing happens. The motor spindle seems to run freely but the motor just isn't turning at all even without a load. I don't understand motors at all could it be the capacitor? How can I tell? I don't want to spend out more money on a capacitor if the motor itself is broken.

 

[scarecrow]

check all filters as there could be a cut off if blocked

 

[pedrobedro]

More likely to be the carbon brushes in the motor, have a look on espares see if there's anything for it or look around your local shops. They are usually pretty accessible with the motor exposed and easy enough to swap.

 

[rtbcomp]

Tumble driers tend to have induction motors.

There may be 3 wires, one to each side of the capacitor (1 & 2) and the third straight to the winding (3).

3 is the live and you put a neutral onto either 2 or 3 depending which way you want the drum to turn.

3 is usually connected to a cutout embedded in the windings.

If you get an ohmeter you should get the same reading between 1&3 and 2&3. If both are open it's probably the cutout. If one pair is open it will be a burnt out winding.

 

[Ratty]

Thanks for the replies guys. Don't think it's the filters as I've cleared them, can't find brushes fr this model so maybe Artybee is right...can you recommend an ohmmeter? Ebay seem to have them from a few squid up to 100's!
Just a thought...could I possibly have disturbed the wiring when getting the belt in place? You have to pull the motor across to fit the belt and it was very awkward.
Trouble is, I've no idea if the motor was working before I fitted the belt - should have checked I know but didn't.

 

[Luke]

A decent multimeter should only cost a tenner or so, a cheap nasty one would be maybe a fiver, and a nice, but standard multimeter might be 30 quid. something all singing all dancing could easily be 100s, as you've found!

 

[..DAZ..]

As rtb says, had a quick look for brushes as well but none to be found for that model. Havent worked on that one before so I'm afraid not much use, most of the stuff I have worked on in the past is Miele, Electrolux commercial stuff where replacing a motor is cost effective. If it is the motor you will probably have to shell out 60-100 squid for a new one and you can buy a whole new machine for not much more than that.

daz

 

[scarecrow]

here is a good site on showing you how to replace the belt on your machine I know a bit late but might be a good idea to go back in and check in case you have pulled off any wires
the first link at the top of that page gives you the step by step for next machine down from yours which is probably similar

 

[Ratty]

yeah that's the exact one I used! I can't see any loose wires but that's just looking through the hole at the back where the motor is, I've stuck my hand in and felt around (yes it was unplugged and yes I avoided the capacitor!) and can't feel anything obvious. I don't actually know at which point the drum should start to rotate, does the heater start first and then the motor kick in once the drum is warm? The motor starts to hum after about 3-4 minutes after switching on but only for a few seconds, I can feel the vibration in the shaft as if something is happening, have tried rotating the drum when it does to see if the motor kicks in but nix.
I don't want to buy a motor as I don't think it would be cost effective in both money and time, I'm wishing I hadn't bothered to get the belt but just skipped the bl00dy thing!
Anyone need a brand new dryer belt?

 

[..DAZ..]

It should start to turn as soon as it is switched on, I might be wrong but I am sure the cap is just for smoothing so I am afraid it sounds like the motor is feckled. It wont be cost effective to replace the motor unless you can pick one up for pennies, average price will be 80quid.
daz

 

[rtbcomp]

Personally I would try mains directly on the motor (assuming it's a mains motor!) but don't risk it if you're not competent with electricity.

 

[rtbcomp]

It should start to turn as soon as it is switched on, I might be wrong but I am sure the cap is just for smoothing so I am afraid it sounds like the motor is feckled. ,,,,,,,.
daz

The cap provides a phase shift so the motor rotates in the correct direction when switched on.

 

[Ratty]

Think you're probably right (fecked motor). Sparky is coming in the morning to try and sort out auto gate problem so I'll ask him to have a gander but suspect it will be a freecycle jobby. Someone will get a new belt if nothing else - really can't be ar$ed to take it all apart again to retrieve it to try and get back a few measly quid. Grrr

 

[the snooper]

if the capacitor has gone the motor wont turn and they are an induction motor
if the drive belt was off and shreded then you can assume the motor worked when the belt failed could the belt have damaged wiring another thing to look for is the reversing of the drum could be a switching problem.

 

[Ratty]

if the drive belt was off and shreded then you can assume the motor worked

Genius! that hadn't occurred to me. Just had another look with the torch and sure enough, there was a loose wire! Scorched and worn through and burnt off at the spade connector to the cap. Can only think I missed it yesterday as I was so pi$$ed with the whole thing. Don't have a new spade connector so taped the damaged bit and bodged the wire on to the old spade and turned on the machine...Bingo! instant drum rotation.
Still need to test if it reverses but will get the wire attached properly before messing any more.
Thanks for all the helpful input...I was thisclose to skipping it.

Fingers crossed that was all it was and I'll have got myself a dryer for under a tenner....and cut knuckles, an hour or more messing about with it, another hour on t'internet.....ho hum ....but satisfaction at a machine mended and saved from the dump

 

[rtbcomp]

Magic - that'll be a cheque to the value of a new drier less £10.00 winging its way to the forum coffers

 

[Ratty]

...course I couldn't resist turning it on again to check it reversed ok, smooth as you like, running like a dream.
I'm all wreathed in smiles now, yesterdays blues all blown away

 

[Ratty]

Magic - that'll be a cheque to the value of a new drier less £10.00 winging its way to the forum coffers

and do I get a 2 year parts and labour guarantee for that?

 

[..DAZ..]

Glad you got it sorted, and just as well you didn't listen to the likes of me or you would have been away buying a new machine. I feel a bit embarassed now, should have thought about it a bit more. I used to fix these things for a living
Well done snooper

daz

 

[restorer]

I'll be fitting a new kitchen at home next year and will be looking for a new washing machine and dryer.

Dreading it.

Well done on the repair.