For the handy or mechanically inclined, I need your help ASAP

[rt2dz]

My dryer is on the fritz. I'm pretty good at fixing most anything myself, but this time I can't figure out what the problem is, or rather what is causing the problem.

We had a bird build a nest in our vent which is when it all started. Bird nest is gone, entire vent is cleaned out--from the dryer to the outside of the house.. Good as perfectly new. Put up bird guard vent covers and all.

Well, the thing is, it still isn't working. If it hasn't been run in 2 or 3 days and you put it on timed dry, it will run 20 minutes and cut off. It will shut off for awhile (maybe several hours, or just a few minutes) and then keep trying to start up, but it never really gets running. It's also not drying (heating high) in those 20 minutes. If it has ran in the last couple of days it does the same thing, but never runs for the 20 minutes solid. Eventually it will time itself down to zero, but only by going a few seconds to a few minutes at a time. The other types of cycles (more dry, etc) aren't working either.

Its a Sears/Kenmore and I've had it about 8-10 years (can't quite remember).

Anyone have ANY ideas what it could be? What we should check? And, possibly, how to fix it?

TIA

 

[lyeag]

Did you unscrew the lint screen area to see if it was blocked up? If you had a lot of build up, it could be there as well and causing the dryer to over heat and shut off. That is the only thing I could think of with what you had going on.

 

[rt2dz]

Did you unscrew the lint screen area to see if it was blocked up? If you had a lot of build up, it could be there as well and causing the dryer to over heat and shut off. That is the only thing I could think of with what you had going on.

With the bird, that's what I thought all of it was from. That sucker is so clean, the dryer looks like it has never been used. I even completely replaced, not just cleaned, the lint trap. Actually we replaced all parts of the dryer that were replaceable dealing with the vent.

I just think the birds nest started it and now the problem has somehow grown...

 

[rt2dz]

Anybody? Somebody must have an idea of what to look at. Please.

 

[HonestAbe]

Does it ever get any heat at all?

 

[gallaj0]

Inside the dryer there are "limit switches" to prevent overheating; the work like fuses, when the temp gets too high due to the vent being clogged, they melt, and break the electrical connection to the heating element or burner.

There's usually more than one, set at different temperature so it may work at a low temp but not a high one.

They're not very hard to replace, but to pick out the right one and diagnose it, you'll need some electrical tools, have to pull the drum probably, etc.

 

[HonestAbe]

There's still something clogging the airflow IF the dryer keeps shutting down. That is a failsafe in all dryers for many years. Also if it wont heat, is it gas or electric?

 

[HonestAbe]

Suddenly this thread doesnt seem so important anymore.....

 

[rt2dz]

It is getting some heat. It feels hot when it first runs, but then just shuts itself down. It keeps trying to kick up and go, but just won't.

The dryer is gas.

Trust me, that dryer is beyond clean through the whole vent system.