How to Install a Thermal Cut-off Kit on a Dryer

Disconnect the power to the dryer by removing the plug from the wall outlet or turning off the circuit breaker at the main breaker panel box.

Loosen the vent clamp on the dryer vent hose. Depending on the clamp type, you loosen a screw on the clamp or squeeze the ends of the clamp together with pliers to open the clamp slightly.

Slide the vent clamp down the vent hose and away from the dryer. Pull the hose off the dryer exhaust vent and pull the dryer away from the wall.

Remove the screws from the back panel of the dryer. Pull the panel off the dryer to expose the blower vent duct and the heater box. The thermal fuse kit attaches to the side of the heater box at the top and bottom.

Pull the wire connectors from the top component of the thermal cut-off kit on the side of the heater box. The top component is the thermal cut-off fuse, and it attaches to the box with one screw. Remove the screw to release the old cut-off fuse.

Insert the new cut-off into the side of the heater box. Secure it with the single screw you removed from the original cut-off. Push the two wire connectors onto the two cut-off fuse terminals.

Pull the two wire connectors from the bottom component of the thermal cut-off kit. This component is the high-limit thermostat. The high-limit thermostat also connects to the heating element beneath it. Grab the terminal on the bottom of the thermostat with needle-nose pliers and pull it from the heating element connection. This releases the thermostat from the heater box.

Mount the replacement high-limit thermostat to the side of the heater box with the two screws provided with the thermal cut-off kit. One of the wires you pulled from the original thermostat has a larger terminal connector attached to it. Place the two wires side by side to determine which wire has the larger of the two terminals. Connect the larger terminal connector to the top terminal on the replacement thermostat.

Look at the two ends of the jumper wire provided with the cut-off kit. Use wire cutters to cut the end of the smaller terminal connector from the end of the jumper wire.

Strip 1/4 inch of insulation from the cut end of the jumper with wire strippers. Slide the dual male/female terminal onto the end of the jumper wire. The dual male/female terminal has a female end to slide over a male terminal and a male end directly above it to connect another wire with a female terminal to it. Use terminal crimpers to secure the new terminal to the end of the jumper wire.

Cut the terminal off the end of the remaining wire you removed from the original thermostat. Strip the insulation from the end of this wire. Slide the 1/4-inch spade terminal, provided with the kit, over the end of the wire. Crimp the terminal onto the wire.

Install the new male/female terminal you connected to the jumper wire onto the high-limit thermostat’s bottom terminal. Push the other end of the jumper onto the heating element’s terminal located beneath the thermostat. Connect the remaining wire you removed from the original thermostat to the male terminal on the male/female terminal already connected to the bottom of the high-limit thermostat.

Replace the back panel on the dryer. Push the dryer back into its original position and reconnect the dryer vent hose. Plug the dryer back into the wall outlet or turn the breaker on at the breaker panel box.