My Kenmore 80 Series Gas Dryer Is Not Tumbling

Fuse or Circuit Breaker

• Although a Kenmore 80 Series gas dryer heats with gas, electricity allows the dryer to tumble. A loss of power can cause a dryer to stop tumbling. Certain dryers' electrical power is relayed via a fuse and others have a circuit breaker. Since there are a number of dryer models that fall under the 80 Series classification, review the dryer’s manual or installation guide for your specific dryer’s electrical configuration. Check your home's fuse box or circuit breakers to see if the dryer’s fuse or breaker has blown; replace the fuse or reset the breaker if necessary.

Belt

• Most Kenmore 80 Series gas dryers have a rubber belt connected to a motor that turns the drum. The belt is elastic and can wear and break with normal dryer use. When a belt breaks or becomes loose, the dryer won’t tumble. Review the diagram in the manual provided with your specific 80 Series dryer model for guidance. It will likely require that you remove the panel at the rear of the dryer. However, certain older versions of the 80 Series dryer might require that you lift up the dryer's control panel with a screwdriver, then slide off the top cover to view the drum. In either case, you should be able to view the top of the drum and the belt that goes around it. Examine the belt for signs of over-stretching, such as cracks or raised fibers. Also, give the belt a pull. If it moves without much effort, the belt is probably shot. Change out the belt to restore the dryer’s tumbling ability.

Idler Pulley

• Kenmore designs most of their dryers, including many 80 Series models, with an idler pulley that keeps resistance on the belt that’s required to rotate the drum. If the idler pulley stops working, the belt isn’t able to turn the drum. The idler pulley is a small wheel attached to a bracket by a spring. It’s a relatively fragile component often found at the base of the dryer cabinet near the motor. You can usually find it by removing the back panel of your dryer by unscrewing its screws. Spin the pulley to see if it moves easily. If you have difficulty turning the wheel or it squeals when it spins, the wheel is probably worn. Swap out the idler pulley with a new one.

Motor

• A motor on a Kenmore 80 Series gas dryer can break down. Since it’s tough to know whether a motor has malfunctioned, since you still might hear it hum even though it's not generating enough power to turn the belt, you may want to have your dryer serviced by a Kenmore technician.